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6
The Lift
~f
GOD
n1ade progrefs in it, are not aCted 0'1ly
by
external n1otives, driven merely
by
threa–
tenings, nor bribed
by
promifes, nor con- .
firained
by
laws; but are powerfully in–
clined to that which
is
good, and delight
in
the performance of it.
The love
'\vhich a pious n1an bears
to
God and good–
n~fs,
is not fo n1uch by virtue of a con1-
mand injoining
him
fo to do, as by a new
nature
infirucring
and promp ting
him
to
it:
nor cloth
he
pay his devotion as an un–
avoidable
tribute only
t~)
appcafe
the
divine jufl:icc, or quiet his clamorous con–
fcience; but thofe religious excrcifes are
the
proper emanations of the divine life,
the
natural en1ployment of the new-born
foul.
I-Ie prays, gives thanks, and re–
pents, not only becaufe thefe things, are
con1manded,
but
rather becaufe he
is fcn–
fible of his wants, and of the divine good–
n efs, and of the
folly
ahd mifery of a
finful lif-e.
His
charity
is not forced, nor
his alms
extorted from him: his loye
1nakcs
hin1
willing
to
give;
and though
there · were no outward obligation, his
heart would
de7Jije liberal
things. ·
Inju–
fiice or intemperance; and all other vices,
are as contrary to
his
tt:mper and confl:i–
tution,
as the
bafetl:
actions
are to
the
mofr
generous
fpirit,
~nd
impudence and
fcurrility
..