Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

He that might command by the absoluteness of his Authority, doth not only do that, but entreats in the quality of a subject, as if he had not a fullness to supply us, but needed something from us for a supply of himself, 2 Cor. 5.20. As though God did beseech you by us. And when he may challenge as a due by the right of his propriety, what we bestow upon his poor, which are his Subjects as well as ours, he reckons it as a loan to him, as if what we had were more our own than his. Prov. 19.17. He stands not upon his Dominion so much with us, when he finds us Conscientious in paying the duty we owe to him. He rules as a Father by Love, as well as by Authority; He enters into a peculiar Communion with poor Earthly Worms; plants his gracious Tabernacle among the troops of sinners, instructs us by his word, invites us by his benefits, admits us into his presence, is more desirous to bestow his smiles, than we to receive them; And acts in such a manner, as if he were willing to resign his Sceptre into the hands of any that were possessed with more love and kindness to us than himself. This is the comfort of Believers.

He that might command by the absoluteness of his Authority, doth not only do that, but intreats in the quality of a subject, as if he had not a fulness to supply us, but needed something from us for a supply of himself, 2 Cor. 5.20. As though God did beseech you by us. And when he may challenge as a due by the right of his propriety, what we bestow upon his poor, which are his Subjects as well as ours, he reckons it as a loan to him, as if what we had were more our own than his. Prov. 19.17. He stands not upon his Dominion so much with us, when he finds us Conscientious in paying the duty we owe to him. He rules as a Father by Love, as well as by Authority; He enters into a peculiar Communion with poor Earthly Worms; plants his gracious Tabernacle among the troops of sinners, instructs us by his word, invites us by his benefits, admits us into his presence, is more desirous to bestow his smiles, than we to receive them; And acts in such a manner, as if he were willing to resign his Scepter into the hands of any that were possessed with more love and kindness to us than himself. This is the comfort of Believers.