Of the Day of Iudgment. (2) to Of LOVE.

Of the Day of Iudgment. (2)

3. If you would stand acquitted at the last Day, then trade your Talents for God's Glory. Lay out your selves for God; Honour him with your Substance; Relieve Christ's Members: This is the way to be acquitted. He that had Five Talents Traded them, and made them Five Talents more. His Lord said unto him, Well done Good and Faithful Servant, Matt. 25.21.

4. If you would stand acquitted at the Day of Judgment, get an intire Love to the Saints, 1 Iohn 3.14. We know we are passed from Death to Life, &c. Love is the truest Touch-stone of Sincerity. To love Grace for Grace, shews the Spirit of God to be in a Man. Doth Conscience witness for you? Are you perfum'd with this sweet Spice of Love? Do you delight most in those whom the Image of God shines? Do you reverence their Graces? Do you bear with their Infirmities? A Blessed Evidence that you shall be acquitted in the Day of Judgment. We know that we have passed from Death to Life, because we love the Brethren.

Of Obedience to God's Revealed Will.

Deut. 27.9, 10.

Take heed and hearken O Israel, This Day thou art become the People of the Lord thy God; thou shalt therefore obey the Voice of the Lord thy God, and do his Commandments.

Quest. WHat is the Duty that God requireth of Man?

Resp. Obedience to his Revealed Will. It is not enough to Hear God's Voice, but we must Obey. Obedience is a part of that Honour we owe to God, Mal. 1.6. If I am a Father, where is my Honour? Obedience carries in it the Life-Blood of Religion. Obey the Voice of the Lord thy God, and do his Commandments. Obedience without Knowledge is Blind, and Knowledge without Obedience is Lame. Rachel was fair to look upon, but being barren said, Give me Children or I die. So if Knowledge doth not bring forth the Child of Obedience, it will Dye, 1 Sam. 15.22. To obey is better than Sacrifice. Saul thought 'twas enough for him to offer Sacrifice, though he disobeyed God's Command. No, to obey is better than Sacrifice. God disclaims Sacrifice, if Obedience be wanting, Ier. 7.22. I spake not to your Fathers concerning Burnt-Offerings, but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my Voice. Not but that God did enjoyn those Religious Rights of Worship; but the meaning is, God looked chiefly at Obedience, without which Sacrifice was but Devout Folly. The end why God hath given us his Law, is Obedience, Levit. 18.4. Ye shall do my Iudgments, and keep my Ordinances. Why doth a King publish an Edict, but that it may be observed?

Quest. 1. What is the Rule of Obedience?

Resp. The Written Word. That is proper Ocedience which the Word requires; our Obedience must correspond with the Word, as the Copy with the Original. To seem to be zealous, if it be not according to the Word, is not Obedience but Will-worship Popish Traditions which have no Footing in the Word are abominable, and God will say, quis quaesivint haec? Who hath required this at your Hand? Isa. 1.12. The Apostle condemns the Worshipping of Angels, which had a shew of Humility, Col. 2.18. The Jews might say, they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own Persons; they would be more Humble, and prostrate themselves before the Angels, and desire them to present their Petitions to God. This shew of Humility was hateful to God, because there was no Word to warrant it.

Quest. 2. What are the Right Ingredients into our Obedience to make it acceptable? Or how must it be qualified?

Resp. 1. Obedience must be cum animi prolubio, Free and Chearful, else it is Pennance, not Sacrifice, Isa. 1.19. If ye be Willing and Obedient, though we serve God with Weakness, let it be with Willingness. You love to see your Servants go chearfully about your Work. Under the Law God would have a Free-Will-Offering, Deut. 16.10. Hypocrites obey God grudgingly and against their Will; they do facere bonum, but not velle. Cain brought his Sacrifice but not his Heart. 'Tis a true Rule, quicquid Cor non facit non fit, What the Heart doth not do, is not done. Willingness is the Soul of Obedience; God sometimes accepts of Willingness without the Work, but never of the Work without Willingness. Chearfulness shews that there is Love in the Duty; and Love doth to our Services, as the Sun doth to the Fruit, Mellow and Ripen them, and make them come off with a better Relish.

