A glimpse of God, or, A treatise proving that there is a God discovering the grounds of atheism, with arguments of divers sorts against atheists : shewing also, the unity of the Godhead, and the trinity of the persons ... / by ... Mr. Thomas Byrdall ...

Sect. 1.

SEeing God is perfect, then be ex∣horted to imitate God in his per∣fection, and to serve God with a per∣fect heart, which is the thing he so much requireth; the service that is onely well-pleasing, crowned with perfect reward; and without this kind of perfection, all glorious du∣ties are no other, in God's account, than the cursed works of darkness. The Exhortation is to a double Duty.

1. To be perfect as God is perfect: We may be, we must be perfect as God is perfect. We cannot be equal∣ly perfect as God; we must strive af∣ter a perfection of resemblance, al∣though we cannot possibly attain to a perfection of equality, created nature being uncapable thereof.

Now here I will shew how we may be perfect, as God is per∣fect; and then shew, what it is to serve God with a perfect heart. Now first, That we may be per∣fect as God is perfect;

1. Let us lahour to get all grace to exist in us; As God's perfection is the fulness of all excellencies re∣quired to the nature of God; so is a Christians perfection, an having of all grace requisite to a childe of God; as perfection of parts is re∣quisire to make a man perfect. Were there a defect but of one excellency in God, he were imper∣fect: were there but one member in a body defective, it were an imperfect body; so the want of one grace makes an imperfect Saint: therefore the Apostle Peter exhorteth to add to faith, vertue; and to vertue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to tem∣perance, patience; and to patience, godlines and to godliness, brotherly∣kindnes

and to brotherly kindness, charity, 2 Pet. 2. 5, 6. And St. Paul exhorteth us to be filled with the Spirit, wherein there is no excess, Ephes. 5. 18. It is impossible for a man to be too holy, too gracious. Covetous men add ground to ground, house to house, field to field, when they resolve to be rich; thus Saints should add one vertue to another, if they will be perfect as God is perfect.

2. We must grow in these acqui∣red graces; the more we grow in them, the more we come near God in perfection; the more holy we grow, the nearer we come to him that is perfectly holy; as a grow∣ing childe comes near the stature and perfection of a man. He is not in any wise perfect, that grows not more perfect: A dead childe grows not, painted trees grow not, and so will never come to perfection: Thy holiness is but a dead holiness, thy faith but a dead

or painted faith, if it grow not: Gods perfections are eminent in him; we must strive to be eminent as he is; this was St. Paul's endea∣vour. The perfection of Saints in this life is to be sensible of imper∣fections, and to desi••e more per∣fection. Take it my brethren, for a sure rule, that the work of grace was never begun in that heart, where God doth not by dgrees perfect the work; for he is perfect in all his works; perfect in the work of Sanctification of his elect, as in the Creation of them.

3. We should extend the work of grace in us as far as possibly we can. Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing, Jam. 1. 4. Let pa∣tience have its perfect work in all afflictions, and to all men. There are two Graces, wherein we should resemble God in our per∣fections.

First, The one is in love to our

enemies; the sun of our love must shine upon them; so doth God's perfect love, and in so doing ye shall be like your heavenly Father.

Secondly, In mercifulnes in the works of mercy to the distressed, yea even to enemies themselves; Luk. 6. 38. And in so doing ye shall be like your heavenly Father: So that from those places we may see what it is to be petfect as God is perfect. A merciful man, whose mercy runs round the circumfe∣rence, is perfect as God is perfect; a loving man, that can pray for, bless, pardon, even his enemies, is perfect as God is perfect.

Notes

• Use 5.