to him, and communion with him. Communion and fellowship with
God is the great end and design of the gospel, and it is the great result
of all a Christian's pains and progress. It is not only the greatest part
of religion, but the very reward of religion too, for piety hath its
reward of happiness in the bosom of it, without borrowing from external
things. Now, that which this sweet and fragrant fruit, which perfumes all
the soul with delight, and fills it with joy, springs out of, is
conformity to God. Assimilation of nature and disposition, some likeness
to God imprinted on the soul again in holy affections and dispositions, a
coincidency of our will with the will of God, drowning of it in the sea of
his good pleasure, his law in the inward parts. Now what is the root of
this conformity, but the knowledge of God? This is that which hath a
virtue to transform the soul into his similitude. You see then where true
religion begins lowest, and by what means it grows up to the sweet fruit
of that eternal joy that shall be pressed out of the grapes of fellowship
with God. So then, whatsoever is declared of God unto us in his word,
whatsoever is holden forth of him, is not only set forth to be the subject
of our knowledge, but especially to be a pattern for imitation, and to be
an inflaming motive to our affection. This is the very substance of the
verse.

"This then is the message" I declare, "that God is light," and this I
heard not from Christ only, for the satisfaction of my curiosity, nor do I
declare it to you only, that you may know it, as if you had no more to do
with it, but especially that ye may know what ye ought to be in conformity
to that light. The end of your knowing God, is to become liker God, if so
be ye would have communion with him.

Let us take this rule, then, to measure all our searchings after God, and
inquirings into him. Certainly there ought to be more meditation and
inquiry of heart upon this subject, because it is the spring of all life
to the soul. It is that which enricheth it most, and fills it with peace,
joy, and delight, and brings in a treasure into a man's heart, such as
Christ speaks of--"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart," &c.
Meditation, much meditation on God, a stayedness and fixedness of spirit
upon him, lays up a treasure in the heart. This is it that makes such a
difference between the heart and mouth of a righteous man, and a wicked
man. The heart of the wicked is