2. Obedience must be Devout and Fervent, Rom. 12.11. [gap], Fervent in Spirit, &c. Quae ebullit prae ardore, It alludes to Water that boils over. So the Heart must boil over with Hot Affections in the Service of God. The Glorious Angels who for their burning in Fervour and Devotion, are called Seraphims; these God chooseth to serve him in Heaven. The Snail under the Law was unclean, because a dull Sloathful Creature. Obedience without Fervency, is like a Sacrifice without Fire. Why should not our Obedience be lively and Fervent? God deserves the Flower and Strength of our Affections. Domitian would not have his Statue carved in Wood or Iron, but in Gold. Lively Affections make

Golden Services. It is Fervency makes Obedience acceptable: Eliah was fervent in Spirit, and his Prayers opened and shut Heaven: And again he pray'd, and fire fell on his Enemies, 2 Kings 1.10. Eliah's Prayer fetch'd Fire from Heaven, because being fervent it carried Fire up to Heaven: Quicquid decorum ex Fide proficiscitur, Aug.

3. Obedience must be extensive, it must reach to all Gods Commands, Psal. 119.6. Then shall I not be ashamed (or as it is in the Hebrew lo Ebosh, blush) when I have respect to all thy Commandements. Quicquid propter Deum fit aequaliter fit. There is a Stamp of Divine Authority upon all Gods Commands; and if I obey one Precept, because God Commands, I must obey all: True Obedience runs through all the Duties of Religion, as the Blood through all the Veins; or the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack. A good Christian makes Gospel Piety and Moral Equity kiss each other: Herein some discover their Hypocrisie, they will obey God in some things which are more facile, and may raise their Repute; but other things they leave undone, Mark 10.21. One thing is lacking, Unum deest. Herod would hear Iohn Baptist, but not leave his Incest: Some will Pray, but not give Alms; others will give Alms but not Pray, Matt. 23.23. Ye pay Tithe of Mint and Anise, and have neglected the weightier things of the Law▪ Iudgment, Mercy and Faith. The Badger hath one foot shorter than the other: So these are shorter in some Duties than in other. God likes not such partial Servants that will do some part of the work he sets them about, and leave the other undone.

4. Obedience must be sincere, viz. We must aim at the Glory of God in it. Finis specificat actionem: In Religion the end is all. The end of our Obedience must not be to stop the Mouth of Conscience, or to gain Applause and Preferment; but that we may grow more like God, and bring more Glory to God, 1 Cor. 10.31. Do all to the Glory of God. That which hath spoiled many glorious Actions, and made them lose their Reward, is, when Mens aims have been wrong: The Pharisees gave Alms, but blowed a Trumpet, that they might have Glory of Men, Matt. 6: 2. Alms should shine, but not blaze. Iehu did well in destroying the Baal-worshippers, and God commended him for it; but because his Aims were not good (he aim'd at setling himself in the Kingdom) therefore God look'd upon it no better than Murder, Hos. 1.4. I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu. O let us look to our Ends in Obedience; it is possible the Action may be right and not the Heart, 2 Chron. 25.2. Amaziah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect Heart. Two things are chiefly to be eyed in Obedience, the Principle and the End: A Child of God, though he shoots short in his Obedience, yet he takes a right Aim.

5. Obedience must be in and thorough Christ, Eph. 1.6. He hath accepted us in the Beloved. Not our Obedience, but Christs Merits, procure acceptance; we must in every part of Worship, tender up Christ to God in the Arms of our Faith. Unless we serve God thus, in Hope and Confidence of Christs Merits, we do rather provoke God than please him: As when King Uzziah would offer Incense without a Priest, God was angry with him, and struck him with Leprosie, 2 Chron. 26.16. So when we do not come to God in and thorough Christ, we offer up Incense to God without a Priest, and what can we expect but severe Rebukes?

