and pain and agony as our bleffed Lord Vol. II. laid down his for us? Now if Gratitude obliges us to all this, even without any profpect of Reward, ah! how deep must be the ftain of their Ingratitude, whom the Love of Jefus back'd and enforc'd by the hopes of Heaven, cannot prevail with! What to do? not to part with Honour, Eftate, Life; but with Pride and Vanity, Riot and Luxury, Covetousness and Ambition, and other more painful and dishonourable Lufts than these. But I will press this no further: If we be perfwaded that Christ died for the World; we cannot but be perfwaded, that we ought to love him: And I am confident that you are as fully convinc'd, that Obedience is the natural Effect of Love, as you are that Love is the natural Effect of Chrift's Paffion. Nay, I can hardly think that there is any here, who do not pretend at least both to Love and Serve him; because, I can hardly think that any one, befides a direct Infidel, can disclaim Chrift and all hopes of Heaven: but alas, 'tis too apparent that our Pretences have too little of Sincerity in them. We form, I doubt, to loose Notions of Love and Obedience,

E 3

Vol. I.ence,and build our Hopes on very false Foundations.

I will lay before you an Example of Love; 'tis that of St. Paul, to which you may appeal as the Rule and Teft of your own, and though you do not equal it, you must at least endeavour to do fo; I find him defcribing his Love to Chrift much after this manner: Such is the power and force of Love, that through it I offer up my felf a ho ly, living, and acceptable Sacrifice. My Understanding fhall contemplate no other Object. In Jefus is contain'd all the Treasure of Wisdom and Truth that my Soul thirfts after. I defire to know nothing but Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. My Will purfues no other Good but Jefus in him is all that is lovely and defirable. My Perfection and Happiness, all the Joy, and all the Pleasure my Soul is capable of, flow from him. All my Hopes and Defires center and terminate in him; and I count all things as dung and drofs, that I may gain and enjoy him. My Body it felf is purified and govern'd by this Love: 'tis prepar'd and fanctified to do his Will; and all my Members are but the Inftruments of Righteousness: Whe

:

Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever I Vol. II. do, I direct all to his glory. Such is the power of this Love, that it has transform'd me into his Image. My Life is nothing but an Imitation of Jefus. I am daily copying out his Life, his Death, and Refurrection; fo that it is no longer I that live, but Chrift that lives in me. Such finally is the force of this Love, that it hath not only raised me, above the Corruptions that are in the World through Luft; but alfo above my Natural Affections, when inconfiftent with the Glory and Service of my dear Saviour. I have no value for the Eafe, for the Wealth, for the Honour of this World; nor doth the Rage of Jew or Gentile, who perfecuted my Lord, and will shortly perfecute me too unto the death, ftrike me with any dread or terrour. I fear neither Bonds nor Imprisonments, nor Death, by which the Honour of my dear Lord may be advanced. I am ready not only to be bound, but to die at Jerufalem for the Name of the Lord Jefus. I am content to follow through all the Paths of Shame,Pain and Blood he trod, that I may at last enjoy him in his Glory. My Heart thirfts after E 4

him.

Vol. II. him, and I am ravifht with his Love. This World, which others admire, is crucified to me. The Body, which others are fo fond of, I am weary of, as that which intercepts my fight, and detains me from the Prefence of my Lord. I would fain break through this Cloud, this Prison: I would fain fhake off this weight: Ilong to be dif folved, and to be with Chrift. This gives us a true Character of the Love of Chrift. Tis to be transform'd and moulded into his Image. 'Tis to be acted and influenced by his Example, by his Word, and by his Spirit. 'Tis in fhort, to live to him who dy'd for us. This, I grant, was a noble Height. This indeed was a noble Flight of Love. This is that Love, that perfect Love that cafts out Fear; that fills the Mind with the Joy of the Holy Ghost, and renders the Yoke of Chrift easie, and his Burden Light. O Love, let me be but rais'd on thy Wings, and I shall not fear, though I faw the Face of the whole Earth covered with Storms and Deluges below me! O Love, let me be but infpirited and impregnated by thy force, and I fhall foon vanquish the World and the Body: Let me be

but

but animated by thy Flame, and noVol. II. Difficulties, no weight of Flesh and Blood, will be able to ftop my Afcent through Vertue into Glory. I shall mount up as eafily in thy Fire, as Elijab in his flaming Chariot. O that God, who is Love it felf, would by the Spirit of Love fhed abroad this Love of Jefus in our Hearts, and the Hearts of all that Call upon his Name; that as Love made the World, and Love redeemed it; fo Love may fan&tifie it, and prepare it for the Region of Love and Joy, I mean the Region of the Bleffed. Amen, Amen.