a practical view of the prevailing religious system

8/2/2019 A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Practical View of the PrevailingReligious System of Professe !hristians" in the #ile an $igher !lasses in this !ountry"!ontraste with Real !hristianity%" by &illiam &ilberforce

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost an withalmost no restrictions whatsoever% 'ou may co(y it" give it away orre)use it uner the terms of the Project Gutenberg *icense incluewith this eBook or online at www%gutenberg%org

Title+ A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professe !hristians" in the #ilean $igher !lasses in this !ountry" !ontraste with Real !hristianity%

Author+ &illiam &ilberforce

Release ,ate+ -une ." /001 2EBook 3/45067

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8t has been" for several years" the earnest wish of the writer of thefollowing (ages to aress his countrymen on the im(ortant subject ofReligion but the various uties of his (ublic station" an aconstitution inca(able of much labour" have obstructe the eecution ofhis (ur(ose% *ong has he been looking forwar to some vacant season" inwhich he might evote his whole time an attention to this interestingservice" free from the interru(tion of all other concerns an he hasthe rather wishe for this o((ortunity of unistracte an maturereflection" from a esire that what he might sen into the worl mightthus be renere less uneserving of the (ublic eye% #eanwhile life iswearing away" an he aily becomes more an more convince" that hemight wait in vain for this season of com(lete vacancy% $e must"

therefore" im(rove such occasional intervals of leisure as may occur tohim in the course of a busy life" an throw himself on the Reaersinulgence for the (aron of such im(erfections" as the o((ortunity ofuniverte an more mature attention might have enable him to iscoveran correct%

But the (lea here suggeste is by no means intene as an ecuse for theo(inions which he shall e(ress" if they be foun mistaken% $ere" if hebe in an error" it is however a eliberate error% $e woul ineeaccount himself un(aronable" if he were to intrue his first thoughtsu(on the Public on a uestion of such im(ortance an he can trulyeclare" that what he shall offer will be the result of much reaing"observation" an inuiry" an of long" serious" an re(eate

consieration%

8t is not im(robable that he may be accuse of eviating from his (ro(erline" an of im(ertinently interfering in the concerns of a Professionto which he oes not belong% 8f it were necessary" however" to efenhimself against this charge" he might shelter himself uner theauthority of many most res(ectable eam(les% But surely to such anaccusation it may be sufficient to re(ly" that it is the uty of everyman to (romote the ha((iness of his fellow)creatures to the utmost ofhis (ower an that he who thinks he sees many aroun him" whom he


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esteems an loves" labouring uner a fatal error" must have a colheart" or a most confine notion of benevolence" if he coul refrainfrom eneavouring to set them right" lest in so oing he shoul beaccuse of ste((ing out of his (ro(er walk" an e(ose himself on thatgroun to the im(utation of officiousness%

But he might also allege as a full justification" not only that Religionis the business of every one" but that its avancement or ecline in anycountry is so intimately connecte with the tem(oral interests ofsociety" as to rener it the (eculiar concern of a (olitical man anthat what he may (resume to offer on the subject of Religion may (erha(sbe (eruse with less jealousy an more canour" from the verycircumstance of its having been written by a *ayman" which must at leasteclue the iea Han iea sometimes illiberally suggeste to take offthe effect of the works of EcclesiasticsI that it is (rom(te by motivesof self)interest" or of (rofessional (rejuice%

But if the writers a(ology be not foun in the work itself" an in hisavowe motive for unertaking it" he woul in vain eneavour to satisfyhis reaers by any ecuses he might assign therefore" without farther

(reamble" he will (rocee to the statement an eecution of his(ur(ose%

The main object which he has in view is" not to convince the Sce(tic" orto answer the arguments of (ersons who avowely o((ose the funamentaloctrines of our Religion but to (oint out the scanty an erroneoussystem of the bulk of those who belong to the class of orthoo!hristians" an to contrast their efective scheme with a re(resentationof what the author a((rehens to be real !hristianity% 9ften has itfille him with ee( concern" to observe in this escri(tion of (ersons"scarcely any istinct knowlege of the real nature an (rinci(les of thereligion which they (rofess% The subject is of infinite im(ortance letit not be riven out of our mins by the bustle or issi(ations of life%

This (resent scene" an all its cares an all its gaieties" will soon berolle away" an Jwe must stan before the jugment seat of !hrist%JThis awful consieration will (rom(t the writer to e(ress himself withgreater freeom than he shoul otherwise be is(ose to use% Thisconsieration he trusts" also" will justify his frankness" an willsecure him a serious an (atient (erusal% But it woul be tres(assing onthe inulgence of the reaer to etain him with introuctory remarks%*et it only be farther (remise" that if what shall be state shoul toany a((ear neelessly austere an rigi" the writer must lay in hisclaim not to be conemne" without a fair inuiry whether or not hisstatements accor with the language of the sacre writings% To that testhe refers with confience an it must be concee by those who amitthe authority of Scri(ture Hsuch only he is aressingI that from the

ecision of the wor of Go there can be no a((eal%

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!$AP% 8%K8naeuate !once(tions of the 8m(ortance of !hristianity%K :

!$AP% 88%K!orru(tion of $uman >ature%K :L

!$AP% 888%K!hief ,efects of the Religious System of the bulk of(rofesse !hristians" in what regars our *or -esus !hrist"an the $oly S(irit))with a ,issertation concerning the useof the Passions in Religion%K LD

!$AP% 8V%K9n the (revailing inaeuate !once(tions concerning the>ature an the Strictness of Practical !hristianity%K :00

!$AP% V%K9n the Ecellence of !hristianity in certain im(ortantParticulars% Argument which results thence in Proof of its

,ivine 9rigin%K /4/

!$AP% V8%KBrief 8nuiry into the (resent State of !hristianity inthis !ountry" with some of the !auses which have le to itscritical !ircumstances% 8ts 8m(ortance to us as a (olitical!ommunity" an (ractical $ints for which the foregoing!onsierations give occasion%K /./

!$AP% V88%KPractical $ints to various ,escri(tions of Persons%K D04

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KPo(ular >otions%))Scri(ture Account%))8gnorance in this !asecriminal%))Two false #aims e(ose%K

Before we (rocee to the consieration of any (articular efects in thereligious system of the bulk of (rofesse !hristians" it may be (ro(erto (oint out the very inaeuate conce(tion which they entertain of theim(ortance of !hristianity in general" of its (eculiar nature" ansu(erior ecellence% 8f we listen to their conversation" virtue is(raise" an vice is censure (iety is (erha(s a((laue" an(rofaneness conemne% So far all is well% But let any one" who woulnot be eceive" by these Jbarren generalitiesJ eamine a little more


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closely" an he will fin" that not to !hristianity in (articular" butat best to Religion in general" (erha(s to mere #orality" their homageis intene to be (ai% &ith !hristianity" as istinct from these" theyare little acuainte their views of it have been so cursory ansu(erficial" that far from iscerning its characteristic essence" theyhave little more than (erceive those eterior circumstances whichistinguish it from other forms of Religion% There are some few facts"an (erha(s some leaing octrines an (rinci(les" of which they cannotbe wholly ignorant but of the conseuences" an relations" an(ractical uses of these" they have few ieas" or none at all%

,oes this seem too strongO View their (lan of life an their orinaryconuct an not to s(eak at (resent of their general inattention tothings of a religious nature" let us ask" wherein can we iscern the(oints of iscrimination between them an (rofesse unbelieversO 8n anage wherein it is confesse an lamente that infielity abouns" o weobserve in them any remarkable care to instruct their chilren in the(rinci(les of the faith which they (rofess" an to furnish them witharguments for the efence of itO They woul blush" on their chilscoming out into the worl" to think him efective in any branch of that

knowlege" or of those accom(lishments which belong to his station inlife" an accoringly these are cultivate with becoming assiuity% Buthe is left to collect his religion as he may the stuy of !hristianityhas forme no (art of his eucation" an his attachment to it Hwhere anyattachment to it eists at allI is" too often" not the (reference ofsober reason" but merely the result of early (rejuice an grounless(re(ossession% $e was born in a !hristian country" of course he is a!hristian his father was a member of the church of Englan" so is he%&hen such is the hereitary religion hane own from generation togeneration" it cannot sur(rise us to observe young men of sense ans(irit beginning to oubt altogether of the truth of the system in whichthey have been brought u(" an reay to abanon a station which they areunable to efen% ?nowing !hristianity chiefly in the ifficulties which

it contains" an in the im(ossibilities which are falsely im(ute to it"they fall (erha(s into the com(any of infiels an" as might bee(ecte" they are shaken by frivolous objections an (rofane cavils"which" ha they been groune an bottome in reason an argument" woulhave (asse by them" Jas the ile win"J an scarcely have seeme worthyof serious notice%

*et us beware before it be too late% >o one can say into what iscreit!hristianity may hereby grow" at a time when the free an unrestraineintercourse" subsisting amongst the several ranks an classes ofsociety" so much favours the general iffusion of the sentiments of thehigher orers% To a similar ignorance is (erha(s in no small egree tobe ascribe the success" with which !hristianity has been attacke of

late years in a neighbouring country% $a she not been wholly unarmefor the contest" however she might have been force from her untenable(osts" an com(elle to isembarrass herself from her loa ofincumbrances" she never coul have been riven altogether out of thefiel by her (uny assailants" with all their cavils" an gibes" ansarcasms for in these consiste the main strength of their (ettyartillery% *et us beware" lest we also suffer from a like cause nor letit be our crime an our re(roach" that in schools" (erha(s even in!olleges" !hristianity is almost if not altogether neglecte%


