ínContríbíng slOatt'o tleberttptíort 3Z9 Joy or Sorrow ; that is exempt from Fears and Hopes. Chap The tender andmeltingaffections of nature towards the 1.t mifery ofothers,they intirely extinguifh as unbecoming perfect Vertue. They attribute Wifdom to none, but whom they rob ofHumanity. Now,as 'tis the ordina- ry effect of folly to run intoone extremeby avoidinga- nother, fo 'tis moll viably here. For the Affectionsare not like poifonous plants to be eradicated ; but as wild, to be cultivated. They were at fiat fet in the frefh foil ofMan's nature by the hand ofGod. And the Scripture defcribes the Divine perfections, and the actions pro- ceeding from them, by terms borrowed from humane Affections, which proves them tobe innocent in their own nature. Plutarch obferves when Lycurgur com- manded to cut up all the Vines in Sparta to prevent Drunkennefs, he fhould rather have made Fountains by them tQallay the heat of the Wines, andmake them beneficial : So true Wifdom prefcribes how tomoderate and temperthe Affections,not to deftroy them.'Tis true they are now finfully inclin'd, yet being removed from Carnal to Spiritual objects, they are excellently fer- viceable. As Reafon is to guide the Affections,fo they are to exciteReafon,whofe operations would be languid without them. Thenatures that are purëly fpiritual,as the Angels, have anUnderflanding fo clear, as fudden- ly todifcover in objects their qualities, and to feel their efficacy : but Man is compounded of two natures, and the matter of his Body obfcures the light ofhis Mind, that he cannot make fuck a full difcovery ofgood or e- vil at the firft view, as may be requifite to quicken his purfuit ofthe one, andflight from theother. Now the Affections awaken the vigour ofthe Mind, to make an carnet application to its object. They are as the Winds which although fometimes tempeftuous, yet are need- fary to convey the Ship to the Port.So that 'cis contume- V v lious
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