Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

To conclude this account of the life of the great Mr. Howe, whofe memory is still held in the higheft veneration, it is not to be wondered at, that a man of fo great abi lities, of inflexible integrity, of fuch fervent piety to GOD, and the most ardent and unaffected benevolence to mankind; in fhort, a man adorned with as many accomplishments, both human and divine, perhaps as any one of the age in which he lived; should be so much respected in his life-time or that his very name should be mentioned, with fuch uncommon honour, as it is to this day. What a noble argument is this in favour of religion! for a life, so usefully spent, will certainly have a glorious period, and be crowned with immortal honour.

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE *.

to abridge them, would certainly fpoil them. If the reader is curious to fee them, as indeed they are well worth his perufal, he is referred to Dr. Calamy's large account of our Author's life, p. 80-86. fol. & p. 844-262. oct.

Pfal. cx11. 6.

A

A

SUMMARY VIEW

OF THE

SEVENTEEN SERMONS on the

Love of GoD and our Brother, in VOL. I.

On I JOHN IV. 20.

[blocks in formation]

T

page

HE general nature of

- love defined.

I

THE three things chiefly infifted on through

out the whofe difcourfe.

4

FIRST, That there is a greater difficulty of living in the exercife of love to God, than towards men, on account of his invifibility. ibid.

SECONDLY, That the impoffibility of seeing GOD, does not however excufe us from ex-ibid. ercising love to him in this present state.

THIRDLY, That the profeffion of love to GOD is abfurd in thofe, who do not love their brother alfo.

5

FIRST, The impoffibility of feeing GoD renders the exercise of love to him more diffi

e3.

cult,

page

cult, than the exercife of love to thofe whom

we do fee.

Two branches here diftinctly confidered.

6

I. THAT it is more difficult to love GOD than our brother.

ibid. II. THAT one great reafon of it is that we cannot fce GOD, as we do our brother. ibid.

I. THAT there is a greater difficulty in the exercife of love to GOD, than to men, may be collected from the common obfervation of the world. Here the particular evidences of love are confidered, in order to fhew that men are generally more beloved by one another, than Gop is by them. As

1. MINDFULNESS, or a kind remembrance of others.

8

2. To be apt to truft in another is a very natural expreffion of love.

9

3. AND fo is a readiness to be concerned for one another's intereft and reputation.

4. An earnest study to please men.

10

12

5. A difpofition deeply to regret any offence we unwarily have given to men.

16

6. A LOVE of converfe, or delight in each other's company.

SERMON II.

17

II. THE fecond branch of the first propofition is this, that one great reafon of the difficulty is, that men cannot fee God; whereas

they

page

they do fee one another.However it is observed,

21

1. THAT it is not an impoffible thing in it felf to love the unfeen GOD.

ibid.

2. THAT the invifibility of his nature is not the neceffary cause of this evil.

22

ibid.

3. NOR hath it always been the cause of fuch an effect. Nor, 4. CAN it be a cause of it felf, but in conjunction with fome other.

23

5. WHICH Cause must needs be the degeneracy

of man's nature.

24

6. THAT this degeneracy must confist very much in the depreffion of the mind, and the exaltation of the fenfe.

25

7. THAT the not feeing Gon can be only a temporary cause of our not loving him. 26 For the eviction of the truth of this propofition, it is obferved,

(1.) THAT the object is such as would certainly command our love, if it was rightly apprehended. And

28

(2.) THAT if an object fo excellent in himfelf, and beneficent towards us, is not generally beloved, it must be owing to the dominion of fenfe over us.

SERMON III.

32

APPLICATION, or Inferences from the preceding difcourfes.

[blocks in formation]

page

1. THAT man is in a very low and lapfed ftate.

38

II. THAT this depravity in the nature of man confifts greatly in the depreffion of the intellectual powers.

42

III. THAT man is most impaired by his fall in respect to his difpofition towards GOD. 45.

IV. THAT upon all these accounts he must neceffarily be at a great distance from true blesfedness.

48

V. THAT there is therefore great neceffity of much Gofpel-preaching, in order to persuade men to the love of God.

SERMON IV.

49

VI, THAT there is alfo great need of the communication of the influences of the mighty Spirit of life to relieve us in this distress.

55

VII. THAT the work of regeneration is principally the implanting in the fouls of men fuch principles, as directly controul the dictates of fense.

59

VIII. THAT the power, by which any become lovers of GOD, is highly to be adored and magnified.

60

IX. THAT the life of Chriftians in this world is a conflicting life.

61

LASTLY, That the proneness of men to acquiefce in a civil deportment, and to reft in the mere formalities of religion, has one common

cause ;

« AnteriorContinua »