the inexpreffible. Need of a better Righteousness

than our own.

The Knowledge of GOD is the Foundation of all vital Religion, and indeed is the Confummation of human Happiness. It is not only Matter of prefent Duty, but the very Effence of our future Bliss; This is Life eternal, to know Thee the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST whom Thou haft fent *. -Yet, important and obligatory as it is, are We not very defective in this divine Science? Have We duly acquainted Ourselves with the marvelous Excellencies of the LORD JEHOVAH? His uncontroulable Power, and all-comprehending Wifdom; his unbounded Goodness, and unwearied Patience; his immaculate Holiness, and inflexible Juftice; his never-failing Faithfulness, and inviolable Veracity?-Have We, according to the Direction of our infpired Tutor, pursued this facred Study on our Knees +; and sought this most noble of all intellectual Endowments, not merely from Books, but principally at the Throne of Grace. Have We fought it, like that antient Jewish Student, with an early Application, and with inceffant Affiduity; even "from the Flower, till the Grape was ripe ?"

Is that scanty Ray of Knowledge, which perhaps has forced itself through our original Darkness, operative on our Affections? Have We loved the LORD our GOD with all our Heart? This is the first and great Commandment ||.-Have We constantly entertained the most magnificent and honourable Thoughts of his fublime Perfections? Is our Efteem

John xvii. 3. Matt. xxii. 38.

X 4

† James i. 5. Ecclus. li. 15.

Efteem for this immenfely great and most bleffed BEING, high, fuperlative, matchlefs? Somewhat like that, expreffed by the Pfalmift; Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? And there is None upon Earth, that I defire in comparison of Thee *.-Have we been affectionately concerned for his Glory, and zealous to advance his holy Religion? Troubled, very fenfibly troubled, when our MAKER's Honour has been trampled in the Duft, by licentious Tongues, or flagitious Deeds?

Have We made it our ruling Care, to approve the Whole of our Life, and the moft fecret Transactions of our Breaft, to his all-feeing Eye? Refolved, deliberately refolved to facrifice, not only our darling Lufts, but even our most valuable Interefts, whenever they stand in competition with the good Pleafure of his Will?-In a Word; as the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks, with fuch vehement and inextinguishable Ardour, have We thirfted after-a brighter Manifeftation of his divine Attributesfome sweeter Affurances of his fpecial Love and an ever-increafing Conformity to his holy Image?

Such was the Temper of thofe excellent Men, who are characterized in the Scriptures of Truth, as Children of the HIGHEST, and Patterns for our Imitation. This is their Language; The Defire of our Soul is unto thy Name, and to the Remembrance of Thee. With my Soul have I defired Thee in the Night; yea, with my Spirit within me will I feek Thee early t-Neither is fuch Warmth of Love, and Fervour

Pfal. lxxiii. 25.

+ Ifai. xxvi. 8, 9. We can hardly tell, which to admire moft, the Beauty of the Defcription, or the Piety of the Perfons. I have defired; and not with inactive Wishes,

6

but

Fervour of Defire, any needlefs or extravagant Pitch of Devotion; but a reasonable Service, indifpenfibly due, from all intelligent Creatures, to the great AUTHOR of their Being-in whom all poffible Perfections, with the utmost Exaltation and Dignity, refide-from whom all Manner of Bleffings, in the most copious and never-failing Communications, flow.

When We receive, from an abfent Friend, rich and repeated Prefents; Cafks of generous Wine, or Jars of delicious Fruit; We feel Ourselves inkindled into a grateful Affection. We honour, We love the Perfon, who allows Us fuch a diftinguifhed Place in his Heart; and expreffes his cordial Regard, by fuch a Series of active and tender Benevolence. The Bleffed GOD is a Friend to Us All, infinitely powerful, and equally munificent. We are the conftant Objects of his more than friendly, of his parental Cares. Every paffing Moment is a Meffenger of his Patience, and.charged with fome Token of his Bounty. For our Sake, He has diffused Bleffings over all the Face of the Earth; and commanded every Element to concur, in ministering to our Accommodation. He has not only adapted his Benefits to our feveral Wants; but has given them

a

but fuch as prompt to vigorous Endeavours; I will feck Thee. And early, with the most vigilant Application and unwearied Affiduity. The Emphafis is very much increased, by the Addition of thofe lively Words, with my Soul, yea with my Spirit; with the whole Bent and Sway of my Affections, and with the steady invariable Determination of my Judgment. Thus have I defired Thee, even in the Night; when both the Purfuits and the Thoughts of other People, are funk and loft in profound Repofe. Thus will I feek Thee, with a Zeal-early as the rifing-conftant as the returning Sun.

