Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-09-24
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THE LOVE OF GOD.

The purest motive of human action
is the love of God. There may be
motives stronger and more general, but
none so pure. The religion, the vir-
tue, which owes its birth in the soul to
this motive, is always genuine religion,
always true virtue. Indeed, speaking
of religion, should call the love Of
God, not so much the groundwork of
religion, as religion itself. So far as
religion is disposition, it is religion itself.
But though, of religion, it be more than
the groundwork, yet being disposition
of mind, it is the groundwork of action.
Well might our blessed Saviour preach
up, as he did. the love Of God. 1t is the
source of every thing which is good ia
man. ] do not mean that it is the only
source. or that goodness can proceed
from no other, but that of all principles
of conduct, it is the safest, the best, the
truest, the highest. Perhaps it is pecu-
liar to the Jewish and Christian dispen-
Stations (and if it be, it is apeculiariex-
cellcncy in them) to have formally and
solemnly laid down this principle as a
ground of human action. shall not
deny, that elevated notions were enter
tanned of the Deity by some wise and
excellent heathens: but even these did
not, that can find, so inculcate the love
of that Deity, or so propose and state ii
to their followers, as to make il gov
erning, actuating principle of life among
them. This did Moses, or rather God by
the mouth of Moses, expressly, formally
solemnIy. This did Christ, adopting
and ratifying, what the law had already
declared; and not only ratisying, but
singing it out from the body Of precepts
which composed the old institution, and
giving it pre-eminence to every other.
Now this loye<so important to our re-
ligious character, and by its effect upon
that, TO our salvation, which is the end
Of religion, this love, say, is to be en-
| gendered in the soul, not so much by
hearing the words Of others, or by in
structioH from others, as by secret and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Almighty's
bounty, and constant referring Of our
enjoyments and our hopes to his good
ness. This is in great degree mat
ter of habit; and, like all good habits, is
what every person must form in himself,
and for himself by endeavor and perse-
verance. In this great article, as well
as in others which are less, every man
must be the author to himself of his
train of thinking, be it good or bad.
shall only observe that when this habit,
or as some call it, this turn and course
of thought, is once happily generated,
occasions will continually arise to minis
ter to its exercise and augmentation.
A nights rest, or a comfortable meal,
will Immediately direct our gratitude to
God. The use of our limbs, the pos
session of our senses; every degree of
health, every hour of ease, every sort
of satisfaction which we enjoy, will
carry our thoughts to the same object.
But if our enjoyments raise our affec-
tons, still more will our hopes do the
same; and most of all beyond COMPARE
son, those hopes which religion inspires.
Think OF man, and think of heaven ,
think what he is, and what it is in his
power hereafter to become. Think of
this again and dgain; and it is impossi-
bic, but that the prospect of being SO
rewarded for our poor labors, so resting
from our past troubles, so forgiven for
our repentant sins, must fill our hearts
with the deepest thankfulness. Towards
the author of an obligation which is in
finite, thankfulness is the only species OF
love that can exist
Religion may spring from various prin-
cipies, begin in various motives. 1t is