6. Obedience must be Constant, Psal. 106.3. Blessed is he who doth righteousness, Be Col Gnet, at all times. True Obedience is not like an high Colour in a Fit, but it is a right Sanguine: It is like the Fire on the Altar, which was always kept Burning, Lev. 6.13. Hypocrites Obedience is but, [gap], for a Season: It is like plaistering Work, which is soon washed off; but true Obedience is constant: Though we meet with Affliction, we must go on in our Obedience, Iob 17.9. The Righteous shall hold on his way. We have vowed Constancy: We have vowed to renounce the Pomp and Vanities of the World, and to fight under Christ's Banner to the Death. When a Servant hath entred into Covenant with his Master, and the Indentures are sealed, then he cannot go back, he must serve out his time. There are Indentures drawn in Baptism, and in the Lords Supper: The Indentures are renewed and sealed on our part, that we will be Faithful and Constant in our Obedience: Therefore we must imitate Christ, who became obedient to the Death, Phil. 2.8. The Crown is set upon the Head of Perseverance, Rev. 2.26. He that keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give the morning Star.

Use 1. This indicts such who live in a Contradiction to this Text; they have cast off the Yoke of Obedience, Ier. 44.16. As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. God bids Men pray in their Family, they live in the total Neglect of it: He bids them Sanctifie the Sabbath, they follow their Pleasures on that day. God bids them abstain from the Appearance of Sin, they do not abstain from the Act: They live in the act of Revenge; in the Act of Uncleanness. This is an high Contempt of God; 'tis Rebellion, and Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft.

Quest. Whence is it Men do not obey God? They know their Duty yet do it not?

Resp. 1. The not obeying of God is for want of Faith, Isa. 53.1. Quis credidit? Who hath believed our Report? Did Men believe Sin were so bitter, that Hell followed at the Heels of it, Would they go on in Sin? Did they believe there were such a Reward for the Righteous, that Godliness were Gain? Would they not pursue it? But they are Atheists, not fully captivated into the Belief of these things. Hence it is they obey not. This is Satan's Master-piece; His Draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell by keeping them in Infidelity, He knows if he can but keep them from believing the Truth, he is sure to keep them from obeying it.

2. The not obeying God is for want of Self-denial: God commands one thing and Mens Lusts command another; and they will rather dye than deny their Lusts. Now if Lust cannot be denied, God cannot be obeyed.

Use 2. Obey Gods Voice, [gap]. This is the Beauty of a Christian.

Quest. What are the great Arguments or Incentives to Obedience?

Resp. 1. Obedience makes us precious to God; we shall be his Favourites▪ Exod. 19.15. If ye will obey my Voice, ye shall be a peculiar Treasure to me above all People; you shall be my Portion, my Jewels, the Apple of mine Eye, I will give Kingdoms for your Ransom, Isa. 43.3.

2. There is nothing lost by Obedience. To obey Gods Will is the way to have our Will. 1. Would we have a Blessing in our Estates? Let us obey, Deut. 28.1, 3. If thou shalt hearken to the Voice of the Lord, to do all his Commandments, Blessed shalt thou be in the field; Blessed shall be thy Basket and thy store. To obey is the best way to thrive in our Estates. 2. Would we have a Blessing in our Souls, let us obey, Ier. 7.23. Obey and I will be your God. My Spirit shall be your Guide, Sanctifier and Comforter, Heb. 5.9. Christ became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him. While we please God we pleasure our selves: While we give him the Duty, he gives us the Dowry: We are apt to say as Amaziah, 2 Chron. 25.9. What shall we do for the hundred Talents? You see you lose nothing by obeying: The obedient Son hath the Inheritance setled on him: Obey and you shall have a Kingdom, Luke 12.32. It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom.

3. What a Sin Disobedience is: 1. It is an irrational Sin. 2. We are not able to stand it out in Defiance against God; 1 Cor. 10.22. Are we stronger than he? Will the Sinner go to measure Arms with God? He is the Father Almighty, who can command Legions: If we have not strength to resist him, it is irrational to disobey him. 2. It is irrational, as it is against all Law and Equity: We have our daily Subsistence from God; in him we live and move: Is it not equal, that as we live by him, we should live to him? That as God gives us our Allowance, so we should give him our Allegiance?

