Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

(9.) 'Tis against the Love and Kindness of God. 'Tis a condescension in God to admit a piece of Earth to offer up a duty to him, when he hath myriads of Angels to attend him in his Court and celebrate his Praise: To admit Man to be an Attendant on him and a Partner with Angels, is a high favour. 'Tis not a single mercy, but a heap of mercies to be admitted into the presence of God, Psal. 5.7. I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies. When the blessed God is so kind as to give us access to his Majesty, do we not undervalue his kindness when we deal uncivilly with him, and deny him the choicest part of our selves? 'Tis a contempt of his Sovereignty, as our Spirits are due to him by nature; a contempt of his Goodness, as our Spirits are due to him by gratitude: How abusive a carriage is it to make use of his mercy to encourage our impudence, that should excite our fear and reverence? How unworthy would it be for an indigent Debtor to bring to his indulgent Creditor, an empty Purse instead of Payment? When God holds out his Golden Sceptre to encourage our approaches to him; stands ready to give us the pardon of sin and full felicity, the best things he hath; Is it a fit requital of his ⟨p. 173⟩kindness, to give him a formal outside only, a shadow of Religion; to have the heart overswayed with other thoughts and affections; as if all his proffers were so contemptible, as to deserve only a slight at our hands? 'Tis a contempt of the love and kindness of God.

(9.) 'Tis against the Love and Kindness of God. 'Tis a condescension in God to admit a piece of Earth to offer up a duty to him, when he hath miriads of Angels to attend him in his Court and celebrate his Praise: To admit Man to be an Attendant on him and a Partner with Angels, is a high favour. 'Tis not a single mercy, but a heap of mercies to be admitted into the presence of God, Psal. 5.7. I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercies. When the blessed God is so kind as to give us access to his Majesty, do we not undervalue his kindness when we deal uncivilly with him, and deny him the choicest part of our selves? 'Tis a contempt of his Soveraignty, as our Spirits are due to him by nature; a contempt of his Goodness, as our Spirits are due to him by gratitude: How abusive a carriage is it to make use of his mercy to encourage our impudence, that should excite our fear and reverence? How unworthy would it be for an indigent Debtor to bring to his indulgent Creditor, an empty Purse instead of Payment? When God holds out his Golden Scepter to encourage our approaches to him; stands ready to give us the pardon of sin and full felicity, the best things he hath; Is it a fit requital of his