Edwards - BX7230 .E4 1746

12 Religion confi,/ls much PART I. which renders or denotes a Man truly bleffed, in the Beginning of Chrift's Sermon on the Mount, Matth. 5. 6. Bled are they that do hunger and thirfl after Righteoufnef, fir they(hall be filled. And this holy Thirft is fpoken of, as a great Thing in the Condition of a Par- ticipation of the Bleflings of eternal Life, Rev. 21. 6. 1 will give unto him that is athirfl, of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely. The Scriptures fpeak of holy foy, as a great Part of true Religion. So is it reprefented in the Text. And as an important Part of Re- ligion, it is often exhorted to, and prefs'd, with great Earneftnefs ; Pfal: 37. 4. Delight thy felf in the Lord, and he (hall give thee the De- fires of thine Heart. Pfal. 97. 12. Rejoice in the Lord, ye Righteous. So Pfal. 33. a. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye Righteous. Matth. 5. 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad. Phil. 3. a. Finally Brethren, rejoice in the Lord. And Chap. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again Ifay rejoice. a Thef. 5. a6. Rejoice evermore. Pfal. 149. 2. Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made him ; let the Children of Zion be joyful in their King. This is mention'd among the principal Fruits of the Spirit of Grace, Gal. 5. 22. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, foy, &c.-- --The Pfalmift mentions his holy Joy, as an Evidence of his Sincerity, Pfal. 3 19. 14. I have rejoiced in the Way of thy Telimonies, as much as in all Riches. Religious Sorrow, Mourning, and Brokennefs of Heart, are alto frequently fpoken of as-a great Part of true Religion. Thefe Things are often mentioned as diftinguifhing Qualities of the true Saints, and a great Part of their Character ; Matth 5. 4. Bled are they that mourn ; for they (hall be comforted. Pfal. 34. 18. The Lord is nigh unto them that are ofa broken Heart, andfavethfuck as be of a contrite Spirit. Ifai. 6 t, 1, 2. The Lord hath anointed me - - -- to bind up the Broken - hearted, -- -- to comfort all that mourn. This godly Sorrow, and Brokennefs of Heart is often fpoken of, not only, as a great Thing in the diftinguifhing Character of the Saints, but that in them, which is peculiarly acceptable and pleafing to God ; Pfal. 51. 17. The Sa- crifices ofGod are a broken Spirit ; a broken and a contrite Heart, O God, thou wilt not defpife. Ifai. 57. 15. Thusfaith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whole Name is Holy : I dwell in the high and holy Place, with him alto that is of a humble and contrite Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the Humble, and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones. Chap. 66. 2. To this Man will I look, even to him that is poor, and ofa contrite Spirit. Another Afe&ion often mentioned, as that in theExercife of which much of true Religion appears, is Gratitude; efpecially as exercifed in Thankfulnefs and Praife to God. This being fo much fpoken of in the Book of Pfalms, and other Parts of the holy Scriptures, I need not mention particular Teuts. Again,

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