Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

2. The things provoking hereto.

And here behold a Troop, as it was said of Gad, Gen. xxx. 11. How do inducements and incentments spring up in manifold and mighty clusters? What can we mention or fix our thoughts upon, that may not kindle and increase this flame of Love, and its Eruptions in Good Works? The things which we might pertinently and copiously insist upon, might be reduced to these Heads.

1. The Objects of this Central Grace or Principle: 1. Things in Heaven; as God, Christ, the Spirit, Angels, the Spirits of Just Men there made perfect; the glorious Furniture, Laws and Orders; the Visions, Services, Ministrations and Fruitions of that State; all the Perfections Prerogatives and Employments of that blessed World above; with all the accomplishments and accommodations which relate immediately thereto, and all the Satisfactions and Advantages that result therefrom. 2. Things from Heaven; God manifest in the flesh, i Tim. iii. 16. the Spirit, Works, and Word of God, the great Provisions and Engagements of Divine Providence for us, all that we are, or have, or meet with, express of God's merciful regards to us, and his compassionate concernedness for our universal welfare. 3. Things for Heaven; The Spirit of Grace, the Word of Grace, all the Ministers and means of Grace, with all the Discipline and Encouragements which Providence sensibly affords us: the Good and Evil things of time, as ordered by God to fit us for, and help us to the Glory which we look for. The very Sons of men themselves considered in the relations which they bear to God, and their expressiveness of his endearing Name, and all those marks and notices which they bear and give us in the frame, capacity and management of humane Nature, of God's incomprehensible Wisdom, Power, Goodness, &c. O who can think hereon, and yet be unprovoked to Love and to Good Works, when as God is so eminently and endearingly discernible in all? for God by all this courts our love. And should I speak of the Sons of God and Heirs of Glory, that Divine Workmanship which is in them, and upon them; the Impressions, Reflections and Refractions of the Divine Nature and Life; their capacity of growing up to all the fullness of God, and to be eternally the beautiful and delightsome Temple of the Holy Ghost; all their relations to the Holy Trinity, with all their obligations to him, their interest in him, their business with him and for him, and all their imitations and resemblances of him in their actual and possible motions and advances