men, not only without indignation, but with complacency and delight. He rejoices over them, to do them good, Deut. xxviii. 63 [1]
Another benefit is holineſs: Or, if you pleaſe the true the Chriſtian morality. -Let none think, the believer in Jeſus diſparages true morality. True morality is the image of the bleſſed God. It is moſt charmingly delineated throughout the whole Bible. It is the beginning of heaven in the human ſoul. And its proper origin is from the croſs of our divine Maſter. For, through the merits of his death, ſinners are made partakers of the holy Spirit; who writes upon their hearts, and makes (illegible text)egible in their converſation, what was antiently written upon the mitre of the high-prieſt, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. -And oh! what a motive is the croſs of Christ to the exerciſe of every virtue! He died: my Lord, my Judge, my King, died; to redeem me from all iniquity, and make me zealous of good works. How powerfully, far beyond my naked inſtructions, or abſtract reaſonings, do ⟨such⟩ conſiderations invite us - urge us - conſtrain us, to renounce all ungodlineſs, and adorn the ⟨gospel⟩ of God our Saviour! [2] 2 Cor. v. 14.
- ↑ Would my reader have the livelieſt paraphraſe on this paſſage. Or ſee the actings of this divine ⟨complacency⟩, deſcribed with inevitable delicacy? Let him attend to the prophet Zephaniah: The Lord thy God, in ⟨the⟩ midſt of thee, is mighty, He will ſave: He will (illegible text) over thee with joy. He will reſt in his love: He will joy over thee with ſinging, chap. iii, 17.
- ↑
Religion! Thou the ſoul of happineſs;
And groaning Calvary, of Thee! There ſhine
The nobleſt truths, there ſtrongeſt motives ſting!
There, ſacred violence aſſaults the ſoul;
There, nothing but compulſion is forborn.
Night Thoughts, N. 4
