n

and grateful Affection, all agree very well SER M. with Fear; that is, a conditional Fear, XX. upon the Suppofition of our falling away from the Duties of that Love; which furely no Man but has Need fufficient to be cautious and apprehenfive of. Secondly, The Text, chiefly infifted on for this Opinion, does not prove it. 'Tis the ift of St. John, iv. 17, 18. Herein is our Love made perfect, that we may have Boldnefs in the Day of Judgment: Becaufe as be is, fo are we in this World. There is no Fear in Love; but perfect Love cafteth out Fear becaufe Fear bath Torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love. I cannot indeed rely upon the Anfwer commonly given, That the Day of Judgment fignifies here the Time of Perfe 'cution; and fo Fear is the Fear of fuffering in it. But I fay the Apostle limits the Nature of that Fear he fpeaks of (though it be a Fear of God) by applying the Reafon, Becaufe Fear bath Torment. Now a tormenting Fear, be it of Diftruft, or of impenitent Guilt, confifts not indeed with Love. But what is that to the Fear of Offending, and of the Confequences, if

we

SERM. we do? This Fear is rather infeparable XX. from Love, than any way contrary to it.

"

And thus is this Place reconcil'd with the Multitude of other Scriptures wherein we know the Fear of God is perpetually recommended and impreffed upon us. I will read to you only one of them, but fufficient to leave the Matter perfectly clear and without all Doubt; for it combines together, and commands the Fear of God, and the Love of God, in the fame Sentence, and the fame Breath. Deut. x. 12, 13. And now, Ifrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all bis Ways, and to love him, and to ferve the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, to keep the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes, which I command thee this Day for thy Good? You hear Mofes in thefe Words fumming up the whole Law, and contracting the Substance of it (in a Manner) to three Words, Fear, and Love, and Obedience: Of which, the two firft (Faith being prefuppofed) are the main Principles, Motives, or Caufes; and the latter, the Effect, Matter, and Business of

true

gain

true Religion. So well is our Liturgy SERM. authorized, wherein we pray to God for XX. an Heart to love and dread him, and diligently to live after his Commandments. A fecond Mistake, which we have ed the Light to rectify, may be, in fame pious but lefs knowing People, the fame we had Occafion to fpeak to before; who observing how their Minds are affected to wards other Objects of their Love, and how towards Almighty God; and perceiving they are fo more vehemently and fenfibly to the former, fhall for that Reafon believe themselves deftitute of the true Love of God. They conclude truly, both with refpect to the Commandment, which requires all the Heart, and with refpect to the fovereign Excellence of the Divine Nature, that if their Love of God do not exceed what they have to every Thing effe, tis in Effect Nothing. For it complies not with the Commandment; and inftead of honouring, dishonours its fupreme OBject. But it ought to be confidera, this Object is a pure Spirit, whom no Man hath feen, nor can fee not to be apprehended by any of our bodily Senfes. And

that

finde

SERM. fince 'tis from them ordinarily that all pasXX. Fionate and transporting Affections are kindled, we fhould not meafure and eftimate the Love of God by Comparisons in that Kind. THAT may well be neither infincere, nor fo defective as to be rejected, tho' without any Height of a fenfible Fervour. So no one need to defpair of himfelf, because he feels his Affections mov'd with more Paffion and Eagerness towards other Things, This depends upon bodily Temperament; and God hath taught us another Way to try the Reality and true Degree of our Love to him. What is that? To look to the Effects of it. If for his Sake, and his Commandment's Sake, we pay Obedience to his Laws; we may comfort ourfelves that our Love has ftood the Teft. But if any Thing else be lov'd too well to be rejected, when it comes in Competition with our Duty, we are convicted of Deficience or Infincerity. The Love of God dwells not in our Hearts, whatfoever Warmths or Emotions they may fometimes be fenfible of. Let us then reft in the Proof prefcribed by Scripture, and be affured,

that

that no other Teftimony is fufficient, nor SER M. yet neceffary to affure our Confciences. XX. Thofe Scriptures are well known: This is the Love of God, that we keep his Commandments. And our Saviour's Words, If ye love me, keep my Commandments. And again, If ye keep my Commandments, ye shall abide in my Love. And feveral others to the fame plain Effect.

I have now fhewn and afferted the Sense of the Text, that the most difficult, and beneficial, and honourable Actions, which Religion can dictate, or enable Man to do, may yet be done, without any Religion at all, and are fo, where they have not for a Motive the Love of God; THAT being as the Principle of Life, and the Soul itself of religious Duty., I have fhew'd likewife the Nature of this Love; that it consists in the incomparable Honour and Esteem, the joyful Dependence, and profound Gratitude of our Hearts towards Almighty God; and this was derived from the Caufes of it, which were prov'd to be the various, and astonishing Inftances of the Divine Goodness. And a third Thing, before explain'd, was, why the Love of God

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