Thirdly, Another enforcement of this duty of Acquaintance with God, is this. If we refuse acquaintance with God, it is a slighting the greatest of all the mercies that God bestows. Favours are to be valued, either by their proper excellencies, or according to the good will of him that bestows them: both these ways this is to be accounted the greatest of mercies. In Gods giving us leave to be acquainted with him, he gives out himself to be known, to be loved, to be conversed with, to be enjoyed. What greater gift can God give then himself? God is the portion of his people, he is the greatest portion, the surest, the most suitable, and the only durable portion. Thus they that know him esteem of him, Psal. 73.26. My flesh & my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, & portion for ever, Psal. 16.5, 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance: the lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Blessed are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. No ⟨p. 29⟩greater mercy can be bestowed upon any people, family, or person, than this, for God to dwell among them. If we value this mercy according to the excellency and worth of that which is bestowed, it is the greatest; if we value it according to the good will of him that gives it, it will appear likewise to be the greatest favour. The greatness of the good will of God in giving himself to be our acquaintance, is evident in the nature of the gift. A man may give his estate to them to whom his love is not very large; but he never gives himself but upon strong affection. God gives abundantly to all the works of his hands, he causeth the Sun to shine upon the evil, and upon the good; and the rain to descend upon the just and the unjust: But it cannot be conceived, that he should give himself to be a Portion, a friend, Father, Husband, but in abundance of Love. Whosoever therefore shall refuse acquaintance with God, slighted the greatest favour that ever God did bestow upon man. Now consider what a high charge this is; to abuse such a kindness from God, is an act of the greatest vileness. David was never so provoked, as when the King of Ammon abused his kindness in his Ambassadors, after his fathers death. And God is highly provoked when his greatest mercies, bestowed in the greatest love, are rejected, and cast away.
Thirdly, Another enforcement of this duty of Acquaintance with God, is this. If we refuse acqaintance with God, it is a slighting the greatest of all the mercies that God bestowes. Favors are to be valued, either by their proper excellencies, or according to the good will of him that bestowes them: both these ways this is to be accounted the greatest of mercies. In Gods giving us leave to be acquainted with him, he gives out himself to be known, to be loved, to be conversed with, to be enjoyed. What greater gift can God give then himself? God is the portion of his people, he is the greatest portion, the surest, the most suitable, and the only durable portion. Thus they that know him esteem of him, Psal. 73.26. My flesh & my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, & portion for ever, Psal. 16.5, 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance: the lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Blessed are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. No ⟨p. 29⟩greater mercy can be bestowed upon any people, family, or person, than this, for God to dwell among them. If we value this mercy according to the excellency and worth of that which is bestowed, it is the greatest; if we value it acording to the good will of him that gives it, it will appear likewise to be the greatest favour. The greatness of the good will of God in giving himself to be our acquaintance, is evident in the nature of the gift. A man may give his estate to them to whom his love is not very large; but he never gives himself but upon strong affection. God gives abundantly to all the works of his hands, he causeth the Sun to shine upon the evil, and upon the good; and the rain to descend upon the just and the unjust: But it cannot be conceived, that he should give himself to be a Portion, a friend, Father, Husband, but in abundance of Love. Whosoever therefore shall refuse acquaintance with God, slighted the greatest favour that ever God did bestow upon man. Now consider what a high charge this is; to abuse such a kindness from God, is an act of the greatest vileness. David was never so provoked, as when the King of Ammon abused his kindness in his Ambassadors, after his fathers death. And God is highly provoked when his greatest mercies, bestowed in the greatest love, are rejected, and cast away.