2. It is a destructive Sin, 1 Thess. 7.8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them who obey not the Gospel. He who refuseth to obey Gods Will in commanding, shall be sure to obey his Will in punishing: The Sinner, while he thinks to slip the knot of Obedience, twists the Cord of his own Damnation: He perisheth without excuse; he hath no Plea or Apology to make for himself, Luke 12.47. The Servant which knew his Lords will, but did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. God will say, why did ye not obey? You knew to do good, but did it not, therefore your Blood is upon your own Head.

Quest. What means shall we use that we may obey?

Resp. 1. Serious Consideration: Consider Gods Commands are not grievous: He commands nothing unreasonable, 1 Iohn 5.3. It is easier to obey the commands of God than Sin: The Commands of Sin are Burdensome: Let a Man be under the power of any Lust, How doth he tire himself? What Hazards doth he run,

even to the endangering his Health and Soul, that he may satisfie his Lust? What tedious Journeys did Antiochus Epiphanes take in persecuting the Jews? Ier. 9.5. They weary themselves to commit Iniquity; and are not Gods commands more easie to obey? Chrysost. saith, [gap]. Virtue is easier than Vice; Temperance is less Burdensome than Drunkenness: Some have gone with less pains to Heaven, than others have to Hell.

Consideration 2. God commands nothing but what is Beneficial, Deut. 10.12, 13. O Israel what doth the Lord require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, and to keep his Statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? To obey God, is not so much our Duty as our Privilege: His commands carry Meat in the Mouth of them: He bids us repent; and why? That our Sins may be blotted out, Acts 3.19. He commands us to believe: And why? That we may be saved, Acts 16.31. There is love in every command. As if a King should bid one of his Subjects dig in a Gold Mine, and then take the Gold to himself.

2. Earnest Supplication: Implore the help of the Spirit to carry us on in Obedience: Gods Spirit makes Obedience easie and delightful: If the Loadstone draw the Iron; now it is not hard for the Iron to move: If Gods Spirit quicken and draw the Heart; now it is not hard to obey. When a Gale of the Spirit blows; now we go full Sail in Obedience: Turn that Promise into a Prayer, Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes. The Promise encourageth us, the Spirit inables us to Obedience.

Of LOVE.

THE Rule of Obedience being the Moral Law comprehended in the Ten Commandements; the next Question is,

Quest. What is the Sum of the Ten Commandements?

Resp. The Summ of the Ten Commandements, is to love the Lord our God, with all our Heart, with all our Soul, with all our Strength, and with all our Mind, and our Neighbour as our selves, Deut. 6.5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy might. The Duty call'd for is Love, yea the strength of Love, with all thy Heart: God will lose none of our Love. Love is the Soul of Religion, and that which goes to the right constituting a Christian: Love is the Queen of the Graces; it shines and sparkles in Gods Eye, as the precious Stones did on the Breast-plate of Aaron.

Quest. 1. What is Love?

Resp. It is an Holy Fire kindled in the Affections, whereby a Christian is carried out strongly after God as the Supreme Good.

Quest. 2. What is the antecedent of Love to God?

Resp. The Antecedent of Love is Knowledge: The Spirit shines upon the Understanding, and discovers those Orient Beauties in God, his Wisdom, Holiness, Mercy, and these are the Lenocinium, the Load-stone to entice and draw the Love to God: Ignoti nulla Cupido: Such as know not God cannot love him: If the Sun be set in the Understanding, there must needs be night in the Affections.

Quest. 3. Wherein doth the formal Nature of Love consist?

Resp. The Nature of Love is in delighting in the Object: Complacentia amantis in amato, Aquin. This is our loving God, our taking delight in him, Psal. 37.4. Delight thy self in the Lord: As a Bride delights in her Jewels. Grace changeth a Christians Aims and Delights.

Quest. 4. How must our Love to God be qualified?

Resp. 1. If it be a sincere Love, we must love God with all our Heart: In the Text, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, Becol Leuauca, with all thy Heart. God will have the whole Heart; we must not divide our Love between God and Sin: The true Mother would not have the Child divided: Nor will God have the Heart divided; it must be the whole Heart.