a Diverfification, large as the Scope of our Wishes; and an Enrichment, far beyond all that our Fancy could conceive.--Profufe Liberality! Yet fmall and fcanty, compared with his most adorable Benignity in CHRIST JESUS.

What? If GOD, willing to manifeft the fuperabundant Riches of his Kindness, had made bare the Arm of his Omnipotence; and ftruck a moft miraculous Road through the Surges of the Ocean, to afford Us a fafe Paffage ?-If, to accommodate Us in our Travels, He had brought Waters out of the flinty Rock; and bid the Ravens bring Meat to our Hands, bid the Winds convey Manna to our Doors? -If, to furnish Us with a commodious Settlement, He had dethroned mighty Kings, difpoffeffed popu Jous Nations, and made the Walls of impregnable Citics fall to the Ground?-If, to further the Difpatch of our Bufinefs, or facilitate the Conqueft of our Enemies, He had arrefted the Sun in his meridian Career, and laid an Embargo upon the Moon, fetting out on her nightly Tour?-In short, if to promote our Welfare, He had fufpended the Powers, and controuled the Laws of univerfal Nature; had wrought all the Miracles, exhibited in the Land of Egypt, or recorded in the Volumes of InspirationShould We not think Ourselves under the most inviolable Engagements, to love the LORD our GOD, Who had done fo great Things for Us; to love Him unfeignedly and ardently; to love Him with a fupreme Affection, far above every other amiable Object?—Yet, We have greater, incomparably greater Obligations to our Almighty BENEFACTOR. For (hear O Heavens! wonder O Earth! and let Eternity dwell upon the stu

pendous

pendous Truth!) GOD fpared not his SON-his own SON-his tranfcendently glorious and divinely excellent SON—but delivered him up to the deepest Humiliation, and to the most accurfed Death, for Us Men and our Salvation.

O, Theron! Have We been impreffed with Wonder, at the Contemplation of this Goodness? Have our Hearts glowed with Gratitude, under a Senfe of thefe Mercies? Surely, No Man need be convicted of any other Crime, at the great Tribunal, than Infenfibility of fuch Love, and Ingratitude for fuch Favours. This, without the Acceffion of horrid Impieties, is enough to leave Him abfolutely inexcufable. This is enough to prove Him one of the most difigenuous, and most detestable of Creatures.

Have We exercised Ourselves in frequent Thankf giving? Many are the Exhortations to this honourable Duty. Praise thy GOD, O Sion*: Praife Him for his mighty Acts +:-Praife Him according to his excellent Greatness.-Innumerable are the Incitements to abound in this pleasant Service. Every Comfort has a Voice, and cries in the Ear of Reafon; O! that Men would therefore praise the LORD for his Goodness.

+ Pfal. cl. 2.

* Pfal. cxlvii. 12. Among thefe Exhortations, We may rank that beau

יושב תהלות ישראל,tiful and devout Addrefs to GOD

Pfal. xxii. 3. Thou that inhabiteft- Light inacceffible, fhall I fay? The Regions of Immenfity, or the Ages of Eternity? No; but what is a more exalted Character→→ The Praifes of Ifrael. Finely fignifying, that Praise is a moft acceptable Sacrifice; which the Divine MAJESTY vouchfafes to regard with peculiar Delight.-Intimating alfo, that the Exercife of Praise fhould not be an occafional Thing, like a tranfient Vifit to a Stranger's Houfe; but a daily and almoft unintermitted Service, like the ftated Refidence of a Perfon in his own Habitation.