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own sun, or his own moon, shining upon him. Indeed, "all things are for the elect's sake"-life and death; things present and things to come,-all are theirs, for they are Christ's, and Christ is God's."

6. But all this is merely an EARNEST of the intended inheritance;" the first fruits of the Spirit ;" for who can tell what God hath laid up and prepared for them in Heaven? Who can tell what vast powers they may possess, as superior perhaps to what they now enjoy, as the talents of angels are now superior to those of men? Who can tell what a glorious habitation they shall occupy ?-their "Father's mansions" will be worthy of himself, and Jesus Christ, who is gone to prepare them, will come again and receive his people to himself, that where he is, they may be also. Who can tell what pleasant employments shall engage their improved and delighted spirits? Who can tell what blessed and glorious. company they shall keep ?-saints and angels will certainly be their associates, and "Christ himself shall be with them;" and they shall be "for ever with the Lord!”

Such are some of the effects of the love of God to men! But who can possibly describe it aright? A consideration, however, of some of its properties may a little assist our conceptions.

1. It is everlasting-"I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jer. xxxi. 3. From before the foundation of the world, God foresaw the apostacy and misery of man, and determined to shew his love to the human race.. The effects of this love were determined upon, and the peculiar objects of it were selected. They were "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world," that "they should be holy, and without blame, before him in love;" "they were predestinated to the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace," so St. Paul expresses it in Eph. i..

4, 5, 6. How greatly does this enhance the value of the love of God, and fill with sacred admiration and astonishment the hearts of those in whom this love is shed abroad by the Holy Ghost: they are amazed to think that the great and glorious God should vouchsafe to think of them; of them, insignificant and rebellious creatures, and inscribe their unworthy names in the book of life!!!

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2. It is free and sovereign. It is not fixed on particular persons on account of any foreseen excellency and superiority. Whatever be excellent in any person, is the effect of this love, and not its cause. men are depraved, polluted, and undone. God was not bound to shew kindness to any one of Adam's fallen race; but, saith he (Rom. ix. 15), “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion;" and in another place, he saith, "I will love them freely." Hos. xvi. 4. If one man differ from another, it is grace that caused him to differ; and, therefore, to free grace is all the glory to be ascribed, as our Lord doth: (Luke x. 21) "I thank thee, Father, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."

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3. The love of God is unchangeable. The love of mortals is liable to much variation; not so the love of God; "he rests in his love:"-" having loved his own he loves them to the end." Their sense of it may vary, and God may hide his face; and he will do so, "if his children forsake his ways, and decline from his commandments; in love to their souls, "he will visit their transgressions with the rod," to bring them back again; "but his lovingkindness he will not take away, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail." Ps. lxxxix. 30. No," the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, saith the Lord of hosts, that hath mercy on thee." Isa. liv. 10.

IMPROVEMENT.

For the practical improvement of this subject, we propose the four following directions:

1. Believe the love of God, according to what St. John saith (1 Eph. iv. 16): "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love." To know and to believe this, is to know and believe the whole gospel; for this is indeed the substance of it. The love of God is so exceedingly great, that it is said to "surpass knowledge ;" but it does not surpass belief. We cannot fully comprehend it, for it is infinite; but we may believe it on the testimony of God himself; without which, such is its astonishing greatness, that it might have seemed incredible, but resting on the divine testimony concerning it, we may survey it with delight and pleasure; "its breadth and length, and depth and height," that " we may be filled with all the fulness of God.".

2. Receive the love of God. It is proposed to us in the gospel as the grand attractive-that which is calculated to draw us away from sin and folly, and to raise our affections towards superior objects.“God commendeth his love towards us"—he sets it before us, and recommends it to our notice, to` raise our faith, our hope, our admiration, our love, and our joy, by this peculiar excellency of it-that "while we were yet sinners," he sent his dear Son into the world; who “ gave himself a ransom" for our souls. Surely, this should draw our souls to God, and cause us instantly, and most thankfully, to receive the gifts of his love. Let us be encouraged to come to God, for God is love.

3. Return the love of God-make a suitable return for love so vast and so free. This was the first and great command, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength;" and

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what can be so powerful an inducement to this as the astonishing love of God to us? Let us say with St. John, "We love him, because he first loved us ;" -that is, in consequence of his having first loved us, without which we never should have loved him; and also, from a view and sense of his having first loved us. He is altogether lovely in himself, and we are under inexpressible obligations to his love; let us love him, therefore, supremely, and prove our love to him by keeping his commandments. If ye love me," saith Christ, "keep my commandments." We cannot love him as we ought, nor as he deserves to be loved; but let us love him as we can, and daily lament that we love him no better. Let us prefer his glory above all that is dear to us, to part with all things for his sake. Lord propose the question to Peter, me?" and thrice did the zealous apostle declare his attachment. Our Saviour then directed him how to demonstrate his affection-" Feed my sheep." In like manner, let us evince the sincerity of our regard to God, by a ready compliance with his whole will.

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4. Imitate the love of God. Nothing can render man so truly amiable, as to resemble, in his humble measure, the God of love; and nothing can afford a brighter evidence of our being the objects of his love; for, by this, said Christ, "shall all men know that ye are my disciples-if ye have love one to another." This is Christ's own commandment,-his new commandment; old indeed in substance, but new in form, and enforced by a new obligation. "A new commandment give I unto you, That ye love one another. As I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John xiii. 14. He has left among us suitable objects of Christian love-all his members, and especially those who need our care. "The poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always; and whensoever ye will ye may do them good. ""Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God: and every one that loveth is born of God,

and knoweth God; he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love." 1 John iv. 7, 8. O let the love of God constrain us to cultivate every amiable temper, and to be forward in every act of kindness to the bodies and souls of men, and especially to all the sons and daughters of Affliction; for thus shall we resemble our heavenly Father, and our adorable Saviour, who, when he shall appear in his glory, at his second advent, will graciously accept and reward every "labour of love," saying, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me." Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

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