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8t cannot be e(ecte" that they who are so little attentive to thisgreat object in the eucation of their chilren" shoul be more so inother (arts of their conuct" where less strongly stimulate byaffection" an less obviously loae with res(onsibility% They are ofcourse therefore" little regarful of the state of !hristianity in theirown country an still more inifferent about communicating the light ofivine truth to the nations which Jstill sit in arkness%J

But Religion" it may be re(lie" is not noisy an ostentatious it ismoest an (rivate in its nature it resies in a mans own bosom" anshuns the observation of the multitue% Be it so%


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it bears (erha(s some marks of his customary love of (arao" we must atleast confess" that it e(oses" in a strong (oint of view" the K(overtyKof that su(erficial religion which has been above conemne an that itevery where is(lays that ha((y (ers(icuity" an grace" which soeminently characterie all the com(ositions of its author% But afterthis willing tribute of commenation" we are reluctantly com(elle toremark" that the work in uestion iscreits the cause which it wasmeant to serve" by many crue an etravagant (ositions from which noone can be secure who forms a hasty jugment of a ee( an com(rehensivesubject" the several bearings an relations of which have beenim(erfectly surveye an above all" it must be lamente" that it treatsthe great uestion which it (rofesses to iscuss" rather as a matter ofmere s(eculation" than as one wherein our everlasting interests areinvolve% Surely the writers object shoul have been" to convince hisreaers of their guilt still more than of their ignorance" an to leavethem im(resse rather with a sense of their anger than of their folly%

8t were almost a waste of time to multi(ly arguments in orer to (rovehow criminal the voluntary ignorance" of which we have been s(eaking"must a((ear in the sight of Go% 8t must be confesse by all who believe

that we are accountable creatures" an to such only the writer isaressing himself" that we shall have to answer hereafter to the

Almighty for all the means an occasions we have here enjoye ofim(roving ourselves" or of (romoting the ha((iness of others% An if"when summone to give an account of our stewarshi(" we shall be calleu(on to answer for the use which we have mae of our boily organs" anof the means of relieving the wants an necessities of our fellowcreatures how much more for the eercise of the nobler an more ealtefaculties of our nature" of invention" an jugment" an memory an forour em(loyment of all the instruments an o((ortunities of iligenta((lication" an serious reflection" an honest ecision% An to whatsubject might we in all reason be e(ecte to a((ly more earnestly" thanto that wherein our eternal interests are at issueO &hen Go has of his

gooness vouchsafe to grant us such abunant means of instruction inthat which we are most concerne to know" how great must be the guilt"an how aweful the (unishment of voluntary ignoranceC

An why" it may be aske" are we in this (ursuit alone to e(ectknowlege without inuiry" an success without eneavourO The wholeanalogy of nature inculcates on us a ifferent lesson" an our own

jugments in matters of tem(oral interests an worlly (olicy confirmthe truth of her suggestions% Bountiful as is the han of Provience"its gifts are not so bestowe as to seuce us into inolence" but torouse us to eertion an no one e(ects to attain to the height oflearning" or arts" or (ower" or wealth" or military glory" withoutvigorous resolution" an strenuous iligence" an steay (erseverance%

'et we e(ect to be !hristians without labour" stuy" or inuiry% Thisis the more (re(osterous" because !hristianity" being a revelation fromGo" an not the invention of man" iscovering to us new relations" withtheir corres(onent uties containing also octrines" an motives" an(ractical (rinci(les" an rules" (eculiar to itself" an almost as newin their nature as su(reme in their ecellence" we cannot reasonablye(ect to become (roficients in it by the acciental intercourses oflife" as one might learn insensibly the maims of worlly (olicy" or ascheme of mere morals%


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The iligent (erusal of the $oly Scri(tures woul iscover to us our(ast ignorance% &e shoul cease to be eceive by su(erficiala((earances" an to confoun the Gos(el of !hrist with the systems of(hiloso(hers we shoul become im(resse with that weighty truth" somuch forgotten" an never to be too strongly insiste on" that!hristianity calls on us" as we value our immortal souls" not merely in

KgeneralK" to be KreligiousK an KmoralK" but Ks(eciallyK to believe theoctrines" an imbibe the (rinci(les" an (ractise the (rece(ts of!hrist% 8t might be to run into too great length to confirm this(osition beyon is(ute by e(ress uotations from Scri(ture% An Hnotto antici(ate what belongs more (ro(erly to a subseuent (art of theworkI it may be sufficient here to remark in general" that !hristianityis always re(resente in Scri(ture as the gran" the un(aralleleinstance of Gos bounty to mankin% 8t was graciously hel forth in theoriginal (romise to our first (arents it was (reicte by a longcontinue series of (ro(hets the subject of their (rayers" inuiries"an longing e(ectations% 8n a worl" which o((ose an (ersecute them"it was their source of (eace" an ho(e" an consolation% At length ita((roache))the ,esire of all >ations))The long e(ecte Star announceits (resence))A multitue of the heavenly host haile its introuction"

an (roclaime its character JGlory to Go in the highest" on earth(eace" goo will towars men%J 8t is every where re(resente inscri(ture by such figures as may most ee(ly im(ress on us a sense ofits value it is s(oken of as light from arkness" as release from(rison" as eliverance from ca(tivity" as life from eath% J*or" nowlettest thou thy servant e(art in (eace" for mine eyes have seen thysalvation"J was the eclamation with which it was welcome by the (iousSimeon an it was universally receive an (rofesse among the earlyconverts with thankfulness an joy% At one time" the communication of itis (romise as a rewar at another" the loss of it is threatene as a(unishment% An" short as is the form of (rayer taught us by our blesseSaviour" the more general etension of the kingom of !hrist constitutesone of its leaing (etitions%

&ith what ealte conce(tions of the im(ortance of !hristianity ought weto be fille by such escri(tions as theseO 'et" in vain have we Jlineu(on line an (rece(t u(on (rece(t%J))Thus (reicte" thus (raye anlonge for" thus announce an characterie an rejoice in" thisheavenly treasure (oure into our la( in rich abunance we scarceacce(t% &e turn from it colly" or at best (ossess it negligently" as athing of no account or estimation% But a ue sense of its value woul beassurely im(resse on us by the iligent stuy of the wor of Go" thatblesse re(ository of ivine truth an consolation% Thence it is thatwe are to learn our obligations an our uty" what we are to believe anwhat to (ractise% An" surely" one woul think it coul not be reuireto (ress men to the (erusal of the sacre volume% Reason ictates"

Revelation commans J


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This is not the (lace for inuiring at large" whence it is that thosewho assent to the (osition" that the Bible is the wor of Go" an who(rofess to rest their ho(es on the !hristian basis" contentelyacuiesce in a state of such lamentable ignorance% But it may not beim(ro(er here to touch on two kinre o(inions" from which" in the minsof the more thoughtful an serious" this acuiescence a((ears to erivemuch secret su((ort% The one is" that it signifies little what a manbelieves Klook to his (racticeK% The other Hof the same familyI Kthatsincerity is all in allK% *et a mans o(inions an conuct be what theymay" yet" (rovie he be sincerely convince that they are right"however the eigencies of civil society may reuire him to be ealt withamongst men" in the sight of Go he cannot be criminal%

8t woul etain us too long fully to set forth the various merits ofthese favourite (ositions" of which it is surely not the smallestecellence" that they are of unboune a((lication" com(rehening withintheir ca(acious limits" all the errors which have been believe" anmany of the most es(erate crimes which have been (er(etrate among men%The former of them is foune altogether on that grossly fallaciousassum(tion" that a mans o(inions will not influence his (ractice% The

latter (rocees on this grounless su((osition" that the Su(reme Beinghas not affore us sufficient means of iscriminating truth fromfalsehoo" right from wrong+ an it im(lies" that be a mans o(inions orconuct ever so wil an etravagant" we are to (resume" that they areas much the result of im(artial inuiry an honest conviction" as if hissentiments an actions ha been strictly conformable to the rules ofreason an sobriety% >ever inee was there a (rinci(le more general inits use" more sovereign in its (otency% $ow oes its beautifulsim(licity also" an com(enious brevity" give it rank before thelaborious subtleties of BellarmineC !lement" an Ravaillac" an otherworthies of a similar stam(" from whose (urity of intention the worlhas hitherto withhel its ue tribute of a((lause" woul here have founa reay (lea an their injure innocence shall now at length receive

its full though tary vinication% JThese however"J it may be re(lie"Jare ece(te cases%J !ertainly they are cases of which any one whomaintains the o(inion in uestion woul be gla to isencumber himselfbecause they clearly e(ose the unsounness of his (rinci(le% But itwill be incumbent on such an one" first to e(lain with (recision whythey are to be eem(te from its o(eration" an this he will fin anim(ossible task for sincerity" in its (o(ular sense" so shamefully isthe term misa((lie" can be mae the criterion of guilt an innocence onno grouns" which will not eually serve to justify the assassins whohave been instance% The conclusion cannot be elue no man was evermore fully (ersuae of the innocence of any action" than these menwere" that the horri ee they were about to (er(etrate was not lawfulmerely" but highly meritorious% Thus !lement an Ravaillac being

unuestionably sincere" they were therefore inubitably innocent% >ay"the absurity of this (rinci(le might be shewn to be even greater thanwhat has yet been state% 8t woul not be going too far to assert" thatwhilst it scorns the efence of (etty villains" of those who stillretain the sense of goo an evil" it hols forth" like some wellfreuente sanctuary" a secure asylum to those more finishe criminals"who" from long habits of wickeness" are lost alike to the (erce(tion asto the (ractice of virtue an that it selects a seare conscience an aheart become callous to all moral istinctions as the s(ecial objects ofits care% >or is it only in (ro(hane history that instances like these


