2. The second step of our love to God, is to love God for himself, because he is the most excellent good; you may abstract the consideration of his beneficence to us from his excellency in himself, and then when the Soul can rise thus, Lord though I should never have a smile from thee while I live, and should be cast off by thee when I dye, yet I love thee. Alas! why is this named as the second step, surely there are but few can rise so high? Pray Christians mind this, There's many a gracious Soul loves God for himself, who dare scarce own it, that he loves God at all, e. g. when the Soul is in perplexing darkness, and cannot discern any Covenant-interest in God; but as the Church bemoans her self, God hath (c)filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood, — My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord; when I cry and shout he shutteth out my prayers, &c. In short, 'tis ⟨p. 26⟩the case every Soul that is under sore temptations, or long desertions; yet mark you, while they thus walk in darkness, and see no light: yet then a discerning Christian may see his love to God (like Moses's face) shine to others observation, though not their own, as may be particularly thus evidenced; when God smites them, they love him; for they are still searching what sin it is, that he contends for, that they may get rid of it (not hide it, nor excuse it) when they fear God will damn them, then they love him; for they then keep in the way of holiness (which is the way of Salvation) yea, they will not be drawn out of it, though carnal Friends like Job's Wife, bid them curse God, and dye; though Satan tell them they strive in vain, though their discouragements are multiplied, and their diligence is disappointed; yet they are resolved like Job, who said(d) Though God hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty hath vexed my soul—I will not remove my integrity from me, my righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live, q. d. I will delight in the Almighty, or nothing; I will always call upon God, though he should never regard me. Or though the Soul under trouble will not own so much goodness in it self, as to say thus, yet the conversation of such Christians speaks it plainly, and can such a frame proceed from any thing but love to God? doth not grace work in the Soul like Physic in the Body?
2. The second step of our love to God, is to love God for himself, because he is the most excellent good; you may abstract the consideration of his beneficence to us from his excellency in himself, and then when the Soul can rise thus, Lord though I should never have a smile from thee while I live, and should be cast off by thee when I dye, yet I love thee. Alas! why is this named as the second step, surely there are but few can rise so high? Pray Christians mind this, There's many a gracious Soul loves God for himself, who dare scarce own it, that he loves God at all, e. g. when the Soul is in perplexing darkness, and cannot discern any Covenant-interest in God; but as the Church bemoans her self, God hath (c)filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood, — My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord; when I cry and shout he shutteth out my prayers, &c. In short, 'tis ⟨p. 26⟩the case every Soul that is under sore temptations, or long desertions; yet mark you, while they thus walk in darkness, and see no light: yet then a discerning Christian may see his love to God (like Moses's face) shine to others observation, though not their own, as may be particularly thus evidenced; when God smites them, they love him; for they are still searching what sin it is, that he contends for, that they may get rid of it (not hide it, nor excuse it) when they fear God will damn them, then they love him; for they then keep in the way of holiness (which is the way of Salvation) yea, they will not be drawn out of it, though carnal Friends like Job's Wife, bid them curse God, and dye; though Satan tell them they strive in vain, though their discouragements are multiplyed, and their diligence is disappointed; yet they are resolved like Job, who said(d) Though God hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty hath vexed my soul—I will not remove my integrity from me, my righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live, q. d. I will delight in the Almighty, or nothing; I will alwayes call upon God, though he should never regard me. Or though the Soul under trouble will not own so much goodness in it self, as to say thus, yet the conversation of such Christians speaks it plainly, and can such a frame proceed from any thing but love to God? doth not grace work in the Soul like Physick in the Body?
- (c)Lam. 3.8.15, 18, &c.
- (d)Job 27.2, 5, 6, 10.
