8 fonate Longing for him in thefe Words O God, my Cod, early do I feek thee, my Soul thirfteth for thee. So again, in Pal. xlii. 1. As the Hart defireth the Water Brooks, fo longeth my Soul after thee, O God. As that Creature, after it hath been hotly chas'd by Hunters, may be fuppofed vehemently to long for a Brook of Water, to affwage it's Heat, and flake it's raging Thirst; fo did his devout Soul breath after the Enjoyment of God, whom he fincerely loved; and long to drink of thofe Rivers of Pleasures which eternally flow from that inexhauftible Fountain of Delight. Thus if we truly love God, we shall efteem and value him infinitely beyond all other Beings; and this will be attended with choosing him for our Supreme Good, and defiring the Enjoyment him. We are all naturally determined to choose and defite what we judge to be a Good; and if we esteem God as infinitely the greatest Good, 'tis but natural for our Choice and Defire to rife and increase accordingly. But to prevent any Mistakes in this Matter, let it be farther remembered; that whatever great Notions Men may have in their Minds of God's immeafurable Excellencies and Perfections; whatever Earn Earnestness they may feel in their Defires to worship him, and whatever Warmth they may exprefs in their Acts of Devotion, they must beware of flattering themfelves from thence, that they are true Lovers of God, unlefs they likewife pay an hearty Obedience to all his Laws: For without this, 'tis impoffible a fincere Love and Efteem for God fhould be dwelling in them. God is our Supreme Governour and Law-giver, and if we will not yield that Obedience to his Laws which he requires, we provoke and affront him, but Provocations and Affronts are utterly inconfiftent with a fervent Love and Eftcem. Those whom we dearly love and esteem, we endeavour to please; and if we love and efteem God as we ought, we shall do our utmost to please him in the Way which we know will please him; that is in a fincere Conformity to all his Commandments. To this Purpose are the Words of our Savour in St. John's Golpel, Chap. xiv. Ver. 15. If ye love me keep my Commandments: And again at the 23d Verfe; If a Man love me, he will keep my ords. And fo St. John tells us, in his firft Epift. v. 3. This is the Love of Cod, that we keep his Com Commandments: And bis Commandments are not grievous: In this the Love of God muft fhow itself, even in keeping his Commandments; and as this Love increases, the Difficulty of keeping them will wear off and diminish. This then is the best Standard, by which to know that we love God. This is the trueft Sign that we duly value and esteem him, when we reverence and obey his Precepts. This is the fureft Argument that we have chofen him for our Supreme Good, when we choofe the Means required on our Part to obtain him. In a Word, This is the most evident Token, that we defire the Enjoyment of him in Heaven for ever, when we carefully walk in those Paths which will lead us to fuch an Enjoyment. And fo much may fuffice to have been fpoken to the second Thing propounded; which was to examine the Description of those Perfons, to whom Afflictions and Sufferings will work together for Good. The Sum of what has been delivered upon this Head, is this: To wit, that by them who love God, and are called accor ding to his Purpose, we are to understand those who are called to be Chriftians; and have their Hearts so affectionately dispol ed ed towards God, as to value him above all other Beings; to choose him for the Supreme Good; to defire the Enjoyment of him; and to yield an unlimited Obedience to him. Thefe are the Perfons who love God, and are called according to his Purpose: These are they to whom Afflictions and Sufferings will work together for Good. And the Reason why Afflictions and Sufferings will work together for Good to fuch Perfons, is plain and obvious enough. For fuch Perfons will look upon them as Chastisements of a loving Father they'll confider them as Meffengers fent to exercife and improve their Virtues; and fo fet themselves upon answering the Ends for which they are fent, whereupon the Grace of Almighty God concurs to make 'em ferviceable in the Promotion of their Welfare and Advantage. Whereas, when Afflictions and Sufferings fall heavy upon those who are defti tute of the Love of God, and regard not the End of his Difpenfations, there's no fuch good Fruit to be expected from them. When Affliction meets with a stubborn Spirit, then (fays a pious Author) Tribulation excites Impatience; Impatience с Mr. Burkitt, in his Com. on Róm. v. Ꮓ causeth caufeih Perplexity; Perplexity Defpair; and Delpair Confufion. patroq bar you Give me Leave now, to make a Reflec tion or two from what hath been delivered, by way of Application, and then I hall conclude. First then, Since Afflictions and Sufferings are intended to work together for our Good; from hence we may obferve, what great Reafon there is for Patience and Contentment under them; and even for Thanksgiving to that good God who lays them upon us. We generally think ourselves much obliged to him who cures our bodily Inhrmities, tho he puts us to Pain and Trouble in order thereto: Certainly then if we judge aright, we must reckon ourfelves far more indebted to him, who aims at the Promotion of our Spiritual Welfare, thot the Remedies he makes ufe of, are sharp and distasteful. And where can we find a fronger Argument for Patience and Contentment under the Calamities we meet with, than to confider, that the Severity of God's Difpenfations is tempered with fuch merciful Designs, as the Advancement of our greatest Good and Advantage? 3 When therefore he vifits us with Af- |
