. I • in the Soul of "A1an.· 17 vine truths ; but, in our lapfed eftate, it bath a peculiar relation to the declarati- .,.. ons of God's 1nercy and reconcileablenefs to finners through a Mediator; and there– fore, receiving its denotnination from that principal objecr, is ordinarily termed faith irt Jefus Chrtjl. · The love of God is a delightful and af– fectionate fenfe of the . divine perfecrions, which makes the foul refign and facrifice , itfelf wholly un~o hin1, defiring above all things to pleafe him, and delighting in no– thing fo tnuch as in fellowfhip and com– munion with hin1, and being ready to do or fuffer any thing for his fake, or at his pleafure. 1 'hough this affecrion n1ay have its firfl: rife from the favours and n1ercies of God towards ourfdves, yet cloth it in its growth and progrefs tranfcend fuch par– ticular confiderations, and ground itfelf on his infinite goodnefs ri1anifefl:ed in all the works of creation and providence. A foul · thus poildfed with divine love, muft needs . , be enlarged towards all mankind .in a fin– cere and unbounded affecrion, becaufe of the relation they have to God, being his creature~, and having fomething of his image fiamped upon them. And this is that charity .I named as the fecond branch of religion, and under whieh all the parts - B 3 of
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