BISCOURSr; Vt'' 589 tumble and obedient creatures ? Is he not a fountain of eternal blessedness, and an all-sufficient and everlasting good to those that seek and serve him? Is he not a God that Lath terrors to vindicate his government, and to punish those that break his law ? Isnot this the God that thewiser andbetter sort of heathens acknowledged, and do acknowledge as well asthe Christians ? ' Q. Is not the mind of man made capable, in some measure, of knowing this God ? And are we not bound to acquaint our- selves with him ? Is not man therefore bound to get these notions and ideas of the attributes of God his maker, represented to his mind, in the, truest, the fairest, and the strongest light ? Or are the faintest and the feeblest notions of our Creator the best ? Are we not under an obligation sometimes to recollect these ideas of God when we come to converse humbly with him ? Should we not endeavour to bring them fresh and strong into our me- mory, and to make his majesty and his mercy, as it were, present to our souls, by the fullest and brightest conceptions we can form, whenwe come to worshipbefore him, when we address himwith prayer for any blessing that we want, or when we praise him for anymercies we have received from him ? 3. Ought not this knowledge, this holy remembrance of God, to influence the other powers of our nature ? Doth not con- science itself tell thedeist, that his own sentiments of so glorious a being demand his highest honour, andhis humblest worship ? Do not his own thoughts require of him a behaviour agreeable to all those highconceptions which he hath of the perfections of the divine nature ? Are not our minds bound to think of himwith high esteem ? Are not our wills bound to resolve upon obedience to this wise and holy Governor, and to submit with patience to all his providences ? Are not our eyes made to contemplate his works, and ought we not to give him the honour of his wisdom and power, that formed this world of wonders which our eyes behold ? And are not our tongues obliged to speak honourably of him, and to render him a just revenue of praise? Is it not our duty to offer the tribute of our lips in thankfulness for a thousand blessings we receive from his bounty andbeneficence ? 4. Are not our passions or affections a particular power of human natùre that owes God some honour as well as the under- standing and will, the eyes and the tongue? Were not these affectionate powers made to be excited by thoughts of themind, and to be exercised agreeably to the judgment and conscience ? Or are the passions the only powers of our nature that owe no homage to the God that made them, and must not be employed in his service.? Many of the affections are pleasing to nature in their various exercises, and can they not have leave to be em- ployed in piety ? Must religion be made so dry and tasteless and
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