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That we believe him to be that eternal and inexhauftible Source of all that Wisdom, Juftice, and Goodnefs, which we fee diffused through the whole Creation. That he delights himself in those continual Acts of Grace and Mercy, efpecially to the Sons of Men. Whilft we have thefe Impreffions of his Power, and Wisdom, and Juftice, and Goodness, fixed in our Understandings, and Confcience, they will enkindle in us a mighty Love for his Name; we fhall be jealous of his Honour, with a holy Jealoufy, and we shall ftudy nothing more than to exalt his Glory and Praife in the World. And therefore,

1. They will infpire us with the highest Concern and Zeal for his great and glorious Namé. This arifeth from the very Nature of Love, it is a vigilant, folicitous, jealous Paffion. Upon whatever Object it is intenfely placed, it will be very vigorous and indefatigable in pursuit of it. If the Thing we have thus fixed our Affections upon, be of any confiderable Moment and Value, we think no Time mifpent, no Pains loft, no Dangers formidable, no Difficulties infuperable, fo we attain what we fo paflionately love. If it be a Perfon we efteem and admire for his Civil, or Moral, or Religious Excellencies,we ftudy by all poffible Means to gain his Refpect and Favour, to promote his Intereft and Honour, and we are deeply concerned for what Injures him in his Eftate, or in his Reputation, or in his Family.

This is the Nature and Vigour of vertuous Love, as to the Things or Perfons of this World:

But as it is a Divine and Heavenly Paffion, it hath a deeper Root in our Understandings, and a much stronger Hold in our Confciences. The Favour of God is infinitely more dear to all good Men who fincerly love him, than Riches or Honours, Profits or Pleasures, Friends or Relations, Father or Mother, or even than Life it felf; because he alone is infinitely perfect in his Nature, unchangeable in his Promises, and able to reward us with more than a thousand Worlds, (fuch as this is) are worth.

Now, where this Love of God is eftablished in our Confciences, it will fill us at all times, and in all Places, with a moft ardent Zeal for the Glory of his Name. We shall be uneafie under the leaft Difrepect offer'd to the Purity of his Nature in filthy Discourse, and foolish Jeftings, which are not convenient; we fhall inwardly mourn to hear it taken into the Mouth of every ignorant and ruftick Clown upon the moft trifling Occafions, and made the ludicrous Talk of every empty and prating Buffoon. It will raife our Blood, and make our Hearts burn within us, when it is prophan'd, ridicul'd, out-raged in the most damnable Execrations and Ŏaths, by those who have no fear of God before their Eyes,

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Ah! Who that hath the Heart of a Chriftian, that hath the leaft fpark of Divine Love in his Soul, can with Patience endure, that the Name of the great Creator, and conftant Benefactor of the World fhou'd be thus treated by Sinful Duft and Athes? That Name which is reverenc'd and adored by all the Angels and Saints in Heaven, at which, all the Devils and Apoftate Spirits in Hell tremble! That Name, which is above every Name, at which every Knee thou'd bow, and every Tongue confefs, that Jefus Chrift is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. Finally, The Name of that God who will one Day rend the Heavens, and come down with his mighty Angels, in 2 Thell. 1. flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that have not known him, nor obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jefus Chrift! Be ftill then, and know, that he is God; let him be your Love; let him be allo your Fear, and your Dread.

S.

2. If the Love of God be the ruling Principle in our Confciences, it will engage us further to exalt his Glory, and fhew forth his Praises, by the conftant Worship of him in all the holy Ordinances of his Religion. It is certain, that there is nothing by which the Glory of God is more celebrated in the World, and that Love Men bear unto him, expreffed in a more fignificant and exemplary Marmer, than by that worthip which is paid unto him in the Aflembly of his People.

For

For this very Purpofe was the Sabbath inftituted by God himself among the fews, to be religiously obferved as a Day of Rest, from all their worldly Labours and Cares, of Devotion and Thanksgiving, to keep up the Remembrance of the Omnipotence, and Providence of him who created the Heavens, and the Earth, and the Sea, and all that in them is. And therefore God himself tells them, by his Servant Mofes, That the Sabbath is a Sign between him, and the Children of Ifrael for ever. i.e. To preferve them from Idolatry, and to diftinguifh them from all the Nations round about thein, as the Worshippers of the One, True, and living God.

Exod. 31.

17.

At the Expiration of the fewish Oeconomy (which was to give way when the Lord of the Sabbath was come) their Sabbath was translated into the Chriftian Lord's-Day, to be obferved on the firft Day of the Week, in Commemoration of our Saviour's Refurrection from the Dead. When all Christian People are, in moft folemn manner, to meet together, to offer up their joint-Prayers, Supplications, Interceffions and Thanksgivings, to hear the Law and Word of God expounded and preach'd, to receive the facred Symbols of their Redemption, the fure Pledges of their Refurrection to eternal Life. Thus is the Christian Sabbath to be Sanctified and kept Holy, which is fo far from abolishing that Publick Religious Worship, inftituted among the Jews by their Sabbath, that it hath enlarged

larged and perfected it, by opening a New and Living Way, for all the Nations of the Earth to worship God in Spirit and Truth; to make him glorious in his Houfe of Prayer, by unity of Heart and Voice, and the most enlarged Faculties and Affections of their Souls. And this leads me to the 2d Particular, viz.

2. That we suffer nothing to rival, or stand in Competition with him, but that the Love of God govern, and have the Chief Place in our Wills and Affections.

The Love of God, as it hath hitherto been explained, and as it is fixed in our Underftandings and Confciences, principally influenceth our Faith and Reverence, by keeping up in our Minds a juft Efteem of the more awful Attributes of his Nature, his Majefty, Power, Wisdom, and Justice, But as it is feated in our Wills and Affectious, it is the Spring and Inftrument of our Devotion and Gratitude, by kindling in us a Fervent Flame of Love in the Contemplation of thofe Perfections of God which are the apteft to raise our Admiration, Delight, and Praife: Such are the unwearied Goodnefs of his Providence in the daily Care and Prefervation of us, the prefent Affiftances and Confolations of his Spirit, the future, and affured Hopes of eternal Life. Thefe lay Charms upon our Wills, they warm our Affections, they poffefs our very Imaginations with tranfporting Ideas of Love and Joy.

Thus

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