Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. If God were not Infinitely Good, he could not be the Object of Supreme Love. If he were Finitely Good, there might be other things as good as God, and then God in justice could not challenge our choicest Affections to him, above any thing else: It would be a defect of goodness in him, to demand it, because he would despoil that, which were equally good with him, of its due and right to our affections, which it might claim from us upon the account of its goodness: God would be unjust to challenge more than was due to him; for he would claim that chiefly to himself, which another had a lawful share in. Nothing can be supremely loved, that hath not a Triumphant Excellency above all other things: Where there is an equality of goodness, neither can justly challenge a Supremacy, but only an equality of Affection.

1. If God were not Infinitely Good, he could not be the Object of Supream Love. If he were Finitely Good, there might be other things as good as God, and then God in justice could not challenge our choicest Affections to him, above any thing else: It would be a defect of goodness in him, to demand it, because he would despoil that, which were equally good with him, of its due and right to our affections, which it might claim from us upon the account of its goodness: God would be unjust to challenge more than was due to him; for he would claim that chiefly to himself, which another had a lawful share in. Nothing can be supreamly loved, that hath not a Triumphant Excellency above all other things: Where there is an equality of goodness, neither can justly challenge a Supremacy, but only an equality of Affection.

2. This Attribute of Goodness renders him more lovely than any other Attribute. He never requires our Adoration of him so much, as the strongest or wisest, but as the best of Beings: He uses this chiefly, to constrain and allure us. Why would he be feared or worshipped, but because there is forgiveness with him^*? 'Tis for his goodness sake, that he is sued to by his People in distress,