Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

The soul was made for God; and nothing but God can fill it, and make
it happy. Angels could not be happy in glory, when they had cast off their
allegiance to their master. As soon as his heart had departed from God,
Adam would needs go to the forbidden fruit, to satisfy a desire which was
only an indication of his having been unfaithful to his God. Solomon in
his glory, possessing every thing heart could wish, found all to be vanity
and vexation of spirit; because his soul had not God for its portion. Ahab,
on the throne of Israel, takes to his bed, and refuses to eat bread, not
merely because he cannot get the vineyard of Naboth; but because he had
not God in his heart, who could alone satisfy its desires. Haman, on the
same ground, though the prime favourite of the king, is wretched, because
he cannot have a bow from that man whom his heart even despised. O
how distressing are the inquietudes of vanity! And how wretched is the
man who has not the God of Jacob for his help, and in whose heart Christ
dwells not by faith!
Religion is a commerce between God and man; and is intended to be
the means of re-establishing him in that communion with his Maker, and
the happiness consequent on it, which he has lost by the fall. All notions
of religion, merely as a system of duties which we owe to God, fall, in my
apprehension, infinitely short of its nature and intention. To the
perfection, happiness, or gratification of the infinite mind, no creature can
be necessary. Religion was not made for God, but for man. It is an
institution of the divine benevolence for human happiness. Nor can God
be pleased with any man's religion or faith but as far as they lead him to
happiness, that is, to the enjoyment of God; without which there can be
no felicity: for God is the source of intellectual happiness, and from him
alone it can be derived; and in union with him alone it can be enjoyed.
Animal gratifications may be acquired by means of the various matters
that are suited to the senses: but gratification and happiness are widely
different; the former may exist where the latter is entirely unknown.
God is a spirit, the human soul is a spirit, and the happiness suitable
to the nature and state of man must be spiritual. The soul has infinite