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to Almighty God; who of his Goodness created, in his Wisdom governs and preferves, and through his infinite Mercy hath redeemed us; who hath alfo prepared for them that love Him fuch good things as pass man's understanding; can furnish the heart with a religious oblation of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, fit for Man to pay, and God to accept.

Again-The fpirit and efficacy of this law are no lefs diftinguishable in the dignity and merit, which the observance thereof imparts in like manner to every moral virtue.-Patience, when we fuffer in the cause of God, and of his righteoufnefs, is declared to be acceptable with Him, and entitled to an extraordinary recompence. That Fortitude, which putteth it's truft in the Lord, and hath the Almighty for it's confidence, is pronounced bleffed. We are likewife affured that every the leaft inftance of

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unfeen Beneficence, even the giving a cup of cold water in the name of Christ, is of account in God's fight-And that unaffected Abftinence which disfigures not the face, neither appears unto men, is yet obferved by Him, who feeth in fecret, and will reward openly.

Moreover, the duty of brotherly Love, or univerfal benevolence, is fo entirely founded on the relation we all of us bear to our common Creator and Redeemer; that the more perfect our obedience to this first and great commandment, the better qualified fhall we be to fulfil the fecond: The more we love God, the more effectually fhall we love our brother alfo. What indeed fhould hinder a foul, that hath made God the centre of it's happiness, and muft confequently have fubdued each selfish affection, from pursuing the rules of Christian Charity? The mighty impediments to which,

Pride, Envy, and a covetous Spirit, aré no less contrary to the love of God, than to that of our Neighbour.

Add withal that the reciprocal good offices, which according to our refpective stations and capacities, we owe to each other, are upon this principle not much better fecured, but receive an additional worthinefs, when we join the fanction of Religion to Civil obligation. Hence are we required by the gospel institutes," whatever we do, to do all to the glory of God"" to be diligent in the discharge of our feveral occupations, not as men pleafers, but as ferving the Lord"—" to obey those who have the rule over us for Confcience towards God" and in general, to love one another for his fake, who hath beftowed fuch exceeding love upon us.-This indeed is to exalt Morality, and to make whatsoever honeft thing we

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do unto men, to become a fpiritual fervice, acceptable to God. By these means we intereft Him in all our focial and charitable actions; who will not fail to reward with his bounty what is thus done to his honour.

Upon the whole then- If the love of God be fo leading a principle to all religious and virtuous conduct; herein appears the neceffity of establishing this principle, every one within his own breast; by a conftant pious attention to the word and attributes of God: Walking continually with Him, as under his immediate inspection, who is the Author of our beings, the Preferver of our lives, and the Rewarder of our actions.-The objects of fenfe, with which we are furrounded, the business and pleafures of the world, will infallibly take poffeffion of our affections, if the fpiritual concerns of

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a future and eternal life have not the first place in them. And when avarice or appetite have once gained an afcendancy in man's heart, the doctrine of the love of God will become foolishness unto him, neither can he know it, because it is spiritually difcerned. Sa true is the faying of St. John " If any man love the world, (bear an unwarrantable irreligious affection towards it) the love of the Father is not in him" and that of our Bleffed Saviour-" No man can ferve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and defpife the other."

But when we direct our lives by a well grounded faith; when a true sense of Religion is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our paths; then will this commandment of loving God with all the heart, and with all the foul,

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