an evidence that he likes it, for he must needs like that place he
chooses to dwell in. He who hath such a glorious mansion and palace above
must needs love that soul dearly, that he will prefer it to his high and
holy place.

Now I know it will be the secret question and complaint of some souls, how
shall I get love to God? I cannot love him, my heart is so desperately
wicked, I cannot say as Peter, "Lord thou knowest that I love thee." I
shall not insist upon the discovery of your love unto him by marks and
signs; only I say, if thou indeed from thy heart desirest to love him, and
art grieved that there is not this love in thy soul to him which becomes
so love-worthy a Saviour, then thou indeed lovest him, for he that loveth
the love of God, loveth God himself. And wherefore art thou sad for the
want of that love, but because thou lovest him in some measure, and withal
findest him beyond all that thou canst think and love? But I say, that
which most concerns thee is to love still more, and that thou wouldest be
still more earnest to love him than to know that thou lovest him.

Now I know no more effectual way to increase love to Jesus Christ, than to
believe his love. Christ Jesus is "the author and finisher both of faith
and love;" and "we love him because he first loved us." Therefore the
right discovery of Jesus Christ, what he is, and what he hath done for
sinners, is that which will of all things most prevail to engage the soul
unto him. But as long as ye suspend your faith upon the being or increase
of your love and obedience--as the manner of too many is--you take even such
a course as he that will not plant the tree till he see the fruits of it,
which is contrary to common sense and reason.

Since this then, is the sum of true religion, to believe in Christ and to
love him, and so live to him,--we shall wind up all that is spoken into
that exhortation of the apostle's: "Hold fast the form of sound words
which thou hast heard." You have this doctrine of faith and love delivered
unto you which may be able to save your souls. Then I beseech you, hold
them fast, salvation is in them. They are "sound words and wholesome
words," words of life, spirit and life, (as Christ speaks,) as well as
words of truth. But how will you hold them fast that have them not at
all--that know them not though you hear them? You who are ignorant of the
gospel and hear nothing but a sound of words, instead of sound and
wholesome words,