A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

But now Faith opens the Eye, and carrieth us within the Curtain and Veil, and discovers the invisible God upon his Throne of Glory, without which Sight we cannot fear him. So for Love (the other powerful Affection) that flows from Faith, for our Love is but a Reflex of God's Love, but a Reverberation and Beating back of God's Beam upon himself; 1 John 4.19. We love him, because he loved us first. There must be first a Sense and Persuasion of his Love to us in Christ, and then we love him again: The more we feel the comfortable Effects of God's Love in the Conscience, the more is the Heart inflamed with Desire of performing Love and Service, and Subjection to God again; and therefore Faith is said to work by Love, Gal. 5.6. and make use of the Sweetness of God's Love to carry on Duty and Obedience. Look as the more directly the Beams of the Sun do fall upon any solid and smooth Body, the more strong is the Reflection of Heat again: The less of Jealousy and Darts of God's Love; and the more God's Love is darted and reflected upon the Soul, there is the more Service and Care to glorify God, and to do him Respect and Honour. Thus Faith, the radical Grace, is necessary for this temper and frame of Heart which is called Godliness, and inclineth us to worship and glorify God.

But now Faith opens the Eye, and carrieth us within the Curtain and Vail, and discovers the invisible God upon his Throne of Glory, without which Sight we cannot fear him. So for Love (the other powerful Affection) that flows from Faith, for our Love is but a Reflex of God's Love, but a Reverberation and Beating back of God's Beam upon himself; 1 Iohn 4.19. We love him, because he loved us first. There must be first a Sense and Perswasion of his Love to us in Christ, and then we love him again: The more we feel the comfortable Effects of God's Love in the Conscience, the more is the Heart inflamed with Desire of performing Love and Service, and Subjection to God again; and therefore Faith is said to work by Love, Gal. 5.6. and make use of the Sweetness of God's Love to carry on Duty and Obedience. Look as the more directly the Beams of the Sun do fall upon any solid and smooth Body, the more strong is the Reflection of Heat again: The less of Jealousy and Darts of God's Love; and the more God's Love is darted and reflected upon the Soul, there is the more Service and Care to glorify God, and to do him Respect and Honour. Thus Faith, the radical Grace, is necessary for this temper and frame of Heart which is called Godliness, and inclineth us to worship and glorify God.