DISCOURSE I. gjg wish well, and to do good to the beloved object; and since God can receive no other good from us, but the manifestation of his excellencies and honours among men, we shall earnestly seak and wish this glory of God, if we are sincere lovers of him. IV. This affectionate and supreme love of God includes in it an out-going of the heart after him, with most intense longings, and most pleasing sensations ! This is what we are wont to call more eminently the love of desire, and the love of delight, which I shall sneak of more at large in the fol- lowing discourse. The heart of a sincere good man is rest- less till it find God, that is, till it obtain a solid hope and persuasion of his love, a growing conformity to him, and con- stant delight in him. The heart is not easy without God: It acquiesces and rests in him alone. If I have God for my friend, and my everlastingportion, I have all : Ifhe be absent, ()that I knew were Imightfind him ! Job xxiii. 3. And if he manifest his presence with his divine influences, 0° Comeback, O my soul, from amongst the creatures ; come back, and return to God thy rest." Ps. cxvi. 7. V. Where the love of God reigns in the affections it will command all the other powers of nature, and all the rest of the passions to act suitably to this sovereign and ruling affettion of love : The eye will often look up to God in a way of faith and humble dependance : The ear will be attentive to his holyword: The hand will be lifted up to heaven in daily requests : The kneeswill bebended in humble worship : All the outward powers will be busy in doing the will of God, and promoting his glory : He that loves God, will keephis commandments, and fulfil every present duty with delight: He will endeavour to please God in all his actions, and watch against and avoid whatsoever may offend him. And while the several outward powers are thus engaged, all the inward affections of nature will be em- ployed in correspondent exercises. Supreme love will govern all theactive train of human passions, and lead them captive to chearful obedience. This brings me to the next thing I proposed : But before I enter Upon it I would make these four reflections, which will con- clude the present discourse. [This discourse may be dividedhere.] Reflection 1. Ilow vain are all their pretences to love God who know little or nothing of him, whoareneither acquainted with the glorious erfections of his nature, nor with the wondrous discoveries of his grace ! Love must be founded in knowledge. }low vain are their pretences to love God with all their heart, and in a supreme degree, who never saw him to be a being of transcendent worth, or surpassing excellency, and capable of
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=