For consider, 1. What a Curse is denounced against them that do not love Christ, i Cor. xvi. 22. 2. What a Blessing is promised to them that do love Him, Ephef. ii. 21. 1. He became Man, S. Joh. i. 14. 3. Died for thee. thou lov'st Him. 1. He will send thee His Spirit, S. Joh. xvi. 7. 2. He will intercede for thee, S. Job. xvi. 26. 3. He will make all Things work together for thy Good, Rom. viii. 28. 4. Will prepare a Place for thee in Hea ven, S. Joh. xiv. 2. 5. This will be the best Sign, that thou art His Disciple, and of thy Title to Heaven. IV. How may we know that we love Christ above all Things ? 1. By considering the Grounds of our Love to Him. 2. By conparing it with our Love to other Things. 3. By observing the Effe&ts and Confequents of our Love to Him. S. MATT. xi. 25. At that time, Jesus answer'd and said, I thank thee, O Father, &c. W DOCTRINE. E qught to imitate our Saviour in taking all Occasions to give Thanks to GOD. 1. What is it to give Thanks to GOD? 1. To acknowledge God's Glory in what we enjoy, i Chron. xxix. 14. 1. His Wisdom, Psal. cxlyii. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1, 2, 3 lxxxvi. 12, 13 2. In professing ourselves oblig'd unto Him for it; so as 1. To love Him more, 1 Job. iv. 19. S. Luk. vii. 47 2. To serve Him better, S. Matt. V. 16. II. How many Things are requir'd to make us truly Thankful? 1. That we be regenerated, Psal. xxxiii. 1. 2. Sensible of our own Unworthiness, Gere. xxxii. 10. 3. And that we deserve Judgments, not Mercies, Lan. iii. 22. 4. An heavenly Disposition, Psal. cili. 1. and lvis. 7. 2. Ixvi. 8, 9. 5. A Sense of our Interest in Him, as our GOD, Psal. xviii. 1, 2, 3. and cxviii. 28. 6. A strong Belief, that what we have, shall be for our Good, Rom. viii. 28. 7. Frequent Meditations upon the Mercies we enjoy III. What are those Mercies we ought to bless GOD for? i Thel. v. 18. 1. Temporal ; as, 1. Our Creation, Psal. cxxxix. 14, 15. Preservation, Ait. xvii. 28. Pfal. 3. Protection from Evil, Psal. xxxiv. 3, 4 Maintenance, Psal. xxii. 10. and cxlvii. 9. 5. Health, Psal. ciii. 3, 4. 6. Natural Parts, and the Use of Rea fon. 1. Christ, S. Luk. ii. 14. 1. The Truth 4. The Promises Psal. cxviii. 21. and cvii. 13, 14, 15. 5. The Influences of His Spirit and Ordinancer, whereby He conveys, 1. Restraining Grace, 1 Sam. XXV. 32, 33. 2. Constraining Grace, i Chron. xxix. 14. 6. The Comforts of His Spirit, 2 Cor. i. 3, 4. 7. Sanctify'd Aflictions, Psal. cxix. 71. ( MOTIVEs to engage us to be thankful unto GOD, for all His Benefits. 1. It is GOD's Command, Psal. l. 14. 2. This is all that GOD requires, or thou canst give for all His Mercies vouchsafed unto thee, Psal. cxvi. 12, 13. : 3. Praising GOD for Mercies receiv’d, is the way to receive more. 4. It is an Evidence of thy Sincerity. 5. It will make thee fruitful and ałtive in GOD's Service, 6. It is the Devil that is most averse from this Work. 7. It is the Employment of Angels, Rev. vii. 9, 19, 11, and xix. 1, 2, 3. S. MATT. xi. 28, Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rejt. DOCTRINE. and comes to Chrift, fhall certainly find Rest in Him. 1. What is it to be weary and heavy laden? 1. To be sensible of Sin. 1. The reigning Power of it. 2. The Guilt of it. 1. To be troubled for it. 3. desirous to be deliver'd from it, Rom. vii. 24. Being heavy laden with the Weight of it; because it is, 1. A Transgression of the Law, I S. Joh. iii, 4. and so 2. Obliges to Punishment, Gal. iii. 10. and therefore, 3. Becomes a heavy Load to such as expe. rience it, and are sensible of it, Gen. iii. 13. Psal. xxxviii. 4 II. Who are here call'd upon to come to Christ? O'x dáva, rý ó dava, drac' evles oi év gegrlioiva και λύσαις, και αμαρθίαις, Chryfoff. Δείτε προς με σάι γες οι κωπιώνες και πεφορτισμένοι. . |