lly
apprehend what might be the issue of it, you could not bless yourselves as
you do, and put the evil day far off, but certainly you would be
affrighted with the terror and majesty of that God you have to do with,
whom, when he awakes to judgment, you can neither resist nor escape, no
standing against his wrath, and no flying from it out of his dominions,
and this would dispose and incline your minds in time to hearken to the
treaty of peace, which is holden out in the gospel, and to lay down the
weapons of your enmity, and make peace with him in his Son the Peace
maker.

Amity and unity are the very being and beauty of the world. This universe
is made up of innumerable different kinds and natures, and all these climb
and walk together by the bond of peace and concord among themselves, and
with that one high understanding that directs all, and supreme will of God
that moves all. It is that link of union with God, that gives and
preserves being and beauty in all the creatures, as the dependence of the
ray upon the sun, or the stream upon the fountain, makes them what they
are, which being interrupted they cease to be what they were, "all things
continue as thou hast ordained them for all are thy servants," Psal. cxix.
9. You see, then, this amity and union of subordination of the creatures
to God is not dissolved to this day, but woful and wretched man alone hath
withdrawn from this subordination, and dissolved this sacred tie of happy
friendship, which at first he was lifted up unto, and privileged with.
Amity and friendship, you know, consists in an union of hearts and wills,
and a communion of all good things, it makes two one, as much as two can
be, by the conspiracy of their affections in one thing, and the joint
concurrence of their endeavours to communicate to one another what each
hath, it takes away propriety,(183) and it makes a community between
persons. Now, how happy was that amity! how blessed that friendship
between God and man! Though man's goodness could not extend to God, yet
his soul united to God by love and delight, and all that God had given him
returning that to the proper owner, acknowledging his absolute dependence
on him, and claiming interest and propriety in nothing, not in himself.
And then, on the other hand, the love and good-will of the infinite God
placed on man, and from that fountain all the streams of happiness issuing
forth towards man, the fulness of God opening up itself to him, an