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are to be foun" of (ersons committing the greatest crimes with asincere conviction of the rectitue of their conuct% Scri(ture willaffor us (arallels an it was surely to guar us against the veryerror which we have been now e(osing" that our blesse Saviourforewarne his isci(les+ JThe time cometh" that whosoever killeth youwill think that he oeth Go service%J

A (rinci(le like this must then be abanone" an the avocates forsincerity must be com(elle to restore this abuse term to its genuinesignification" an to acknowlege that it must im(ly honesty of min"an the faithful use of the means of knowlege an of im(rovement" theesire of being instructe" humble inuiry" im(artial consieration" anun(rejuice jugment% 8t is to these we woul earnestly call you tothese Hever to be accom(anie with fervent (rayers for the ivineblessingI Scri(ture every where hols forth the most animating (romises%JAsk an ye shall receive" seek an ye shall fin" knock an it shall beo(ene unto you $oC every one that thirsteth" come ye to the watersJsuch are the comfortable assurances" such the gracious encouragements tothe truly sincere inuirer% $ow ee( will be our guilt if we slight allthese benevolent offers% J$ow many (ro(hets an kings have esire to

hear the things that we hear" an have not hear themCJ Great inee areour o((ortunities" great also is our res(onsibility% *et us awaken to atrue sense of our situation% &e have every consieration to alarm ourfears" or to animate our inustry% $ow soon may the brightness of ourmeriian sun be arkeneC 9r" shoul the long suffering of Go stillcontinue to us the mercies which we so much abuse" it will onlyaggravate our crime" an in the en enhance our (unishment% The time ofreckoning will at length arrive% An when finally summone to the bar ofGo" to give an account of our stewarshi(" what (lea can we have tourge in our efence" if we remain willingly an obstinately ignorant ofthe way which leas to life" with such transcenent means of knowing it"an such urgent motives to its (ursuitO

!$APTER 88%

!9RR=PT89> 9< $=#A> >AT=RE%

SE!T% 8%

K8naeuate !once(tions of the !orru(tion of $uman >ature%K

After consiering the efective notions of the im(ortance of

!hristianity Kin generalK" which (revail among the higher orers of the!hristian worl" the (articular misconce(tions which first come unerour notice res(ect the corru(tion an weakness of human nature% This isa to(ic on which it is (ossible that many of those" into whose hans the(resent work shall fall" may not have bestowe much attention% 8f thecase be so" it may be reuisite to intreat them to len a (atient an aserious ear% The subject is of the ee(est im(ort% &e shoul not go toofar if we were to assert" that it lies at the very root of all trueReligion" an still more" that it is eminently the basis an groun)workof !hristianity%


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So far as the writer has ha an o((ortunity of remarking" the generalityof (rofesse !hristians among the higher classes" either altogetheroverlook or eny" or at least greatly etenuate the corru(tion anweakness here in uestion% They acknowlege inee that there is" anever has been in the worl" a great (ortion of vice an wickeness thatmankin have been ever (rone to sensuality an selfishness" inisobeience to the more refine an liberal (rinci(les of their naturethat in all ages an countries" in (ublic an in (rivate life"innumerable instances have been affore of o((ression" of ra(acity" ofcruelty" of frau" of envy" an of malice% They own that it is too oftenin vain that you inform the unerstaning" an convince the jugment%They amit that you o not thereby reform the hearts of men% Though they

KknowK their uty" they will not (ractice it no not even when you haveforce them to acknowlege that the (ath of virtue is that also of realinterest" an of soli enjoyment%

These facts are certain they cannot be is(ute an they are at thesame time so obvious" that one woul have thought that the celebratea(o(hthegm of the Grecian sage" Jthe majority are wicke"J woul

scarcely have establishe his claim to intellectual su(eriority%

But though these effects of human e(ravity are every where acknowlegean lamente" we must not e(ect to fin them trace to their trueorigin%

!ausa latet" vis est notissima%

Pre(are yourself to hear rather of frailty an infirmity" of (ettytransgressions" of occasional failings" of suen sur(risals" an ofsuch other ualifying terms as may serve to kee( out of view the truesource of the evil" an without shocking the unerstaning" mayaminister consolation to the (rie of human nature% The bulk of

(rofesse !hristians are use to s(eak of man as of a being" who"naturally (ure" an incline to all virtue" is sometimes" almostinvoluntary" rawn out of the right course" or is over(owere by theviolence of tem(tation% Vice with them is rather an acciental antem(orary" than a constitutional an habitual istem(er a noious(lant" which" though foun to live an even to thrive in the human min"is not the natural growth an (rouction of the soil%


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Eamine first with attention the natural (owers an faculties of manCinvention" reason" jugment" memory a min Jof large iscourse"JJlooking before an after"J reviewing the (ast" an thence eterminingfor the (resent" an antici(ating the future iscerning" collecting"combining" com(aring ca(able not merely of a((rehening but of amiringthe beauty of moral ecellence+ with fear an ho(e to warn an animatewith joy an sorrow to solace an soften with love to attach" withsym(athy to harmonie" with courage to attem(t" with (atience to enure"an with the (ower of conscience" that faithful monitor within thebreast" to enforce the conclusions of reason" an irect an regulatethe (assions of the soul% Truly we must (ronounce him Jmajestic thoughin ruin%J J$a((y" ha((y worl"J woul be the eclamation of theinhabitant of some other (lanet" on being tol of a globe like ours"(eo(le with such creatures as these" an abouning with situations anoccasions to call forth the multi(lie ecellencies of their nature%J$a((y" ha((y worl" with what elight must your great !reator anGovernor witness your conuct" an what large an merite rewars awaityou when your term of (robation shall have e(ire%

J8" bone" uo virtus tua te vocat" i (ee fausto" Grania laturus meritorum (rQmia%J

But we have inulge too long in these elightful s(eculations a sareverse (resents itself on our survey of the KactualK state of man"when" from viewing his KnaturalK (owers" we follow him into K(racticeK"an see the uses to which he a((lies them% Take in the whole of the(ros(ect" view him in every age" an climate" an nation" in everyconition an (erio of society% &here now o you iscover thecharacters of his ealte natureO J$ow is the gol become im" an thefine gol changeOJ $ow is his reason cloue" his affections(erverte his conscience stu(ifieC $ow o anger" an envy" anhatre" an revenge" s(ring u( in his wretche bosomC $ow is he a slave

to the meanest of his a((etitesC &hat fatal (ro(ensities oes heiscover to evilC &hat ina(titue to gooC

,well awhile on the state of the ancient worl not merely on thatbenighte (art of it where all lay burie in brutish ignorance anbarbarism" but on the seats of civilie an (olishe nations" on theem(ire of taste" an learning" an (hiloso(hy+ yet in these chosenregions" with whatever lustre the sun of science (oure forth its rays"the moral arkness was so thick Jthat it might be felt%J Behol theirsottish iolatries" their absur su(erstitions" their want of naturalaffection" their brutal ecesses" their unfeeling o((ression" theirsavage crueltyC *ook not to the illiterate an the vulgar" but to thelearne an refine% ow irect your view to another uarter" to the inhabitants of a newhemis(here" where the baneful (ractices an contagious eam(le of theol worl ha never travelle% Surely" among these chilren of nature wemay e(ect to fin those virtuous tenencies" for which we have hitherto


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looke in vain% AlasC our search will still be fruitlessC They arere(resente by the historian of America" whose account is morefavourable than those of some other great authorities" as being acom(oun of (rie" an inolence" an selfishness" an cunning" ancruelty2D7 full of a revenge which nothing coul satiate" of a ferocitywhich nothing coul soften strangers to the most amiable sensibilitiesof nature2L7% They a((eare inca(able of conjugal affection" or (arentalfonness" or filial reverence" or social attachments uniting too withtheir state of barbarism" many of the vices an weaknesses of (olishesociety% Their horri treatment of ca(tives taken in war" on whoseboies they feaste" after (utting them to eath by the most crueltortures" is so well known" that we may s(are the isgusting recital% >ocommenable ualities relieve this gloomy (icture" ece(t fortitue" an(erseverance" an eal for the welfare of their little community ifthis last uality" eercise an irecte as it was" can be thoughteserving of commenation%

But you give u( the heathen nations as inefensible" an wish rather toform your estimate of man from a view of countries which have beenblesse with the light of revelation%))True it is" an with joy let us

recor the concession" !hristianity has set the general tone of moralsmuch higher than it was ever foun in the Pagan worl% She has everywhere im(rove the character an multi(lie the comforts of society"(articularly to the (oor an the weak" whom from the beginning she(rofesse to take uner her s(ecial (atronage% *ike her ivine Author"Jwho sens his rain on the evil an on the goo"J she showers ownunnumbere blessings on thousans who (rofit from her bounty" while theyforget or eny her (ower" an set at nought her authority% 'et even inthis more favoure situation we shall iscover too many lamentable(roofs of the e(ravity of man% >ay" this e(ravity will now become evenmore a((arent an less eniable%


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that they who raw the finest (ictures of virtue" an seem mostenamoure of her charms" are often the least uner her influence" an bythe merest trifles are rawn asie from that line of conuct" which theymost strongly an seriously recommen to others" that all this takes(lace" though most of the (leasures of vice are to be foun with lessalloy in the (aths of virtue whilst at the same time" these (athsaffor su(erior an more euisite elights" (eculiar to themselves" anare free from the iseases an bitter remorse" at the (rice of whichvicious gratifications are so often (urchase%

