C H A P.3. Epiflle to the T he j7aloniana. l E R.5 nan e of drawing all things to it, the definition,tobe what all men, all things delire. Howbeit, the chiefe good ap- prehended as euill, may,vndcr the fancied notion of eu ill, be hated ; as the greateft cuill is lowed, prefenting it felfe v rider the notion of good. The greater quel ion is,whither nature afford not fume loue of God, nature, I meane, fallen, vneleuáted aboue it felfe, and vnaltered by grace. Rem. A queflion harder then at firfl fight it feemes,and which bath, as much as many,vexed Schoolemen. For my part, I eafily fide with them, which hold, that God is not, nor can bee loued aboue all, neither intenßue, nor appre- tiatiué, neither as Author of nature, nor as giuer of fuper- naturall beatitude, without grace fupernaturall. The reafon is pregnant, becaufe fuch meafure of loue to God, endures no inordinate motion, or action againfl the Law of God. Which reEtitude, if wee place in nature, wee fruftrate grace, and direaly contradidt the Apoftie. Rom. 8.7. But whther there may not be in nature tome motion,or affeótion of loue to God, a little other then concupifcenti- all, is not fo eafily refolued. Bernard thus fpecifies degrees of lolling God by their feìserall cnotiues, or, as they terme them, formali reafons. it When we lone God vt bonus fit nobis, that hee may doe vs good; this loue is meerely concupifcentiall, or as you may flile it, mercenary; the fo louer intends his owne benefit only,and more loue-, hitnfelfe then God. a When wee loue God quia bonus fuit, becaufe bee hath done vs good, and heaped his benefits vpon vs, this Ales from gratitude. When we lone God quia bonus inre, con- templating the amiable excellences which dwell in the Deitie. May not force of thefe fall into nature? a There is a merit of loue P palpable by nature. a Na- ture may eafily bee wrought to confeffc debitum, a debt, and obligation oflouing. There is, or may bee wrought vpon nature, know- ledge of Gods not onely exiflence, but louely attributes; Power, . a Iiimmimmar ¡v. 243
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