[It is love, concerting measures for the communicating of his own nature and blessedness to creatures that should be formed for this very end. It was for this end that he created myriads of holy angels in heaven. It was for this end that he formed the earth; and placed upon it beings endowed with faculties capable of knowing, loving, serving, and enjoying him. He would have been equally happy and glorious, though no creature had ever existed, to behold his glory, or participate his bliss. As he was eternally self-existent, so he would have been eternally self-sufficient : nor was it possible for any creatures, however numerous or exalted, to add any thing to him. But, from the fulness of love that was in him, he determined to form creatures susceptible of all the blessed- ness which he had ordained for them : and in the execution of this office his wisdom engaged with great delight.]
And in what light must we view his power ?
[This also was love, putting forth all its energies to accom- plish the things which wisdom had devised. No other object had it in view, than the adapting of all things to their proper ends, that nothing might be wanting to any creature in the uni- verse ; but that every thing, from the highest archangel to the meanest insect, might, according to its capacity, enjoy a fulness of bliss. The whole inanimate creation, the celestial bodies which move in their orbits, and this terrestrial globe with all its diversified accommodations, are all subservient to this end ; and all evince, that the power which called them into existence was only a modification of love.]
In no other view can we conceive of his holiness —
[This also was love, making known to his creatures what was his mind and will, and shewing them the precise path in which they must walk, in order to enjoy the happiness which he had ordained for them. On their conformity to him their happiness must, of necessity, depend : and God, in order that no creature might be at a loss to know his will, proclaimed it to them, and enjoined the observance of it as a law ; thus con- straining them to seek their own happiness, not from self-love only, but as an act of obedience to him.]
Even his justice, too, must be regarded in the same light—
[This enforced the law with sanctions ; with a promise of eternal life, if it were obeyed ; and with a threatening of eternal death, if it were transgressed. And what was this, but love, shutting up his creatures to a necessity of preserving the happiness for which they were formed ; and rendering it, as might have been supposed, impossible that they should ever decline from it?