8t may suffice to touch very slightly on some other arguments" which itwoul harly be right to leave altogether unnotice+ one of these Hthe

justice of which" however enie by su(erficial moralists" (arents ofstrict (rinci(les can abunantly testifyI may be rawn from the (erversean frowar is(ositions (erceivable in chilren" which it is thebusiness an sometimes the ineffectual attem(t of eucation to reform%

Another may be rawn from the various eceits we are a(t to (ractice onourselves" to which no one can be a stranger" who has ever contem(latethe o(erations of his own min with serious attention% To the influenceof this s(ecies of corru(tion it has been in a great egree owing" that

!hristianity itself has been too often isgrace% 8t has been turneinto an engine of cruelty" an amist the bitterness of (ersecution"every trace has isa((eare of the mil an beneficent s(irit of thereligion of -esus% 8n what egree must the taint have worke itself intothe frame" an have corru(te the habit" when the most wholesomenutriment can be thus converte into the ealiest (oisonC &ishingalways to argue from such (remises as are not only really soun" butfrom such as cannot even be uestione by those to whom this work isaresse" little was sai in re(resenting the e(lorable state of the$eathen worl" res(ecting their efective an unworthy conce(tions inwhat regars the Su(reme Being" who even then however Jleft not himselfwithout witness" but gave them rain an fruitful seasons" filling theirhearts with foo an glaness%J But surely to any who call themselves

!hristians" it may be justly urge as an astonishing instance of humane(ravity" that we ourselves" who enjoy the full light of revelation towhom Go has vouchsafe such clear iscoveries of what it concerns us toknow of his being an attributes who (rofess to believe Jthat in him welive" an move" an have our beingJ that to him we owe all the comfortswe here enjoy" an the offer of eternal Glory (urchase for us by theatoning bloo of his own Son HJthanks be to Go for his uns(eakablegift"JI that we" thus loae with mercies" shoul every one of us becontinually chargeable with forgetting his authority" an beingungrateful for his benefits with slighting his gracious (ro(osals" orreceiving them at best but heartlessly an colly%

But to (ut the uestion concerning the natural e(ravity of man to the

severest test+ take the best of the human s(ecies" the watchful iligentself)enying !hristian" an let KhimK ecie the controversy an that"not by inferences rawn from the (ractices of a thoughtless anissolute worl" but by an a((eal to his (ersonal e(erience% Go withhim into his closet" ask him KhisK o(inion of the corru(tion of theheart" an he will tell you that he is ee(ly sensible of its (ower" forthat he has learne it from much self)observation an long acuaintancewith the workings of his own min% $e will tell you" that every aystrengthens this conviction yea" that hourly he sees fresh reason toe(lore his want of sim(licity in intention" his infirmity of (ur(ose"


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his low views" his selfish unworthy esires" his backwarness to setabout his uty" his languor an colness in (erforming it+ that hefins himself oblige continually to confess" that he feels within himtwo o((osite (rinci(les" an that Jhe cannot o the things that hewoul%J $e cries out in the language of the ecellent $ooker" JThelittle fruit which we have in holiness" it is" Go knoweth" corru(t anunsoun+ we (ut no confience at all in it" we challenge nothing in theworl for it" we are not call Go to reckoning" as if we ha him in ourebt books our continual suit to him is" an must be" to bear with ourinfirmities" an (aron our offences%J

Such is the moral history" such the conition of man% The figures of the(iece may vary" an the colouring is sometimes of a arker" sometimes ofa lighter hue but the (rinci(les of the com(osition" the granoutlines" are every where the same% &herever we irect our view" weiscover the melancholy (roofs of our e(ravity whether we look toancient or moern times" to barbarous or civilie nations" to theconuct of the worl aroun us" or to the monitor within the breastwhether we rea" or hear" or act" or think" or feel" the samehumiliating lesson is force u(on us"

-u((iter est uocunue vies" uocunue moveris%

>ow when we look back to the (icture which was formerly rawn of theKnatural (owersK of man" an com(are this his KactualK state with thatfor which" from a consieration of those (owers" he seems to have beenoriginally calculate" how are we to account for the astonishingcontrastC will frailty or infirmity" or occasional la(ses" or suensur(risals" or any such ualifying terms" convey an aeuate iea of thenature" or (oint out the cause of the istem(erO $ow" on any (rinci(lesof common reasoning" can we account for it" but by conceiving that man"since he came out of the hans of his !reator" has contracte a taint"an that the venom of this subtle (oison has been communicate

throughout the race of Aam" every where ehibiting incontestible marksof its fatal malignityO $ence it has arisen" that the a((etites erivingnew strength" an the (owers of reason an conscience being weakene"the latter have feebly an im(otently (leae against those forbieninulgences which the former have solicite% Sensual gratifications anillicit affections have ebase our nobler (owers" an inis(ose ourhearts to the iscovery of Go" an to the consieration of his(erfections to a constant willing submission to his authority" anobeience to his laws% By a re(etition of vicious acts" evil habits havebeen forme within us" an have rivette the fetters of sin% *eft to theconseuences of our own folly" the unerstaning has grown arker" anthe heart more oburate reason has at length altogether betraye hertrust" an even conscience herself has aie the elusion" till" instea

of e(loring our miserable slavery" we have too often hugge" an evenglorie in our chains%

Such is the general account of the (rogress of vice" where it issuffere to attain to its full growth in the human heart% Thecircumstances of iniviuals will be foun inee to iffer theservitue of some" if it may be allowe us to continue a figure soeactly escri(tive of the case" is more rigorous than that of others"their bons more galling" their egraation more com(lete% Some too Hitwill be remembere that we are s(eaking of the natural state of man"


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without taking !hristianity into uestionI have for a while a((earealmost to have esca(e from their confinement but none are altogetherfree all without ece(tion" in a greater or less egree bear aboutthem" more visible or more conceale" the ignominious marks of theirca(tivity%

Such on a full an fair investigation must be confesse to be the stateof facts an how can this be accounte for on any other su((osition"than that of some original taint" some raical (rinci(le of corru(tionO

All other solutions are unsatisfactory" whilst the (otent cause whichhas been assigne" oes abunantly" an can alone sufficiently accountfor the effect% Thus then it a((ears" that the corru(tion of humannature is (rove by the same moe of reasoning" as has been eemeconclusive in establishing the eistence" an ascertaining the laws ofthe (rinci(le of gravitation+ that the octrine rests on the same solibasis as the sublime (hiloso(hy of >ewton+ that it is not a meres(eculation" an therefore an uncertain though (erha(s an ingenioustheory" but the sure result of large an actual e(eriment euce fromincontestable facts" an still more fully a((roving its truth byharmoniing with the several (arts an accounting for the various

(hQnomena" jarring otherwise an ine(licable" of the great system ofthe universe%

Revelation" however" here comes in" an sustains the fallibleconjectures of our unassiste reason% The $oly Scri(tures s(eak of us asfallen creatures+ in almost every (age we shall fin something that iscalculate to abate the loftiness an silence the (retensions of man%JThe imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth%J J&hat is man"that he shoul be cleanO an he which is born of a woman" that he shoulbe righteous247%J J$ow much more abominable an filthy is man" whichrinketh iniuity like water2.7OJ JThe *or looke own from heaven u(onthe chilren of men" to see if there were any that i unerstan" anseek Go% They are all gone asie they are altogether become filthy+

there is none that oeth goo" no not one257%J J&ho can say" 8 have maemy heart clean" 8 am (ure from my sin217OJ JThe KheartK is eceitfulabove all things" an es(erately wicke" who can know it%J JBehol" 8was sha(en in wickeness" an in sin hath my mother conceive me%J J&ewere by nature the chilren of wrath" even as others" fulfilling theesires of the flesh an of the min%J J9 wretche man that 8 am" whoshall eliver me from the boy of this eathCJ))Passages might bemulti(lie u(on (assages" which s(eak the same language" an these againmight be illustrate an confirme at large by various otherconsierations" rawn from the same sacre source such as those whichre(resent a thorough change" a renovation of our nature" as beingnecessary to our becoming true !hristians or as those also which aresuggeste by observing that holy men refer their goo is(ositions an

affections to the immeiate agency of the Su(reme Being%

SE!T89> 88%

KEvil S(irit%))>atural State of #an%K

But in aition to all which has been yet state" the wor of Goinstructs us that we have to conten not only with our own naturale(ravity" but with the (ower of arkness" the Evil S(irit" who rules in


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the hearts of the wicke" an whose ominion we learn from Scri(ture tobe so general" as to entitle him to the enomination of Jthe Prince ofthis worl%J There cannot be a stronger (roof of the ifference whicheists between the religious system of the Scri(tures" an that of thebulk of nominal !hristians" than the (roof which is affore by thesubject now in uestion% The eistence an agency of the Evil S(irit"though so istinctly an re(eately affirme in Scri(ture" are almostuniversally e(loe in a country which (rofesses to amit the authorityof the sacre volume% Some other ,octrines of Revelation" the force anreal meaning of which are commonly in a great egree e(laine away" areyet concee in general terms% But this seems almost by universalconsent to have been abanone" as a (ost no longer tenable% 8t isregare as an evanescent (rejuice" which it woul now be a iscreitto any man of unerstaning to believe% *ike ghosts an witches another (hantoms" which haunte the night of su(erstition" it cannot inthese more enlightene times stan the test of our severer scrutiny% Tobe suffere to (ass away uietly" is as much as it can ho(e for an itmight rather e(ect to be laughe off the stage as a just object ofcontem(t an erision%

