Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Then the formal Act of Love is Pleasure in our notices and observations of the eminences of the cause appearing in the effects thereof, and in our delightful searches thereinto. 4. When excellency appears upon the Throne of Government, the formal Act of Love is our delightful acquiescence and satisfaction in, and our cheerful comporting with all the Laws and Interests of such Government: Thus I delight to do thy will, O God, Psal. xl. 8. And this is love that we keep his Commandments, i Joh. v. 3. And this is my meat, to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work, Joh. iv. 34. Authority owned, Laws obeyed, disposals rested in, and all with cheerfulness. And then, 5. When Goodness appears communicative, designing and dispensing kindnesses, directed and designed to the benefit, and welfare of the Recipients of it's Communications. The formal Act of Love in the thus befriended Persons, is their thankful acceptances, cheerful acknowledgements, and faithful improvement, of what they thus receive in the service, according to the Pleasure and Order, and to the praise of him that gives them; and as these favours are of several sorts and sizes; Such as our beings, and their receptiveness of Divine kindnesses; and the kindness showed us to make us good, to do us good, and to capacitate us to do good to others, and to receive further good from God, ⟨image 149⟩according to our different capacities, stations, relations, opportunities and advantages, conditions, and other circumstances; so hath our Love it's diversified actings, expressions and effects, according to it's various objects, considered in their own proper Excellencies, their several Relations to us, their postures towards us, and their concerns with us, and ours with them, which I here cannot mention, much less enlarge upon, even as they and we are related and concerned with the essential source of all communicative Excellence or Goodness, and therefore I leave it to the deeper thoughts and further searches of better Heads and Hearts than mine. 6.

Then the formal Act of Love is Pleasure in our notices and observations of the eminencies of the cause appearing in the effects thereof, and in our delightful searches thereinto. 4. When excellency appears upon the Throne of Government, the formal Act of Love is our delightful acquiescence and satisfaction in, and our chearful comporting with all the Laws and Interests of such Government: Thus I delight to do thy will, O God,