"Nourish proper understandings of the magnificence of God in your hearts. Let us contemplate that we are drawing near to God, the most charming being, the greatest of all, worthy of infinite respect, and truly deserving of the utmost affections we can offer; a God who created the world with a single utterance, who sustains the vast cosmos of heaven and earth; a Majesty that is beyond the comprehension of angels; who does not exercise His power to deliver us the punishment we rightfully deserve, but instead employs His love and generosity to attract us; a God who has provided all creatures to serve us, and can, in an instant, turn them from our allies into adversaries just as easily as He has made them our servants. Let us see Him in His greatness and in His kindness, so that our hearts may truly value the worship of such a great majesty, and consider it the most worthy pursuit to diligently attend to Him." – Stephen Charnock (in modern English)