But although the Scri(ture octrine concerning the Evil S(irit is thusgenerally e(loe" yet were we to consier the matter seriously anfairly" we shoul (robably fin groun for believing that there is nobetter reason for its being abanone" than that many absur stories"concerning s(irits an a((aritions" have been use to be believe an(ro(agate amongst weak an creulous (eo(le an that the Evil S(iritnot being the object of our boily eyes" it woul be an instance of thesame weakness to give creit to the octrine of its eistence anagency% But to be consistent with ourselves" we might almost as well" onthe same (rinci(le" eny the reality of all other incor(oreal beings%&hat is there" in truth" in the octrine" which is in itself im(robable"or which is not confirme by analogyO &e see" in fact" that there arewicke men" enemies to Go" an malignant towars their fellow

creatures" who take (leasure" an often succee" in rawing in others tothe commission of evil% &hy then shoul it be eeme increible" thatthere may be one or more s(iritual intelligences of similar natures an(ro(ensities" who may in like manner be (ermitte to tem(t men to the(ractice of sinO Surely we may retort u(on our o((onents the charge ofabsurity" an justly accuse them of gross inconsistency" in amitting"without ifficulty" the eistence an o(eration of these ualities in amaterial being" an yet enying them in an immaterial one Hin irectcontraiction to the authority of Scri(ture" which they allow to beconclusiveI when they cannot" an will not (reten for a moment" thatthere is any thing belonging to the nature of matter" to which theseualities naturally ahere%

But to ilate no farther on a to(ic which" however it may ecite theriicule of the inconsierate" will suggest matter of furiousa((rehension to all who form their o(inions on the authority of the worof Go+ thus brought as we are into ca(tivity" an e(ose to angere(rave an weakene within" an tem(te from without" it might wellfill our hearts with aniety to reflect" Jthat the ay will come"J whenJthe $eavens being on fire shall be issolve" an the elements shallmelt with fervent heatJ Jwhen the ea" small an great" shall stanbefore the tribunal of GoJ an we shall have to give account of allthings one in the boy% &e are naturally (rom(te to turn over the (age


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of revelation with solicitue" in orer to iscover the ualities ancharacter of our -uge" an the (robable (rinci(les of hisetermination but this only serves to turn (ainful a((rehension intofie an certain terror%))ow" hear his escri(tion an character an the rule of his awar+ JThe*or our Go is a consuming fire" even a jealous Go%J))J$e is of (urereyes than to behol iniuity%J))JThe soul that sinneth" it shallie%J))JThe wages of sin is eath%J These (ositive eclarations areenforce by the accounts which" for our warning" we rea in sacrehistory" of the terrible vengeance of the Almighty+ $is (unishment Jtheangels who ke(t not their first estate" an whom he hath reserve ineverlasting chains uner arkness unto the jugment of the great ay+J

The fate of Soom an Gomorrah the sentence issue against theiolatrous nations of !anaan" an of which the eecution was assigne tothe 8sraelites" by the e(ress comman of Go" at their own (eril incase of isobeience+ The ruin of Babylon" an of Tyre" an of >ineveh"an of -erusalem" (ro(hetically enounce as the (unishment of theircrimes" an taking (lace in an eact an terrible accorance with theivine (reictions% These are inee matter of awful (erusal" sufficientsurely to confoun the fallacious confience of any who" on the grounthat our !reator must be aware of our natural weakness" an must be ofcourse is(ose to allow for it" shoul allege that" though unableinee to justify ourselves in the sight of Go" we nee not give way tosuch gloomy a((rehensions" but might throw ourselves" with assure ho(e"on the infinite benevolence of the Su(reme Being% 8t is inee true"

that with the threatenings of the wor of Go" there are mie manygracious eclarations of (aron" on re(entance" an thorough amenment%But" alasC which of us is there" whose conscience must not re(roach himwith having trifle with the long)suffering of Go" an with having butill ke(t the resolutions of amenment" which he ha some time or otherforme in the seasons of recollection an remorseO))An how is theisuietue naturally ecite by such a retros(ect" confirme anheightene by (assages like theseO JBecause 8 have calle" an yerefuse 8 have stretche out my han" an no man regare but ye haveset at nought all my counsel" an woul none of my re(roof 8 also willlaugh at your calamity 8 will mock when your fear cometh+ when yourfear cometh as esolation" an your estruction cometh as a whirlwinwhen istress an anguish cometh u(on you+ then shall they call u(on me"

but 8 will not answer they shall seek me early" but they shall not finme+ for that they hate knowlege" an i not chuse the fear of the*or2::7%J The a((rehensions" which must be ecite by thus reaing therecore jugments an awful language of Scri(ture" are confirme to theinuisitive an attentive min" by a close observation of the moralconstitution of the worl% Such a one will fin occasion to remark" thatall" which has been suggeste of the final conseuences of vice" is instrict analogy to what we may observe in the orinary course of humanaffairs" wherein it will a((ear" on a careful survey" that Go has soassigne to things their general tenencies" an establishe such an


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orer of causes an effects" as Hhowever interru(te here below byhinrances an obstructions a((arently of a tem(orary natureI louly(roclaim the (rinci(les of his moral government" an strongly suggest"that vice an im(ruence will finally terminate in misery2:/7% >ot thatthis s(ecies of (roof was wante for that which we must acknowlege" onweighing the evience" to be a revelation from Go" reuires not the aiof such a confirmation+ but yet" as this accorance might be e(ectebetween the wors an the works" the (ast an the future orinations ofthe same Almighty Being" it is no ile s(eculation to remark" that thevisible constitution of things in the worl aroun us" falls in with there(resentations here given from Scri(ture of the reaful conseuencesof vice" nay even of what is commonly terme inconsierateness anim(ruence%

8f such then be inee our sa conition" what is to be oneO 8s thereno ho(eO >othing left for us" Jbut a fearful looking for of jugment"an fiery inignation" which shall evour the aversaries2:D7OJ Blessebe GoC we are not shut u( irrecoverably in this sa conition+ JTurnyou to the strong hol" ye (risoners of ho(eJ hear one who (roclaimshis esignation" Jto heal the broken)hearte" to (reach liberty to the

ca(tives" an recovering of sight to the blin%J They who have forme atrue notion of their lost an hel(less state" will most glaly listen tothe soun" an most justly estimate the value of such a eliverance% Anthis is the cause" which reners it of such (ressing moment not to (asscursorily over those im(ortant to(ics of the original an su(erinucecorru(tion" an weakness of man a iscussion (ainful an humiliatingto the (rie of human nature" to which the min lens itself withifficulty" an hearkens with a miture of anger an isgust but wellsuite to our case" an like the istasteful lessons of aversity"(ermanently useful in its conseuences% 8t is here" never let it beforgotten" that our founation must be lai otherwise oursu(erstructure" whatever we may think of it" will one ay or other (rovetottering an insecure% This is therefore no meta(hysical s(eculation"

but a (ractical matter+ Slight an su(erficial conce(tions of our stateof natural egraation" an of our insufficiency to recover from it ofourselves" fall in too well with our natural inconsierateness" an(rouce that fatal insensibility to the ivine warning to Jflee from thewrath to come"J which we cannot but observe to (revail so generally%$aving no ue sense of the malignity of our isease" an of its reafulissue" we o not set ourselves to work in earnest to obtain the remey"as to a business aruous inee" but inis(ensable+ for it must ever becarefully remembere" that this eliverance is not Kforce on usK" but

Koffere to usK we are furnishe inee with every hel(" an are alwaysto bear in min" that we are unable of ourselves to will or to orightly but we are (lainly amonishe to Jwork out our own salvationwith fear an trembling2:L7%J))&atchful" for we are encom(asse with

angers J(utting on the whole armour of Go"J for Jwe are beset withenemies%J

#ay we be enable to shake off that lethargy which is so a(t to cree(u(on usC


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former of these objects" we shoul often seriously an attentivelyconsier the firm grouns on which it rests% 8t is (lainly mae known tous by the light of nature" an irresistibly enforce on us by theictates of our unassiste unerstanings% But lest there shoul be anyso obstinately ull" as not to iscern the force of the eviencesuggeste to our reason" an confirme by all e(erience" or rather soheeless as not to notice it" the authoritative stam( of Revelation issu(erae" as we have seen" to com(lete the (roof an we musttherefore be altogether inecusable" if we still remain unconvince bysuch accumulate mass of argument%

But we must not only KassentK to the octrine clearly" but KfeelK itstrongly% To this en" let the (ower of habit be calle in to our ai%*et us accustom ourselves to refer to our natural e(ravity" as to their(rimary cause" the sa instances of vice an folly of which we rea" orwhich we see aroun us" or to which we feel the (ro(ensities in our ownbosoms ever vigilant an istrustful of ourselves" an looking with aneye of kinness an (ity on the faults an infirmities of others" whomwe shoul learn to regar with the same tener concern as that withwhich the sick are use to sym(athie with those who are suffering uner

the same istem(er as themselves% This lesson once well acuire" weshall feel the benefit of it in all our future (rogress an though itbe a lesson which we are slow to learn" it is one in which stuy ane(erience" the incients of every ay" an every fresh observation ofthe workings of our own hearts" will graually concur to (erfect us% *etit not" after all then" be our re(roach" an at length our ruin" thatthese abunant means of instruction are (ossesse in vain%

SE!T89> 888%

K!orru(tion of $uman >ature%))9bjection%K

But there is one ifficulty still behin" more formiable than all therest% The (rie of man is loth to be humble%


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(rofesse !hristians" it must not be (asse by without a few shortobservations%

