To encourage this godlike disposition, I proceed to shew,
II. The blessedness of him in whom this resemblance is found —
1 2 Cor. vi. ll—l(i. k Gal. vi. 10. ■ Ps. xvi. ;}.
2459.^ believer's resemblance to god in love. 505
This is set forth by the Apostle in very exalted terms. But it must first be remembered, that the believer is here supposed to " dwell in love :" he does not put it forth only on some particular occasions, but cherishes it habitually in his bosom, and maintains it as the constant habit of his mind. Now, where a person dwells in it, he will be happy ;
1. In his enjoyment of the present —
[There is a mutual in-dwelling between him and God ; " he Swelling in God," by faith and love ; and " God dwelling in him," by the abiding influence of his good Spirit.
But these expressions are far too weighty to be passed over with so slight a notice. The believer " dwells in God !" We know what ideas we associate with a house in which we dwell : we regard it as our own : we go to it with freedom at all times : in it we expect to find whatever is suited to our daily necessities, and sufficient for our daily wants : we are at ease in it, and feel ourselves secure from the tempests that rage around us. There, after all the troubles and fatigues of life, we lay us down to rest, and find that repose which fits us for the duties of every succeeding day. Now, familiar as this illustration may appear, it is that which the Scriptures employ as peculiarly fitted to convey to our minds the truth which we are considering : " O Lord, thou hast been our dwelling- place in all generations111:" and again; " Because thou hast made the Lord, even the Most High, thine habitation, there shall no evil befall thee11." This confidence the believer feels: he looks to God as his God : he has access to him at all times ; goes to him without restraint; "enters into the inmost cham- bers0 of his divine perfections ; and shuts the door about him ; hiding himself from every storm" which may beat around him ; and finding in him that rest, and those supplies of grace, which his necessities require.
At the same time, " God dwells in him," as in his temple. Frequently does God designate his believing people by this gracious appellation ; and promise them his presence, as in his temple of old : " What agreement," says he, " hath the temple of God with idols ? for ye are the temple of the living God : as God hath said, / will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people p." Now this exactly marks the favours which God will vouchsafe to the truly loving soul. You remember that God abode in his temple by a visible symbol of his presence : that there, on the
m Ps. xc. 1. n Ps. xci. 9, 10.
0 Isai. xxvi. 20. P 2 Cor. vi. 10.