DISCOURSE H. Divine Love is the Commanding Passion. HAVING declared at large, in the former sermon, what is implied in the supreme love of God ; the second general head of discourse requiresme to shew, how this one passion of divins love will influenceall the other affections of the heart. The whole world are witnesses to this effect of love in the common affairs of mankind ; and this powerful passion still retains its own nature and sovereigntyover the rest, whenGod is the object of it, which will appear in the following instances : I. If the soul be warmed with divine love, "'the various discoveries that God makes of himself to us, will not only be matter of frequent contemplation, but of pleasing wonder." Admiration or wonder is a noble passion, arising from the view of something that isnew and strange, or upon the notice of some rare and uncommon object : Now when so glorious and transcen- dent a being as the great andblessed God, becomes the object of our notice and our love, with what pleasure do we survey his glories, which are so rare, so uncommon, that there are none to compare with them. We shall meditateon the surprizing disco- veries that he has made of himself,till we find newmatter of holy admiration in all of them. Sincere and fervent love is ever findingsome new beauties and wonders in the person so much beloved. The lover of Godtraces the footsteps of infinite wisdomand áll-sufficient power, in the works of nature and providence : " When he beholds the heavens, the workof the fingers of God, and the moon and stars which he has created; Ps. viii. 3. he first observes their immense vastness, their order and beauty, and wonders at the skill and divine contrivance of him that made them : " O Lord, how great, how manifold are thy works ? In wisdom hast thou made them all ;" Ps. civ. 24. And then he wonders again at thecondescending goodness of God to his little creature, man : " Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou shouldst visit him ?" Ps. viii. 4. The loving-kindness of God has many admirable circum- stances in it, as well as his wisdom and power ; and therefore the royal Psalmist calls it marvellous ; Ps. xxxi. 21. and spends many a psalm in the devout admiration of it. Many of the providences of God are surprizing : He alone
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