&ere the language in uestion to be aresse to us by an avowesce(tic" though it might not be very ifficult to e(ose to him thefutility of KhisK reasonings" we shoul almost es(air of satisfying himof the sounness of our own% &e shoul (erha(s suggest im(ossibilities"which might stan in the way of such a system as he woul establish+ wemight inee (oint out wherein Harguing from concessions which he woulfreely makeI his (re)conce(tions concerning the conuct of the Su(remeBeing" ha been in fact alreay contraicte" (articularly by theeistence at all of natural or moral evil+ an if thus (rove erroneousin one instance" why might they not be so likewise in anotherO Butthough by these an similar arguments we might at length silence ourobjector" we coul not much e(ect to bring him over to our o(inions% &eshoul (robably o better" if we were to eneavour rather to raw himoff from these ark an sli((ery regions" Hsli((ery in truth they are toevery human footI an to conten with him" where we might trea withfirmness an freeom" on sure groun" an in the light of ay% Then wemight fairly lay before him all the various arguments for the truth of

our holy religion arguments which have been sufficient to satisfy thewisest" an the best" an the ablest of men% &e shoul afterwars(erha(s insist on the abunant confirmation !hristianity receives fromits being eactly suite to the nature an wants of man an we mightconclue" with fairly (utting it to him" whether all this weight ofevience were to be overbalance by this one ifficulty" on a subject soconfessely high an mysterious" consiering too that he must allow" wesee but a (art H9 how small a (artCI of the universal creation of Go"an that our faculties are wholly incom(etent to juge of the schemes ofhis infinite wisom% This" if the writer may be (ermitte to offer hisown jugment" is Hat least in generalI the best moe" in the case of theobjection now in uestion" of ealing with unbelievers an to ao(t thecontrary (lan" seems somewhat like that of any one" who having to

convince some untutore 8nian of the truth of the !o(ernican system"instea of beginning with (lain an sim(le (ro(ositions" an leaing himon to what is more abstruse an remote" shoul state to him at theoutset some astonishing (roblems" to which the unerstaning can onlyyiel its slow assent" when constraine by the ecisive force ofemonstration% The novice" instea of lening himself to such a mistakenmetho of instruction" woul turn away in isgust" an be only hareneagainst his (rece(tor% But it must be remembere" that the (resent workis aresse to those who acknowlege the authority of the holyScri(tures% An in orer to convince all such that there is somewhere orother" a fallacy in our objectors reasoning" it will be sufficient toestablish that though the wor of Go clearly asserts the justice angooness of the Su(reme Being" an also the natural e(ravity of man"

yet it no less clearly lays own that this natural e(ravity shall neverbe amitte as an ecuse for sin" but that Jthey which have one evil"shall rise to the resurrection of amnation2:47%J))JThat the wickeshall be turne into hell" an all the (eo(le that forget Go%J An itis worthy of remark" that" as if for the very (ur(ose of moreeffectually silencing those unbelieving oubts which are ever s(ringingu( in the human heart" our blesse Saviour" though the messenger of(eace an goo will to man" has again an again re(eate these awfulenunciations%


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>or Hit must also be remarkeI are the holy Scri(tures less clear anfull in guaring us against su((osing our sins" or the reafulconseuences of them" to be chargeable on Go%))J*et no man say when heis tem(te" 8 am tem(te of Go+ for Go cannot be tem(te with evil"neither tem(teth he any man2:.7+J JThe *or is not willing that anyshoul (erish2:57%J An again" where the iea is re(elle as injuriousto his character"))J$ave 8 any (leasure at all that the wicke shoulieO saith the *or Go an not that he shoul return from his ways"an live2:17OJ Jot to antici(ate what will more (ro(erly comeuner iscussion" when we consier the nature an strictness of(ractical !hristianity let us here" however" remark" that though theholy Scri(tures so clearly state the natural corru(tion an weakness ofman" yet they never" in the most minute egree" countenance" butthroughout irectly o((ose" the su((osition to which we are often tooforwar to listen" that this corru(tion an weakness will be amitte aslowering the emans of ivine justice" an in some sort (alliating ourtransgressions of the laws of Go% 8t woul not be ifficult to shewthat such a notion is at war with the whole scheme of reem(tion by theatonement of !hrist% But (erha(s it may be enough when any suchsuggestions as those which we are conemning force themselves into the

imagination of a !hristian" to recommen it to him to silence them bywhat is their best (ractical answer+ that if our natural conition bee(rave an weak" our tem(tations numerous" an our Almighty -ugeinfinitely holy yet that the offers to (enitent sinners of (aron angrace" an strength" are universal an unlimite% *et it not howeversur(rise us" if in all this there seem to be involve ifficulties whichwe cannot fully com(rehen% $ow many such every where (resentthemselvesC Scarcely is there an object aroun us" that oes not afforenless matter of oubt an argument% The meanest re(tile which crawlson the earth" nay" every herb an flower which we behol" baffles theimbecility of our limite inuiries% All nature calls u(on us to behumble% !an it then be sur(rising if we are at a loss on this uestion"which res(ects" not the (ro(erties of matter" or of numbers" but the

counsels an ways of him whose J=nerstaning is infinite2/07"J Jwhosejugments are eclare to be unsearchable" an his ways (ast finingout2/:7OJ 8n this our ignorance however" we may calmly re(ose ourselveson his own eclaration" JThat though clous an arkness are roun abouthim" yet righteousness an jugment are the habitation of histhrone2//7%J *et it also be remembere" that if in !hristianity somethings are ifficult" that which it most concerns us to know" is (lainan obvious% To this it is true wisom to attach ourselves" assenting towhat is reveale where above our faculties" we o not say contraictoryto them" on the creit of what is clearly iscerne" an satisfactorily


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establishe% 8n truth" we are all (erha(s too a(t to (lunge into e(ths"which it is beyon our (ower to fathom an it was to warn us againstthis very error" that the ins(ire writer" when he has been threateningthe (eo(le" whom Go ha selecte as the objects of his s(ecial favour"with the most reaful (unishments" if they shoul forsake the law ofthe *or" an has introuce surrouning nations as asking the meaningof the severe infliction" wins u( the whole with this instructiveamonition JSecret things belong unto the *or our Go+ but those whichare reveale belong unto us" an to our chilren for ever" that we may

KoK all the wors of this law2/D7%J

To any one who is seriously im(resse with a sense of the critical statein which we are here (lace" a short an uncertain s(ace in which tomake our (eace with Go" an then the last jugment" an an eternity ofuns(eakable ha((iness or misery" it is inee an awful an an affectings(ectacle" to see men thus busying themselves in these vain s(eculationsof an arrogant curiosity" an trifling with their earest" theireverlasting interests% 8t is but a feeble illustration of this euisitefolly" to com(are it to the conuct of some convicte rebel" who" whenbrought into the (resence of his Sovereign" instea of seiing the

occasion to sue for mercy" shoul even neglect an trifle with the(aron which shoul be offere to him" an insolently em(loy himself in(rying into his Sovereigns esigns" an criticising his counsels% 9urcase inee is" in another (oint of com(arison" but too much like thatof the convicte rebel% But there is this gran ifference))that at thebest" his success must be uncertain" ours" if it be not our own fault"is sure an while" on the one han" our guilt is uns(eakably greaterthan that of any rebel against an earthly monarch so" on the other" weknow that our Sovereign is J*ong)suffering" an easy to be intreateJmore reay to grant" than we to ask" forgiveness% &ell then may we ao(tthe language of the (oet+

&hat better can we o" than ) ) ) (rostrate fall

Before him reverent an there confess $umbly our faults" an (aron beg with tears &atering the groun" an with our sighs the air


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That our blesse *or willingly left the glory of the


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the eterior a((earance of the boy" etinguishes the internal (rinci(leof heat an motion" an soon etens its benumbing influence to theremotest fibres of the frame% This efect is closely connecte with thatwhich was the chief subject of the last cha(ter+ Jthey that are wholenee not a (hysician" but they that are sick%J $a we uly felt theburthen of our sins" that they are a loa which our own strength iswholly unable to su((ort" an that the weight of them must finally sinkus into (erition" our hearts woul have ance at the soun of thegracious invitation" J!ome unto me" all ye that labour an are heavylaen" an 8 will give you rest2/L7%J But in those who have scarcelyfelt their sins as any incumbrance" it woul be mere affectation to(reten to very ealte conce(tions of the value an acce(tableness ofthe (roffere eliverance% This (retence accoringly" is selom now ke(tu( an the most su(erficial observer" com(aring the sentiments anviews of the bulk of the !hristian worl" with the articles stillretaine in their cree" an with the strong language of Scri(ture" mustbe struck with the amaing is(ro(ortion%

To (ass over the throng from whose mins Religion is altogether eclueby the business or the vanities of life" how is it with the more ecent

an moralO To what criterion shall we a((ealO Are their hearts reallyfille with these things" an warme by the love which they are aa(teto ins(ireO Then surely their mins are a(t to stray to them almostunseasonably or at least to hasten back to them with eagerness" whenesca(e from the estrangment im(ose by the necessary cares an businessof life% $e was a masterly escriber of human nature" who thus(ourtraye the characters of an unissemble affection

J=nstai an fickle in all other things" Save in the constant image of the object" That is belove%J

JAn how"J it may be (erha(s re(lie" Jo you know" but that the mins

of these (eo(le are thus occu(ieO !an you look into the bosoms of menOJ*et us a((eal to a test to which we resorte in a former instance% J9utof the abunance of the heart"J it has been (ronounce" Jthe mouths(eaketh%J))Take these (ersons then in some well selecte hour" an leathe conversation to the subject of Religion% The utmost which can beeffecte is" to bring them to talk of things in the gross% They a((earlost in generalities there is nothing (recise an eterminate" nothingwhich im(lies a min use to the contem(lation of its object% 8n vainyou strive to bring them to s(eak on that to(ic" which one might e(ectto be ever u((ermost in the hearts of reeeme sinners% They elue allyour eneavours an if you make mention of it yourself" it is receivewith no very corial welcome at least" if not with uneuivocal isgustit is at the best a force an formal iscussion% The ecellence of our

