Loving God for His Goodness   “To love God for hopes of heaven is not a mercenary kind of love; it is not only lawful that we may, but it is our duty that we must, love God for the glory that is laid up for us.  Where is the man that will own the name of Christian, who dare charge Christ with any defect of love to God? Well, the scripture saith expressly, that 'for the joy get before Him He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God' (Heb. 12:2).  Is it not (no question but it is) an infinite kindness of God to make promises?  And is it not grossly absurd to say that it is a sin to believe them? When our love shall be perfected in heaven, shall we then love God?  And shall not we then love God, as well for our perfect freedom from sin, for our perfection of grace, for the society of saints and angels, as for Himself?”     -- Samuel Annesley (1620-1696)   God Speaks [from “Bibliolatres”]   God is not dumb, that He should speak no more; If thou hast wanderings in the wilderness And findest not Sinai, ’tis thy soul is poor; There towers the mountain of the Voice no less, Which whoso seeks shall find; but he who bends, Intent on manna still and mortal ends, Sees it not, neither hears its thundered lore.   Slowly the Bible of the race is writ, And not on paper leaves nor leaves of stone; Each age, each kindred, adds a verse to it, Texts of despair or hope, of joy or moan. While swings the sea, while mists the mountains shroud, While thunder’s surges burst on cliffs of cloud, Still at the prophets’ feet the nations sit.   -- James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)