Refignation, Affiance, from a Senfe of his Favour and Approbation, and the pleafing Hopes of Immortality, which Man alone of all the Creatures in this lower World is capable of entertaining, and which have been the principal Support and Comfort of the best of Men in all Ages.

And this leads me to what I propofed to confider in the fecond Place, viz. the glorious Displays of the divine Love and Goodness in the admirable Methods of our Redemption and Salvation by Jefus Chrift. And to this the Apoftle feems here to have a special Reference, when he defcribes God under this most amiable Character, God is Love. For he immediately adds, In this was manifefted the Love of God towards us, because that God fent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him. Herein is Love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and fent his Son to be the Propitiation for our Sins. 1 John iv. 9. 10. Love, infinite Love fhines forth in the whole aftonishing Scheme of our Salvation. We are taught in Scripture to regard it as having had its first Original in the Councils of God's eternal Wisdom, Grace, and Love, before the World was made. Such was the Goodnefs and Love of God towards us, that upon a Forefight of the wretched and ruin

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ous State into which we should fall by our Sins, he formed the glorious Defign of our Recovery, and chofe us in Chrift before the Foundation of the World, that we should be holy, and without Blame before him in Love. Eph. i. 4. It was Love that in pursuance of his kind and gracious Intentions towards us, caufed him to fend a Perfon of fuch infinite Dignity, his well beloved and only begotten Son, to fave and redeem us in the Fulnefs of Time. The wonderful Love of God to Mankind illuftriously appears in the Incarnation of the Son of God, in his holy Life and perfect Example, in his excellent Doctrines and Precepts, and the Revelation he hath brought from Heaven, and his beneficent Miracles, in his grievous Sufferings and Death, whereby he made Atonement for the Sins of the World, in his Resurrection from the dead, and Afcenfion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the right Hand of the Majefty on high. It is infinite Wisdom and Love that hath conftituted him Head over all Things unto his Church, and our great Advocate with the Father, who ever liveth to make Interceffion for us, and that hath appointed, that he who is our Saviour fhould be our final Judge. Love eminently fhines forth in the whole Conftitution of the Covenant of Grace, which is ratified by the Redeem

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er's Blood, in its exceeding great and cious Promises, and in its moft gracious and condefcending Terms. How amiable doth God appear as a God in Chrift, reconciling the World unto himself, inviting Sinners to forfake their evil Ways, and to lay hold on his offered Grace and Mercy, not imputing their Trefpaffes unto those that return to him by a humble Faith, and fincere Repentance, adopting them into his Family, and admitting them to the Privileges of his Children! Behold, (faith St. John,) what Manner of Love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God. 1 John iii. 1. It is Love that caufeth all Things to work together for our Good, that fendeth the Angels to minifter unto us, and the Holy Spirit of Grace to affift, guide, and comfort us, to dwell in our Hearts as in his living Temples, and to fpread disine Life, and Light, and Joy, through our Souls. It is Love, almighty Love, that will raise our dead Bodies from the Grave, and will admit us to the Glories of his heavenly Kingdom, and make us completely happy in his beatific Prefence to all Eternity. With what Joy fhould we look forward to that glorious Time and State, when the whole general Affembly and Church of the first-born, confifting of all the good Men

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that ever lived from the Foundation of the World, fhall be gathered together in Heaven, all united in delightful Love and Harmony, and made perfect in Holiness, and in Glory, and all of them the everlasting Monuments of the divine Grace and Goodness! Then shall the Designs of the divine Love towards us be completed, and God fhall appear to Men and Angels in all the Glory of this amiable Character, that God is Love. The heavenly Kingdom is a Kingdom of eternal Love, Peace, and Joy. There infinite Love reigns for ever, and is all in all. Let us now rejoice in the happy Prospects, and endeavour to get our Souls formed more and more into a Meetness for that glorious State; the best Preparative for which is a Life spent under the governing Influence of holy Love, Love to God, and Love to Mankind.

Thus have I mentioned fome of those Inftances in which the Love and Goodness of God is most eminently exercised and displayed.

In our next Difcourfe we fhall take Notice of fome Things which feem to have a contrary Appearance, and which are urged as Objections against the divine Love and Goodness.

On

On the Goodness of God.

DISCOURSE

IN

1 JOHN iv. 8.

God is Love.

XIII.

N my former Difcourfes on this Subject I firft offered fome general Obfervations for explaining the Description here given of God, that God is Love: And then I proceeded to a more distinct Illuftration of this amiable and glorious Character, and took Notice of fome of those Inftances in which the Love and Goodness of God is most eminently exercifed and displayed towards his Creatures, and especially towards Mankind. It appears in the various Benefits of his common bountiful Providence: but above all it is illuftriously manifefted