Saviours moral (rece(ts" the kinness an sim(licity" an self)enialan unblemishe (urity of his life" his (atience an meekness in thehour of eath" cannot inee be s(oken of but with amiration" whens(oken of at all" as they have often etorte unwilling (raise from themost aring an malignant infiels% But are not these mentione asualities in the abstract" rather than as the (erfections an lineamentsof our (atron an benefactor an frien" Jwho love us" an gave himselffor usJ of him Jwho ie for KourK offences" an rose again for KourK

justificationJ who is even now at the Jright han of Go" makingintercession for KusKOJ &ho woul think that the kinness an humanity"


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an self)enial" an (atience in suffering" which we so rily commen"ha been eerte towars KourselvesK" in acts of more than finitebenevolence of which KweK were to erive the benefit" in conescensionsan labours submitte to for KourK sakes" in (ain an ignominy" enurefor KourK eliveranceO

But these gran truths are not suffere to vanish altogether from ourremembrance% Thanks to the com(ilers of our *iturgy" more than to toomany of the occu(iers of our (ul(its" they are force u(on our notice intheir just bearings an connections" as often as we atten the serviceof the church% 'et is it too much to affirm" that though thereentertaine with ecorum" as what belong to the ay an (lace" anoccu(ation" they are yet too generally hear of with little interestlike the legenary tales of some venerable historian" or othertransactions of great antiuity" if not of oubtful creit" which"though im(ortant to our ancestors" relate to times an circumstances soifferent from our own" that we cannot be e(ecte to take any greatconcern in themO &e hear of them therefore with a((arent inifferencewe re(eat them almost as it were by rote" assuming by turns the languageof the ee(est humiliation an of the warmest thankfulness" with a calm

unaltere com(osure an when the service of the ay is ene" they areismisse altogether from our thoughts" till on the return of anotherSunay" a fresh attenance on (ublic worshi( gives occasion for therenewe e(ressions of our (erioical gratitue% 8n noticing suchlukewarmness as this" surely the writer were to be (arone" if he wereto be betraye into some warmth of conemnation% The =nitarian anSocinian inee" who eny" or e(lain away the (eculiar octrines of theGos(el" may be allowe to feel" an talk of these gran truths withlittle emotion% But in those who (rofess a sincere belief in them" thiscolness is insu((ortable% The greatest (ossible services of man to manmust a((ear contem(tible" when com(are with Jthe uns(eakable mercies of!hrist+J mercies so early bought" so freely bestowe))A eliverancefrom eternal misery))The gift of Ja crown of glory" that faeth not

away%J 'et" what jugment shoul we form of such conuct" as is herecensure" in the case of any one who ha receive some signal servicesfrom a fellow creatureO True love is an arent" an an active(rinci(le))a col" a ormant" a (hlegmatic gratitue" are contractionsin terms% &hen these generous affections really eist in vigour" are wenot ever fon of welling on the value" an enumerating the merits ofour benefactorO $ow are we move when any thing is asserte to hisis(aragementC $ow o we elight to tell of his kinnessC &ith what(ious care o we (reserve any memorial of him" which we may ha((en to(ossessO $ow glaly o we seie any o((ortunity of renering to him" orto those who are ear to him" any little goo offices" which" though inthemselves of small intrinsic worth" may testify the sincerity of ourthankfulnessC The very mention of his name will cheer the heart" an

light u( the countenanceC An if he be now no more" an if he ha maeit his ying reuest that" in a way of his own a((ointment" we wouloccasionally meet to kee( the memory of his (erson" an of his servicesin lively eercise how shoul we resent the iea of failing in the(erformance of so sacre an obligationC

Such are the genuine characters" such the natural workings of a livelygratitue% An we believe" without oing violence to the mostestablishe (rinci(les of human nature" that where the KeffectsK are soifferent" the Kinternal (rinci(leK is in truth the sameO


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8f the love of !hrist be thus langui in the bulk of nominal !hristians"their joy an trust in him cannot be e(ecte to be very vigorous% $ereagain we fin reason to remark" that there is nothing istinct" nothings(ecific" nothing which im(lies a min acuainte with the nature" anfamiliarie with the use of the !hristians (rivileges" habituallysolacing itself with the ho(es hel out by the Gos(el" an animate bythe sense of its high relations" an its glorious reversion%

The octrine of the sanctifying o(erations of the $oly S(irit" a((earsto have met with still worse treatment% 8t woul be to convey a veryinaeuate iea of the scantiness of the conce(tions on this hea" ofthe bulk of the !hristian worl" to affirm merely" that they are toolittle conscious of the inefficacy of their own unassiste eneavoursafter holiness of heart an life" an that they are not aily em(loyein humbly an iligently using the a((ointe means for the rece(tion ancultivation of the ivine assistance% 8t woul harly be to go beyonthe truth to assert" that for the most (art their notions on thissubject are so confuse an faint" that they can scarcely be sai in anyfair sense to believe the octrine at all%

The writer of these sheets is by no means una((rie of the objectionswhich he may e(ect from those" whose o(inions he has been so freelyconemning% $e is (re(are to hear it urge" that often where there havebeen the strongest (retences to the religious affections" of which thewant has now been censure" there has been little or nothing of thereality of them an that even omitting the instances Hwhich howeverhave been but too freuentI of stuie hy(ocrisy" what have assume tothemselves the name of religious affections" have been merely theflights of a lively imagination" or the working of a heate brain in(articular" that this love of our Saviour" which has been so warmlyrecommene" is no better than a vain fervor" which wells only in theisorere min of the enthusiast% That Religion is of a more steay

nature of a more sober an manly uality an that she rejects withscorn" the su((ort of a mere feeling" so volatile an ineterminate" sotrivial an useless" as that with which we woul associate her afeeling varying in ifferent men" an even in the same man at ifferenttimes" accoring to the acciental flow of the animal s(irits afeeling" lastly" of which it may (erha(s be sai" we are from our verynature" harly susce(tible towars an invisible Being%

JAs to the o(erations of the $oly S(irit"J it may (robably be furtherurge" that Jit is (erha(s scarcely worth while to s(en much time ininuiring into the theory" when" in (ractice at least" it is manifest"that there is no sure criterion whereby any one can ascertain thereality of them" even in his own case" much less in that of another% All

we know is" that (reteners to these etraorinary assistances" havenever been wanting to abuse the creulity of the vulgar" an to try the(atience of the wise%


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therefore all these slothful an chimerical s(eculations" it is truewisom to attach ourselves to what is more soli an (ractical to thework which you will not yourself eny to be sufficiently ifficult tofin us of itself full em(loyment+ the work of rectifying the isorersof the (assions" an of im(lanting an cultivating the virtues of themoral character%J))J8t is the service of the unerstaning which Goreuires of us" which you woul egrae into a mere matter of boilytem(erament" an imaginary im(ulses% 'ou are contening for that whichnot only is altogether unworthy of our ,ivine #aster" but which" withconsierate men" has ever brought his religion into sus(icion anisre(ute" an uner a shew of honouring him" serves only to injure aniscreit his cause%J 9ur 9bjector" warming as he (rocees" will (erha(sassume a more im(atient tone% J$ave not these octrines"J he mayeclaim" Jbeen ever (erverte to (ur(oses the most isgraceful to theReligion of -esusO 8f you want an instance" look to the stanar of theinuisition" an behol the (ious ,ominicans torturing their miserablevictims for the *ove of !hrist2/47% 9r woul you rather see the effectsof your (rinci(les on a larger scale" an Kby wholesaleK Hif the (hrasemay be (aroneI cast your eyes across the Atlantic" an let your ealbe eifie by the holy activity of !orte an Piarro" an their

a(ostles of the western hemis(here% To what else have been owing theetensive ravages of national (ersecutions" an religious wars ancrusaes whereby ra(acity" an (rie" an cruelty" shelteringthemselves Hsometimes even from the furious bigots themselvesI uner themask of this s(ecious (rinci(le" have so often afflicte the worlO ThePrince of Peace has been mae to assume the (ort of a ferociousconueror" an forgetting the message of goo will to men" has issueforth like a secon Scourge of the Earth2/.7" to (lague an esolate thehuman s(ecies%J

K9bjection iscusse%K

That the sacre name of Religion has been too often (rostitute to themost etestable (ur(oses that furious bigots an blooy (ersecutors"an self)intereste hy(ocrites of all ualities an imensions" from thera(acious leaer of an army" to the canting oracle of a congregation"have falsely calle themselves !hristians" are melancholy anhumiliating truths" which Has none so ee(ly lament themI none will morereaily amit" than they who best unerstan the nature" an are mostconcerne for the honour of !hristianity% &e are reay to acknowlegealso without is(ute" that the religious affections" an the octrine ofivine assistances" have almost at all times been more or less isgraceby the false (retences an etravagant conuct of wil fanatics anbrain)sick enthusiasts% All this" however" is only as it ha((ens inother instances" wherein the e(ravity of man (erverts the bounty of

Go% &hy is it here only to be mae an argument" that there is anger ofabuseO So is there also in the case of all the (otent an o(erative(rinci(les" whether in the natural or moral worl% Take for an instancethe (owers an (ro(erties of matter% These were oubtless esigne byProvience for our comfort an well)being yet they are oftenmisa((lie to trifling (ur(oses" an still more freuently turne intoso many agents of misery an eath% 9n this fact inee is foune thewell)known maim" not more trite than just" that Jthe best things whencorru(te become the worstJ a maim which is es(ecially just in theinstance of Religion%


