350 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. love other things, they knowwell enough, but why they love God, they cannot tell. Many are afraid of him, and suppose theyought to love.him, and therefore pretend so to do, though indeed they know they do not ; they do but flatter him with their lips, when their hearts are far from him. Some are much affect- ed with the benefits and mercies they receive from him, and suppose they love him on that account. But this love is no other but what the devil falsely charg- ed Job with, chap. i. 8 -11. Some have delight in the outward modes and rites of divine worship, where- with they satisfy themselves that they love God and spiritual things, when they only please their own im- aginations and carnal minds. Many have a traditional . apprehension that they ought to love God ; theyknow no reason why they should not ; they know it will be ill for them if they do not, and these take it for granted that they do. How few are there, who have that spiritual discerning and apprehension of the divine ex- cellencies, that view of the excellencyof the good- ness and love of God in Christ; as thereby alone to be drawn after him, and to delight in him! yet isthis the ground of all sincere real love to God. Two things are required that we may apprehend an amiable good- ness-in any thing, and cleave to it with sincere affec- tion. First. A real worth, or excellency in itself. Secondly. A suitableness therein to our condition, state, and desires after blessedness. The first of these is in God, fromwhat he is in himself ; the latter is fromwhat he is to us in Christ ; from both he is the only suitable object to our affections. Under this ap- prehension do we love God for himself, or for his own sake ; not exclusively to our own advantage therein :
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