2. We must love God propter se, for himself, for his own intrinsick Excellencies: We must love him for his Loveliness; Meretricius est amor plus annulum quam sponsum amare. It is an Harlots Love to love the Portion more than the Person. Hypocrites love God because he gives them Corn and Wine: We must love God

for himself; for those shining Perfections which are in him. Gold is loved for it self.

3. We must love God with all our might. In the Hebrew Text our Vehemency. We must love God quoad posse, as much as we are able: Christians should be like Seraphins burning in Holy Love: We can never love God so much as he deserves: The Angels in Heaven cannot love God so much as he deserves.

4. Love to God must be Active in its Sphere: Love is an Industrious Affection; it sets the Head a studying for God, Hands a working, Feet a running in the ways of his Commandements; it is called the Labour of Love, 1 Thess. 1.3. Mary Magdalen loved Christ, and poured her Oyntments on him. We think we can never do enough for the Person whom we love.

5. Love to God must be Superlative: God is the Quintessence of Beauty, a whole Paradise of Delight; and he must have a Priority in our Love: Our Love to God must be above all things besides; as the Oyl swims above the Water: We must love God above Estate, Relations; great is the Love to Relations. There is a Story in the French Academy, of a Daughter, who when her Father was condemned to dye by Famine, gave him suck with her own Breasts. But our Love to God must be above Father and Mother, Matt. 10.37. We may give the Creature the Milk of our Love, God must have the Cream: The Spouse keeps the Juice of her Pomgranate for Christ, Cant. 8.2.

6. Our Love to God must be constant, like the Fire the vestal Virgins kept in Rome, which did not go out. Love must be like the motion of the Pulse, it beats as long as there is Life, Cant. 8.7. Many Waters cannot quench Love, not the Waters of Persecution, Eph. 3.17. [gap], rooted in love. A Branch withers that doth not grow on a Root: That Love may not dye, it must be well rooted.

Quest. 5. What are the visible Signs of our Love to God?

Resp. 1. If we love God, then our Desire is after him, Isa. 26.8. The desire of our Soul is to thy Name. He who loves God breaths after Communion with him, Psal. 42.2. My Soul thirsts for the living God. Persons in Love desire to be oft conferring together: He who loves God desires to be much in his Presence: He loves the Ordinances, they are the Glass where the Glory of God is resplendent: In the Ordinances we meet with him whom our Soul loves: We have Gods Smiles and Whispers, and some Fore-tasts of Heaven: Such as have no desire after Ordinances, have no love to God.

2. The second Visible Sign: He who loves God cannot take Contentment in any thing without him: An Hypocrite who pretends to love God, give him but Corn and Wine, and he can be content without God: But a Soul fired with love to God cannot be without him. Lovers faint away if they have not a sight of the Object loved. A gracious Soul can want Health, but not want God who is the Health of his Countenance, Psal. 43.5. If God should say to a Soul that intirely loves him, Take thy Ease, swim in Pleasure, solace thy self in the Delights of the World, but thou shalt not enjoy my Presence; this would not content the Soul. Nay, if God should say, I will let thee be taken up to Heaven, but I will retire into a withdrawing Room, and thou shalt not see my Face: This would not content the Soul; it is an Hell to want God. The Philosopher saith, There can be no Gold without the Influence of the Sun: There can be no golden Joy in the Soul, without Gods sweet Presence and Influence.

3. The third visible Sign: He who loves God, hates that which would separate between him and God, and that is Sin: Sin makes God hide his Face; it is like an Incendiary which parts chief Friends. Therefore the Keneness of a Christians Hatred is set against Sin, Psal. 119.128. I hate every false way. Antipathies can never be reconciled; one cannot love Health but he must hate Poyson: So we cannot love God, but we must hate Sin, which would destroy our Communion with him.

