600 ON EXCITING THE DEVÓUT AFFECTIONS.' obey its ruling power and influence, they will follow its motions andsovereign dictates, as was made evident in the second dis- course on this subjet. And we have strewn you before, that in order to excite divine love in our hearts, we must meditate frequently On these things, viz. what thegreat andblessed God is in himself, what he has done for us, what he daily does for us, and what he has promised to do, both in this life, and the life to come. Never be easy, or at rest, therefore, if you find your love to God flag and languish, for then the other affections will grow cold and lifeless in religion. Take all opportunities to warm your heart with this sacred passion, and to re-kindle the fire of divinelove within you, when at any time you find it declining. III. " Watch carefully against the too strong attachment of your affections to creatures : Remember that this world is at en- mity with God; James iv. 4. If any man love this world, the love of the Father is not in him ; 1 John ii..15. Where the love of the world is habituallyprevalent, the love of God is not found ; for God is the supreme good, and the most lovely of beings, and he counts that love as nothing which is not supreme. No man can serve two masters. You cannot serve God andmam- mon ; Mat. vi. 2.5. that is, the true God, and the god of riches : And we may say by the same rule, you cannot love the true God, and the god of honour and ambition, or the godof sensuality and carnal pleasure. AGod carries a supreme idea, and demands all the soul. Not onlyunlawful objects, and sinful pleasures, but even sensible delights, possessions, and enjoyments, which are lawful, take too fast hold on the heart, and draw it away from God. Remember that the creatures around you have this advan- tage, that while God is a spirit, an unseen being, the creatures are ever striking upon our eyes or ears ; they are ever making their court to our senses and appetites, and have a thousand ways to insinuate themselves intothe heart. The world, and the flat- tering enjoyments of it, are suited to work upon flesh and blood, and to draw off the soul from God its centre and its rest : They are ever near at hand on all occasions, and they are ready some- times to say, where is your God? Keep your God therefore, always near you, and watch against the pleasing flattery of allur- ing creatures, lest your heart cleave too fast to them, and be thereby divided from your God. Amidst all the endearing relations and engaging businesses of life, single yourselves, as much as possible, for God, and let not many things dwell too near yoursoul, lest you lose the sight oe'your heavenly Father, and the pleasing sensations of his love. Where the love of sensible things prevails, it draws with it all the long train of hopes and fears of desires, joys, and sorrows; of painful heart-aches, and fond wishes, and keen resentments. Thus the affectionate powers of nature are earna,lized, are tine-
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