Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

2. The formal nature of this love; 'tis fit to be a provocation to itself, i Joh. iv. 16-21.7-12. This is the beauty, health, strength, pleasure, safety and renown of humane nature; love is the aim and scope Knowledge, the end of faith, the Spirit of hope, the life of practice and devotion and the bond of perfectness, and the true transformation of the Soul into the image of its God. No pleasing thoughts of God, Christ, Heaven or heavenly things, no cheerful motions towards eternity, no foretasts of the highest bliss, no warrantable claims thereto, nor confident expectations of unseen realities. No true and lasting bonds of friendliness in service and affections, without this Spirit and state of love; this only faces God in his own beautiful and delightful image; this only turns the notions of divinity into substantial realities; and so exalts the man above the pageantries of mere formal, outside service and devotions; and the truth is, all that we say and do for God, or with him, and all our expectations from him are but the tricks and forgeries of deceitful and deceived fools, and the most provoking Profanation of the tremendous, holy name of God, and an abuse of holy things.

2. The formal nature of this love; 'tis fit to be a provocation to itself, i Joh. iv. 16-21.7-12. This is the beauty, health, strength, pleasure, safety and renown of humane nature; love is the aim and scope Knowledge, the end of faith, the Spirit of hope, the life of practice and devotion and the bond of perfectness, and the true transformation of the Soul into the image of its God. No pleasing thoughts of God, Christ, Heaven or heavenly things, no chearful motions towards eternity, no foretasts of the highest bliss, no warrantable claims thereto, nor confident expectations of unseen realities. No true and lasting bonds of friendliness in service and affections, without this Spirit and state of love; this only faces God in his own beautiful and delightful image; this only turns the notions of divinity into substantial realities; and so exalts the man above the pageantries of meer formal, outside service and devotions; and the truth is, all that we say and do for God, or with him, and all our expectations from him are but the tricks and forgeries of deceitful and deceived fools, and the most provoking Prophanation of the tremendous, holy name of God, and an abuse of holy things.