4. The fourth visible Sign is Sympathy: Friends that love do grieve for the Evils which befall each other. Homer describing Agamemnon's Grief, when he was forced to Sacrifice his Daughter, brings in all his Friends weeping with him, and accompanying him to the Sacrifice in Mourning: Lovers grieve together: If we have true Love in our Heart to God, we cannot but grieve for those things which grieve him: We shall lay to Heart his Dishonours: The Luxury, Drunkenness, Contempt of God and Religion, Psal. 119.136. Rivers of Tears run down mine eyes, &c. Some speak of the Sins of others, and make a laughing at them; sure they have no love to God, who can laugh at that which grieves his Spirit. Doth he love his Father, who can laugh to hear him Reproached?

5. The Fifth Visible Sign. He who loves God, labours to render him Lovely to others; he not only admires God, but speaks in his Praises, that he may allure and draw others to be in love with God. She that is in Love, will commend her Lover. The Love-sick Spouse extols Christ, she makes a Panegyrical Oration of his worth, that she might perswade others to be in love with him, Cant. 5.11. His Head is as the most Fine Gold. True love to God cannot be silent, it will be elegant in setting forth God's Renown; no better sign of loving God, than by making him appear Lovely, and so drawing Proselytes to him.

6. The Sixth Visible Sign. He who loves God, weeps bitterly for his Absence. Mary comes weeping, they have taken away my Lord, John 20.2. One cries, my Health is gone, another my Estate is gon; but he who is a Lover of God, cries out, my God is gone, I cannot enjoy him whom I love. What can all Worldly Comfors do, when once God is absent? It is like a Funeral Banquet, where there is much Meat, but no Chear, Iob 30.28. I went Mourning without the Sun. If Rachel Mourned so for the loss of her Children, what Vail or Pensil can shadow out the Sorrow of that Christian, who hath lost God's sweet Presence? Such a Soul pours forth Floods of Tears, and while it is lamenting, seems to say thus to God, Lord, thou art in Heaven hearing the Melodious Songs and Triumphs of Angels; but I sit here in the Vally of Tears, weeping because thou art gone. O when wilt thou come to me and revive me with the Light of thy Countenance? Or, Lord if thou wilt not come to me, let me come to thee, where I shall have a perpetual Smile of thy Face in Heaven, and shall never more Complain, My Beloved hath withdrawn himself.

7. The Seventh Visible Sign. He who loves God, is willing to do and Suffer for him. He subscribes to God's Commands; he submits to his Will. First, He subscribes to Gods Commands. If God bids him Mortifie Sin, Love his Enemies, be Crucified to the World, he obeys: 'Tis a vain thing for a Man to say he loves God, and slights his Commands. Secondly, He submits to God's Will. If God will have him suffer for him, he doth not Dispute but Obey, 1 Cor. 13.7. Love endureth all things. Love made Christ suffer for us, and Love will make us suffer for him. It is true every Christian is not a Martyr, but he hath a Spirit of Martyrdom in him. He hath a Disposition of Mind to suffer, if God call him to it, 2 Tim. 4.6. [gap], I am ready to be Offered up: Not only the Sufferings were ready for Paul, but he was ready for the Sufferings. Origen chose rather to live despised in Alexandria, than with Plotinus to deny the Faith, and be great in the Princes Favour, Rev. 12.11. Many say they love God, but will not suffer the loss of any thing for him. If Christ should have said to us, I love you well, you are dear to me, but I cannot suffer for you, I cannot lay down my Life for you, we should have questioned his Love very much. And may not the Lord question ours, when we pretend Love to him, but will endure nothing for his sake?

Use 1. What shall we say to them who have not a Dram of Love in their Hearts to God? They have their Life from him, yet do not Love him. God spreads their Table every Day, yet they do not Love him. Sinners dread God as a Judge, but do not love him as a Father. All the strength in the Angels cannot make the Heart love God: Judgments will not do it. Only Omnipotent Grace can make a Stony Heart melt in Love. How sad is it to be void of Love to God. When the Body is cold, and hath no heat in it, 'tis a sign of Death: He is Spiritually Dead, who hath no heat of Love in his Heart to God. Shall ever such live with God, that do not love him? Will God lay an Enemy in his Bosom? Such as will not be drawn with Cords of Love, shall be bound in Chains of Darkness.

