The book of nature translated and epitomiz'd. By George Sikes.

Sect. I.

What is it, man ought to render unto God, for his love and all his benefits?

LOve. Something he has to render unto God, that may properly be called his own; other∣wise would he be obliged to an impossibility. For∣asmuch as the love of God is his principal gift unto man, the root and foundation of all his other gifts (which are but as tokens and manifestations of that) the intire, free, and most syncere love of man to God, is the most natural, reasonable, and suita∣ble requital, that 'tis possible for him to make unto the lord, for his love, and all his benefits. Love is the most precious and excellent gift, the will of man has to dispose of, freely and uncompulsori∣ly,

where it list's. Thus have we found the thing we sought for, love, seated in the supream ruling power in man, his will. Syncere love to God, car∣ries that in and with it, which is the best requital man can make for all that God has done for him. It does comprehend in it all that God requires of him. It is written; thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, soul, strength, and mind; and thy neighbour as thy self. Luk. 10. 27. Love is the fulfil∣ling of the law. Rom. 13. 10. Love is the radical gift of God unto man, from whence did issue forth all other gifts. And by the love of man to God, as the prime and radical gift he has to return, will all the secondary gifts of God, that are tokens and manifestations of God's love to him, in his own and all inferiour nature, be surrendred and retur∣ned, used, and improved to the praise of his crea∣tour. Man's love to God will cause him to glorify God in his body and in his spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Love then is the most natural, orderly, proportion'd retribution, and therefore the most pleasing and acceptable unto God, that man can make. No other gifts or performāces of mā, what∣soever, can be acceptable unto God, unlesse love be the root and spring from whence they do pro∣ceed. Love, as it is the first, so is it incomparably the greatest gift of God to man, or man to God. The love of man to God, is that which season's, qualifies, and render's acceptable all his other gifts and performances. God first loved man; man

therefore ought to love God, and that in the first place, above all; and no other things, but for his sake, or as bearing his image and superscription stamp'd or impress'd upon them. Otherwise, his love to God will carry no correspondency with God's love to him, and so will not be accepted. Though the most absolute and perfect love of man to God, can, in no wise, equal the infinite love of God to him, yet being the best thing man can give, it wilbe accepted. The love of God to man, as much exceeds all possible love of man to God, as the being of God who is love, excell's the being of man; that is, infinitely. But if man give all that God requires of him, even all he has to give, it wilbe accepted. There is no pain, weari∣somnes, or trouble in love. It alleviates all other labour, and renders all right performances de∣lightfull. Our love rightly plac'd and fix'd, begets continual delight and gladnes of heart.