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others" that a great (ower" when mischievously a((lie" must be hurtfulin (ro(ortion to its strength but that the very (rinci(le on which ingeneral we e(en for restraining an retaring the (rogress of evil"not only ceases to inter(ose any kinly check" but is actively o(erativein the o((osite irection% But will you therefore iscar ReligionaltogetherO The e(eriment was lately trie in a neighbouring country"an (rofessely on this very groun% The effects however with which itwas attene" o not much encourage its re(etition% But su((ose Religionwere iscare" then *iberty remains to (lague the worl a (ower whichthough when well em(loye" the is(enser of light an ha((iness" hasbeen often (rove" an eminently in this very instance" to be ca(ablewhen abuse" of becoming infinitely mischievous% &ell then" etinguish*iberty% Then what more abuse by false (reteners" than PatriotismO&ell" etinguish Patriotism% But then the wicke career to which we haveaverte" must have been checke but for !ourage% Blot out !ourage))anso might you (rocee to etinguish one by one" Reason" an S(eech" an#emory" an all the iscriminating (rerogatives of man% But (erha(s morethan enough has been alreay urge in re(ly to an objection" whichbottoms on groun so inefensible" as that which woul eually warrantour conemning any (hysical or moral faculty altogether" on account of

its being occasionally abuse%

As to the (osition of our 9((onent" that there is no way whereby thevaliity of any (retensions to the religious affections may beascertaine it must (artly be amitte% ,oubtless we are not ablealways to rea the hearts of men" an to iscover their real charactersan hence it is" that we in some measure lie o(en to the false anhy(ocritical (retences which are brought forwar against us sotrium(hantly% But then these (retences no more (rove all similar claimsto be foune in falsehoo an hy(ocrisy" than there having been manyfalse an intereste (reteners to wisom an honesty" woul (rove thatthere can be no such thing as a wise or an honest man% &e o not arguethus but where our reason is uner a corru(t bias% &hy shoul we be so

much sur(rise an scanalie" when these im(orters are etecte in thechurch of !hristO 8t is no more than our blesse #aster himself taughtus to e(ect an when the ol ifficulty is state" Jist thou not sowgoo see in thy fiel" whence then hath it taresOJ his own answerfurnishes the best solution"))Jan enemy hath one this%J))$y(ocrisy isinee KetestableK" an enthusiasm sufficiently mischievous to justifyour guaring against its a((roaches with jealous care% 'et it may not beim(ro(er to take this occasion for observing" that we are now an thena(t to raw too unfavourable conclusions from un(leasant a((earances"which may (erha(s be chiefly or altogether owing to gross or confuseconce(tions" or to a isgusting formality of emeanor" or toineterminate" low" or im(ro(erly familiar e(ressions% The moe anlanguage" in which a vulgar man will e(ress himself on the subject of

Religion" will (robably be vulgar" an it is ifficult for (eo(le ofliterature an refinement not to be unreasonably shocke by suchvulgarities% But we shoul at least eneavour to correct the rash

jugments which we may be is(ose to form on these occasions" anshoul learn to recognie an to (rie a soun teture an justconfiguration" though isguise beneath a homely or uncouth ra(ery% 8twas an A(ostle who eclare that he ha come Hto the learne anaccom(lishe Grecians tooI Jnot with ecellency of s(eech" or the wisomof wors%J


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efficacy of his octrines" an to the ivine (ower with which they wereaccom(anie% Even in our own times" when" the etraorinary o(erationsan miraculous gifts of the $oly S(irit having cease" the necessity ofstuy an (re(aration" an of attention to manner as well as matter" inorer to ualify men to become teachers of religion" are no longersu(ersee" yet it is no more than an act of justice e(licitly toremark" that a boy of !hristians" which from the (eculiarly offensivegrossnesses of language in use among them" ha" not without reason"ecite sus(icions of the very worst nature" have since reclaime theircharacter2/57" an have (erha(s ecelle all mankin in soli anuneuivocal (roofs of the love of !hrist" an of the most arent" anactive" an (atient eal in his service% 8t is a eal tem(ere with(ruence" softene with meekness" soberly aiming at great ens by thegraual o(eration of well aa(te means" su((orte by a courage which noanger can intimiate" an a uiet constancy which no harshi(s canehaust%

SE!T% 88%

K9n the Amission of the Passions into Religion%K

The objection of our 9((onent" that by insisting on the obligation ofmaking our blesse Saviour the object of our religious affections" weare egraing the worshi( of the unerstaning" an are substituting anraising u( a set of mere feelings in its stea" is one which eservesour most serious consieration% 8f it be just" it is ecisive for oursmust be unuestionably Ja reasonable service2/17%J The 9bjector mustmean" either" that these affections are unreasonable in themselves" orthat they are mis(lace in religion% $e can scarcely however inten thatthe affections are in their own nature unreasonable% To su((ose him tomaintain this (osition" were to su((ose him ignorant of what everyschoolboy knows of the mechanism of the human min% &e shall therefore

take it for grante" that this cannot be his meaning" an (rocee toeamine the latter (art of the alternative% $ere also it may either beintene" that the affections are mis(lace in Religion" KgenerallyK" orthat our blesse Saviour is not the (ro(er object of them% The strain ofour 9bjectors language" no less than the objections themselves whichhe has urge" rener it evient that H(erha(s without ecluing thelatter (ositionI the former is in full (ossession of his min%

This notion of the affections being out of (lace in Religion" is ineean o(inion which a((ears to be generally (revalent% The affections areregare as the strong)hols of enthusiasm% 8t is therefore juge moste(eient to act" as (ruent generals are use to o" when they rae thefortress" or s(ike u( the cannon" which are likely to fall into the

hans of an enemy% #ankin are a(t to be the u(es of misa((lie termsan the (rogress of the (ersuasion now in uestion" has beenconsierably aie by an abuse of language" not sufficiently checke inits first avances" whereby that s(ecies of Religion which is o((ositeto the warm an affectionate kin" has been suffere almost withoutisturbance" to usur( to itself the e(ithet of KrationalK% But let notthis claim be too hastily amitte% *et the (osition in uestion bethoroughly an im(artially iscusse" an it will a((ear" if 8 mistakenot" to be a gross an (ernicious error% 8f am(utation be ineeinis(ensable" we must submit to it but we may surely e(ect to be


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hear with (atience" or rather with favour an inulgence" while we(rocee to shew that there is no nee to have recourse to so es(eratean enemy% The iscussion will necessarily raw us into length% But our(roliity will not be greater than may well be claime by the im(ortanceof the subject" es(ecially as it scarcely seems to have hithertosufficiently engage the attention of writers on the subject ofReligion%

8t cannot methinks but affor a consierable (resum(tion against theoctrine which we are about to combat" that it (ro(oses to eclue atonce from the service of Religion so gran a (art of the com(osition ofman that in this our noblest em(loyment it conemns as worse thanuseless" all the most active an o(erative (rinci(les of our nature% 9necannot but su((ose that like the organs of the boy" so the elementaryualities an original (assions of the min were all given us forvaluable (ur(oses by our all)wise !reator% 8t is inee one of the saeviences of our fallen conition" that they are now (er(etuallytumultuating an rebelling against the (owers of reason an conscience"to which they shoul be subject% But even if Revelation ha been silent"natural reason might have in some egree (resume" that it woul be the

effect of a Religion which shoul come from Go" com(letely to re(airthe conseuences of our su(erinuce e(ravity% The schemes of merehuman wisom ha inee tacitly confesse" that this was a task beyontheir strength% 9f the two most celebrate systems of (hiloso(hy" theone e(ressly confirme the usur(ation of the (assions" while the other"es(airing of being able to regulate" saw nothing left but to etinguishthem% The former acte like a weak government" which gives ine(enenceto a rebellious (rovince" which it cannot reuce% The latter forme itsboaste scheme merely u(on the (lan of that barbarous (olicy" whichcom(oses the troubles of a turbulent lan by the etermination of itsinhabitants% This is the calm" not of orer" but of inaction it is nottranuillity" but the stillness of eath

Truciare falso nomine im(erium" M ubi solituinem faciunt" (acem a((ellant))

!hristianity" we might ho(e" woul not be riven to any such wretchee(eients nor in fact oes she conescen to them% They only thusunervalue her strength" who mistake her character" an are ignorant ofher (owers% 8t is her (eculiar glory" an her main office" to bring allthe faculties of our nature into their just suborination ane(enence that so the whole man" com(lete in all his functions" may berestore to the true ens of his being" an be evote" entire anharmonious" to the service an glory of Go% J#y son" give me thine

KheartKJ))JThou shalt love the *or thy Go with all thy KheartK+J))Suchare the irect an com(rehensive claims which are mae on us in the holy

Scri(tures% &e can scarcely inee look into any (art of the sacrevolume without meeting abunant (roofs" that it is the religion of theAffections which Go (articularly reuires% *ove" eal" Gratitue" -oy"$o(e" Trust" are each of them s(ecifie an are not allowe to us asweaknesses" but enjoine on us as our bounen uty" an commene to usas our acce(table worshi(% &here (assages are so numerous" there woulbe no en of (articular citations% *et it be sufficient therefore" torefer the reaer to the wor of Go% There let him observe too" that asthe lively eercise of the (assions towars their legitimate object" isalways s(oken of with (raise" so a col" har" unfeeling heart is


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re(resente as highly criminal% *ukewarmness is state to be the objectof Gos isgust an aversion eal an love" of his favour an elightan the taking away of the heart of stone an the im(lanting of a warmeran more tener nature in its stea" is s(ecifically (romise as theeffect of his returning favour" an the work of his renewing grace% 8tis the (rayer of an ins(ire teacher" in behalf of those for whom he

a practical view of the prevailing religious system

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