q^iod non cngnoscitur^ — we cannot love that whicli we do not know. God is the most eligible good ; all the excellencies which lie scattered in the creature are united in God ; he is Optimns maxirmis. Wisdom, beauty, riches, love, do all concentre in God. How fair was that tulip which had the colours of all tulips in it ? all perfec- tions and sweetnesses are eminently in God. Did we know God more, and by the eye of faith see his orient beauty, our hearts would be fired with love to him.
A. 2. Make the scriptures familiar to you. St. Austin saith, before bis conver- sion he took no pleasure in scripture, but after conversion it was his chief delight. Tiie book of God discovers God to us, in his holiness, wisdom, veracity and truth ; it represents God rich in mercy, encircled with promises. St. Austin calls the scrip- ture a golden epistle, or love-letter sent from God to us : by reading this love-let- ter, we shall be the more enamoured with love to God, as by reading lascivious books, comedies, romances, &c. lust is provoked.
A. 3. Meditate much of God, and this will be a means to love him, Ps. xxxix. 3., " Wliile I was musing, the fire burned." Meditation is the bellows of t'lc affections. Meditate on God's love in giving us Christ, John iii. 16., " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," &c. That God should give Christ to us, and not to the angels that fell, — that the Sun of righteousness should shine in our horizon, — that he is revealed to us and not to o- thers, — what wonderful love is this ! Prov. vi. 28., " Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned ?" Who can medi- tate on God's love ? who can tread on these hot coals, and his heart not burn in love to God ? Bee: an heart to love CJod : the affection of love is natural, but not tlie grace of love. Gal. v. 22. This fire of love is kindled from heaven ; beg that it may burn upon tlie altar of your heart. Sure this request is pleasing to God, and he will not deny such a prayer: " Lord, give me an heart to love thee !"
ExoD. XX. 6. And keep my commandments, §-c.
LOVE and obedience, like two sisters, must go hand and hand ; indeed this is a good evidence of our loving God, John xiv. 15., " If ye love me, keep my command- ments." Prohatio delectiunis est exhibitio operis. Tiie son that loves his father will obey him. Obedience pleaseth God, 1 Sam. XV. 22., " To obey is better than sacrifice." In sacrifice, only a dead beast is offered, — in obedience, a living soul ; in sacrifice, on- ly a part of the fruit is offered, — in obedi- ence, fruit and tree and all ; a nr.an offers himself up to God. " Keep my command- ments." It is not said, God shews mercy to thousands that knoiv his commandments, but that keep them. The knowing God's commandments, without keeping them, doth not entitle any to mercy. The command- ment is not only a rule of knowledge, but duty. God gives us his commandments, not only as a landscape to look upon, but as his will and testament which we are to perform. A good Christian is like the sun,
which doth not only send forth light, but goes its circuit round the world : so he hath not only the light of knowledge, but goes his circuit too, and moves in the sphere of obedience.
Quest. In what manner must ue keep God's commandments ?
Alts. 1. Our keeping the commandments must be fiducial. Our obedience to God's commandments, must projluere a fide, — spring from faith; therefore it is called " the obedience of faith," Rom. xvi. 26. " Abel by faith offered up a better sacri- fice than Cain," Heb. xi. 4. Faith is a vi- tal principle; without it all our services are opera mortua, — dead works, Heb. vi. 1, Faith doth meliorate and swe«ten our obe- dience, and make it come off with a heller relish.
Quest. But uhy must faith he mijtj with obedience to the commniuhiienl 'f
Ans. Because faith eyes Christ in cvi y dutv, and so both tiie ])erson and otii:ii».g
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OF THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.
are accepted. The high-priest under the law laid his hand upon the head of the beast slain, which did point to the Messiah, Exod. xxix. 10.: so faith in every duty lays its hand upon the head of Christ. His blood doth expiate the guilt, and the sweet odour of his intercession perfume our works of obedience, Eph. i. 6., " He hath made us accepted in the beloved."