page III. We may hence admire the wonderful patience of God to this wretched world. 144 IV. We may learn the abfolute neceffity and proper business of the Redeemer. And,

146 V. THE generous nature of divine love in 149

men.

VI. WHAT reafon have we to condemn our felves for having loved GoD fo little, and that fo fmall a part of our life has been spent in this divine exercife! In the

150

LAST place; Since our not feeing Gop cannot excuse us from loving him, how much are we concerned to fee to it, that it be no hindrance, or impediment to this duty of loving GOD. 154

SERMON X.

SOME directions with reference to this duty. 1. LET us fix the apprehenfion deep in our fouls of God's certain, neceffary existence, and fupreme excellence.

155

2. WE fhould be converfant with other invifible objects. 158 3. Ir is neceffary in order to fupply the want of feeing GoD, that we moft firmly believe the report that is given of him in the Gofpel. 163

4. WE fhould much contemplate the nature of GOD, according to the difcovery we have of him in revelation. 166

5. WE fhould entertain no horrid, dismal thoughts of God; nor believe any thing of him,

page

which is contrary to his own revelation of himfelf.

169

6. MAKE GOD your own, by an intire and chearful choice, and acceptance of him for your Lord, and your GOD.

170

7. OUR fouls fhould be filled with this appre henfion, that God is always and every where prefent.

172

LASTLY, Let us pray earnestly for the fpirit of life and love, which is his own gift.

SERMON XI.

175

THE particular ufe and import of the doctrine being infifted upon, fomething of a cafuiftical import is added. And it is obferved, that there are three forts of perfons, which this difcourfe must have reference to. 180

I. To those who confidently give out themfelves to be lovers of GoD, tho they never felt motion of love to him in their hearts.

any

And,

181

1. SUCH fhould confider that it is very rafh for them to conclude thus.

ibid.

ibid.

2. THAT it is very natural to think well of our felves. 3. THAT it is a miftake in this cafe to take a conviction of conscience, for an affection of the heart.

182

4. THAT if the love of GoD is different from fuch a conviction, then it is reduced to nothing in them.

183

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5. THAT fince this is a ruling principle, it is abfurd to imagine fuch a principle to be in men, of which they have no perception. 184

II. THE next fort are thofe, who are apt to judge themselves wholly deftitute of fincere love to God, because they do not find those paffionate emotions of it towards him, as they do towards many inferior objects. But,

185

1. SUCH ought to confider that the exercise of love may be often intermitted, when an habitual propenfion of heart towards him doth remain. ibid.

2. THAT the act, and the paffion of love, are different things.

186

3. THAT thofe acts, which are peculiar to the intellectual nature of the foul, are as truly difcernible, as the paffions are which affect the body.

ibid.

4. THAT during our abode in the body, the affections of the foul have more intimately an influence upon it.

187

5. THAT even fpiritual holy affections often work in the foul, fo as to make great impref fions on the animal nature.

188

6. THAT, indeed, if perfons are very apt to be paffionately affected towards other objects, but infenfible of fuch motions towards GOD, they have reason to fufpect themselves to be under a bad distemper. 189

7. THAT tempers are very carefully to be distinguished.

гдо

page.

8. THAT We muft diftinguish the exercise of love on extraordinary, and common occafions. 191

LASTLY, That if at any time one would try the fincerity of one's heart towards GOD, it is. best evinced by the practical influence it has on a man's life.

192

SERMON XII.

III. THE third fort of perfons addreffed to are thofe, who are apt to cenfure other perfons, merely on this account; because they make profeffion of fuch a fervent love to GOD, as they themselves are ftrangers to. Thefe they charge either with hypocrify, or enthusiasm; or elfe refolve it into the make of the body, or the animal spirits. 1. WITH hypocrify. With refpect to which it is obferved, (1.) THAT it is a most uncharitable cenfure.

195

196

197

(2.) THAT the charge is most unreasonable.

ibid.

(3.) THAT it must proceed from an idle pragmatical temper,

ibid.

(4.) IT is to be guilty of the most infolent prefumption.

198

(5.) IT is also asked what is the thing fuch perfons find fault with?

ibid.

(6.) AFTER all the accufation itself is hypo

critical.

VOL. I.

f

200

2.

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2. THIS affection of love to God is by others charged with enthusiasm.

201

(1.) BUT why muft it needs be thought enthufiaftical?

ibid.

(2.) BESIDES the word enthusiasm hath sometimes had a gentler found than now it has. ibid.

(3.) IT is not to be wondered at, that there fhould be expreffions of love to GOD which import great fervor and devotion.

202

(4.) No doubt but many attribute too much to rapture and extatic transports.

203

(5.) IT is a very great fault to frame reprefentations and ideas of GOD by fancy, befides the warrant of his own revelation.

ibid.

LASTLY, The most regular, true, and rational .apprehenfions of God give ground for the most fervent, and vehement love of him that is poffible.

205

3. By others this affection of love to God is refolved into the temper, and difpofition of the bodily humours, or the flow of animal fpirits.

ibid.

(1.) THIS is in fome fenfe acknowledged.

ibid.

(2.) THERE are pious men of all tempers and conftitutions.

But,

ibid.

(3) Ir does not follow, that fuch an affection therefore in which the animal fpirits have fome concern, has nothing fpiritual or divine. ibid.

SOME general pathetic reflexions conclude the fecond part.

207

PART