The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

If we love the memory of that Emperor, who reflecting upon one day that past without his bestowing some benefit, with grief said, Diem perdidi, I have lost a day; how much more should we love God who every moment bestows innumerable blessings upon his Creatures. But sinful Man hath contracted such ⟨p. 214⟩an unnatural hardness, that he receives no impressions from the renewed Mercies of God. He violates the Principles of Nature, and Reason. For how unnatural is it, not to love our Benefactor, when the dull Ox and the stupid Ass serve those that feed them? and how unreasonable, when the Publicans return love for love? Now there is nothing that can perfectly overcome our hatred, but the consideration of that Love, which hath freed us from Eternal Misery: for the guilty Creature will be always suspicious, that notwithstanding the ordinary benefits of Providence, God is an enemy to it: and till Man is convinced, that in loving God, he most truly loves himself, he will never sincerely affect him. This was one great design of God in the Way, as well as in the Work of our Redemption, to gain our hearts entirely to himself. He saves us in the most endearing, and obliging manner. As Davids affection declared its self, I will not serve the Lord with that which cost me nothing: So God would not save Man with that which cost him nothing, but with the dearest price hath purchased a Title to our Love. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself, as well as through Christ reconciling himself to the World. He hath propounded such Arguments for our Love, so powerful, and sublime, that Adam in Innocence was unacquainted with. He sent down his own Bowels to testify His Affection to us. And that should be the greatest endearment of our Love, which was the greatest evidence of his.

If we love the memory of that Emperour, who reflecting upon one day that past without his bestowing some benefit, with grief said, Diem perdidi, I have lost a day; how much more should we love God who every moment bestows innumerable blessings upon his Creatures. But sinful Man hath contracted such ⟨p. 214⟩an unnatural hardness, that he receives no impressions from the renewed Mercies of God. He violates the Principles of Nature, and Reason. For how unnatural is it, not to love our Benefactour, when the dull Ox and the stupid Ass serve those that feed them? and how unreasonable, when the Publicans return love for love? Now there is nothing that can perfectly overcome our hatred, but the consideration of that Love, which hath freed us from Eternal Misery: for the guilty Creature will be alwayes suspicious, that notwithstanding the ordinary benefits of Providence, God is an enemy to it: and till Man is convinced, that in loving God, he most truly loves himself, he will never sincerely affect him. This was one great design of God in the Way, as well as in the Work of our Redemption, to gain our hearts intirely to himself. He saves us in the most endearing, and obliging manner. As Davids affection declared its self, I will not serve the Lord with that which cost me nothing: So God would not save Man with that which cost him nothing, but with the dearest price hath purchased a Title to our Love. God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself, as well as through Christ reconciling himself to the World. He hath propounded such Arguments for our Love, so powerful, and sublime, that Adam in Innocence was unacquainted with. He sent down his own Bowels to testifie His Affection to us. And that should be the greatest indearment of our Love, which was the greatest evidence of his.