592 The Unchaugeablenefr ofGod. Vo1.I, them not ; happinefs is fomething that is nearer and more itimate to us, than any of the Things of this World ; it is within thee, in thine heart, and in the very id_ ward frame and difpofition of thy mind. In a word, if ever we would be happy, we mutt be like the blefed God, we muff be holy, and merciful, and good, and juft, as he is,and then we are fecure of his Favour; for the righteous Lord loveth righteoufnefs, and his countenance will behold the upright. Then we fhall be qualified for the enjoyment of him, and take plea- fure in communion with him, becaufe we limit be like him. For the fureff foun- dation of Love and Friendfhip is a fimilitude of Temper and Difpofition ; every thing naturally affeéts its own likenefs, and moves towards it, and greedily catch- eth at it ; and gladly runs into the Embraces of it. God and Man mutt be like one another, before they can takepleafure in one another: If we be unlike to God, it is in the nature of the thing impoffible that we fhould behappy in one another, and therefore there muff be a change either in God or us, to bring a- bout this likenefs. The Nature of God is inflexible, fixt, and unchangeable; therefore change thy fell Sinner, and endeavour to be like God ; for fince he cannot depart from his Holinefs, and Purity, thou muff leave thy Sins, and be holy as he is holy, if ever thou hopeft to be happy, as he is: Every Man that bath this Hope in him, muff purify himfelf, even as he is pure. Now to this happy and only Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only bath Immortality, and dwelleth in that Light which no Man can approach unto, whom no Man bath fees, or can fee; To him be Honour, and Power everla/ling. Amen. S ERMON LXX1X. The Unchangeablenefs of God. J A M E S 1. 17. With whom is no variablenefs, norfhadow of turning. The whole Period runs thus, Do not err, my beloved Brethern, every good Gift, and every per- /di Gift isfrom above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variablenefs, nor fhadow ofturning. TH E connexion and dependance of the Words upon the former is briefly this ; the Apoffle had afferted before that God is not the Au- thor of Sin and Evil, ver.13, 14. Let no Manfay When he is tempted, I am tempt- ed of God, for God is untemptable by evil, neither tempteth he any Man : but every Man is tempted, when he is drawn afide ofhis own luf, and enticed ; and here in the Text he alferts, that God is the Fountain and Author of all Good ; do not err, my belovedBrethren; as if he had faid, do not miffake me, tho' Sin and Evil be not from God, but from our felves, and our own corrupt hearts; yet all good is from God, and not from our felves : tho' we be the Authors of the fins we commit, yet we are not fo of the good that we do, that is from God; every good Gift, and everyperfeli Gift is from dove, and that cometh down from the Father of lights. Sin which is nothing but Evil and Imperfection, is not from God, but wholly from our felves ; whatever is good and perfeét, is not from our felves ; but from God;we are neither inclined to that which is good,nor are able ofour felves to perform it ; both the inclination and the power are from God, who is the Fountain of Goodnefs and Perfection, and can never be otherwife, and can never change
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