Examine your heart, and see whether your confidence be worthy of the goodness of God, and the merits of Jesus Christ.
"Thou art my God: my lot is in thy hands."
Psalm xxx.
"Throw yourself upon him,
he will not withdraw to let you fall."
St. Augustine.
Twenty-fifth Day.—On the Love of God.
1. God has loved us to such a degree, as to give us his only Son: had he any thing better he would have given it us. Is it not buying our love too dearly, to purchase it at so dear a rate? A trifling bounty from a fellow-creature is entitled to our love; why, then, shall we not love a bounty that is infinite? Why doth its being infinite render it less amiable?
2. God has strictly enjoined me to love him. Is a commandment rigorous, which orders us to love what is infinitely worthy of our affections? He commands us to love him with all our hearts. Is a heart so small as mine, too much for a God so great? But in saying all, he admits of no exception. Whatever share I give him, if I give him not all, I give him nothing.
3. If eternity could have an end, the torments of the damned in hell, even to the day of judgment, would not be too much to obtain this heavenly love. There is not one of these miserable souls that would not think itself happy, provided that, after ages of sufferings, it could love that infinite beauty. We can love God if we please: every moment invites us to it. Not to do so while it can be done, is a monstrous insensibility.
Disclaim every love but that of God alone, and endeavour to love him above all things.
"If I have not charity, I am nothing."
1 Corinthians xiii.