The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

And the soul by how much it is now come nearer to God, is more apprehensive of its distance. And such a frame, and posture doth hence please it best, as doth most fitly correspond thereto. Nothing is so pleasing to it as to be ⟨p. 125⟩as it ought. That temper is most grateful that is most proper, and which best agrees with its state. Dependence therefore is greatly pleasing, as it is a self-nullifying thing. And yet it is, in this respect, pleasing, but as a means to a further end. The pleasure that attends it is higher and more intense, according as it more immediately attains that end, Viz.

The magnifying and exalting of God; which is the most connatural thing to the holy soul. The most fundamental and deeply imprest Law of the New Creature. Self gives place that God may take it, becomes nothing, that he may be all. It vanishes, that his glory may shine the brighter.

Dependence gives God his power glory. 'Tis the peculiar honour and prerogative of a Deity, to have a world of Creatures hanging upon it, staying themselves upon it: to be the fulcrum, the centre of a lapsing Creation. When this dependence is voluntary and intelligent, it carries in it a more explicit owning acknowledgement of God. By how much more this is the distinct and actual sense of my soul: Lord, I cannot live but by thee, So much the more openly and plainly do I speak it out, Lord, thou art God alone, thou art the fullness of life and being, the only root and spring of life, The Everlasting I Am. The being of beings.

Dependence gives God his power glory. 'Tis the peculiar honour and prerogative of a Deity, to have a world of Creatures hanging upon it, staying themselves upon it: to be the fulcrum, the centre of a lapsing Creation. When this dependence is voluntary and intelligent, it carries in it a more explicite owning acknowledgment of God. By how much more this is the distinct and actual sense of my soul: Lord, I cannot live but by thee, So much the more openly and plainly do I speak it out, Lord, thou art God alone, thou art the fulness of life and being, the only root and spring of life, The Everlasting I Am. The being of beings.