Use 2. Let us be perswaded to love God with all our Heart and Might; O let us take our Love off from other things, and place it upon God. Love is the Heart of Religion, the Fat of the Offering. 'Tis the Grace which Christ enquires most after, Iohn 21.15. Peter, lovest thou me? Love makes all our Services Acceptable, it is the Musk that perfumes them. 'Tis not so much Duty, as Love to Duty God delights in; therefore Serving and Loving God are put together, Isa. 56.6. 'Tis better to Love him than to Serve him. Obedience without Love, is like Wine without the Spirits. O then be perswaded to love God with all your Heart and Might. To perswade to this Virgin Affection of Love,

1. 'Tis nothing but your Love God desires. The Lord might have demanded your Children to be offered in Sacrifice; he might have bid you Cut and Launce

your Selves, or lain in Hell a while; but he only desires your Love; he would only have this Flower. Is this an hard Request to Love God? Was ever any Debt easier paid than this? Is it any labour to the Wife to Love her Husband? Love is delightful. Non potest Amor esse, & dulcis non esse, Bern. What is there in our Love that God should desire it? Why should a King desire the Love of a Woman that is in Debt, and Diseased? God doth not want our Love. There are Angels enough in Heaven to Adore and Love him. What is God the better for our Love? It adds not the least Cubit to his Essential Blessedness. God doth not need our Love, yet seeks it. Why doth God desire us to give him our Heart? Prov. 23.26. Not that he needs our Heart, but that he may make it better.

2. Great will be our Advantage if we love God. God doth not court our Love that we should lose it, 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. If you will Love God, you shall have such a Reward as exceeds your Faith. God will betroth you to himself in the dearest Love, Hos. 2.19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever in Loving-Kindness and Mercies. Zeph. 3.17. The Lord thy God will rejoyce over thee with Ioy, he will rest in his Love. If you love God, he will interest you in all his Riches and Dignities he will give you Heaven and Earth for your Dowry, he will set a Crown on your Head. Vespasian the Emperor gave a great Reward to a Woman who came to him, and professed she Loved him. God gives a Crown of Life to them that Love him, Iames 1.12.

3. Love is the only Grace that shall live with us in Heaven. In Heaven we shall need no Repentance, because we have no Sin; no Faith, because we shall see God Face to Face. But Love to God shall abide for ever. Love [gap] never faileth, 1 Cor. 13.8. How should we nourish this Grace which shall outlive all the Graces, and run parallel with Eternity!

4. Our Love to God is a sign of his Love to us, 1 Iohn 4.19. We love him, because he first loved us. By Nature we are [gap], we have no Love to God, we have Hearts of Stone, Ezek. 36.1. And how can any love be in Hearts of Stone! Our Loving God is from his Loving us. If the Glass burn, it is because the Sun hath shined on it, else it could not burn: If our Hearts burn in Love, 'tis a sign the Sun of Righteousness hath shined upon us.

Quest. How shall we do to Love God aright?

Resp. 1. Wait on the Preaching of the Word. As Faith comes by Hearing, so doth Love: The Word sets forth God in his incomparable Excellencies; it doth decipher and pencil him out in all his Glory, and a sight of his Beauty inflames Love.

2. Beg of God that he will give you an Heart to Love him. When King Solomon asked Wisdom of God, the Speech pleased the Lord, 1 Kings 3.10. So when thou cryest to God, Lord give me an Heart to love thee, 'tis my Grief I can Love thee no more. Sure this Prayer pleaseth the Lord, and he will pour of his Spirit upon thee, whose Golden Oyl will make the Lamp of thy Love burn bright.

3. You who have Love to God, keep it Flaming upon the Altar of your Heart. Love, as Fire, will be ready to go out, Rev. 2.4. Thou hast left thy first Love. Through neglect of Duty, or too much love of the World, our love to God will cool. O preserve your love to God: As you would be careful to preserve the Natural Heat in your Body; so be careful to preserve the Heat of Love to God. Love is like Oyl to the Wheels, it quickens us in God's Service. When you find your Love abate and cool, use all means for quickening; when the Fire is going out, you throw on Fuel. When the Flame of Love is going out, make use of all Ordinances as Sacred Fuel to keep the Fire of your Love burning.