'])ireEtions agai~ft Jinful PafiollS. CHAP. VII. f>ireEtions for the Gowrmnent. of t!Je Pajfions. 9· r. THE PJffionJ are to be confidcrcd, r. As in themfclves, and the fin of them as refpect– ingGod and ourfiluu only; And fo I am to fpeak of them here. 2. As they are a wrong to otbcrs, and a breach of the commandments which require Love and duty to~ wards our Ncizbbour: And fo I fhall fpeak of them after. 9· 2. p.Jffionr arc not finful in rhcmfdvcs, for God ha1h given them to us for his fervice : And there is none of them but m:1y be fan~ified and ufed for him : But they are linful, 1· When they are mifguided and placed on wrong objects : 2. When they dorl<en rcafon and delude the mind, and keep out truth, and fcduce to error. 3• When 'they rebel againfi the Government of the wiU, and troubl~ it and hinder it in its choice or profccurion of good, or urge it violently, to folJow their bruitifh in:. clination. 4· When t_hey a.re unfcafonable. 5· Or immoderate and cxceffive in degree, 6. Or of too long continuance: 7.And when they tend to evil dfu5ts, as to unfcernly fpeeches or actions, or to wrong another. 9· 3· Paffions are Holy when they are devDted to God, and fXcrcifed upo1t him or for him : They are Good when, I· They have right objects, 2 . And are guided by Reafon, 3· Arfil are obedient to the well-guided will, 4· And quicken, and awake the Reafon and the will tO do their duty, 5• And tend to good etfeCh, exciting all the other powers to their office, 6.And txceed not in degree, fo as tci dillurb the brain or body. Tit. 1. '])irec1ions againft ,all Jinful 1 Pasji01zs in general. §· 4• DireCt. I· TRttjl 1rot to ar.y pre[rnt tJtlual rrfdl.mce, Jf!itbJut any due F!Jbitual mo.rtific.:ui •n of Dire[l; 1 · Paffionr, aJtd fortification of the foul againjt tbem. Look rnnjl tif the holy confti~ • tuti.o1t ·of ymr mind and life, aJld then finful P.1ffioiJ.f wiU f.zU off lik._e fcabJ from a bettltbflfl budy wbw the blood i4 purified. §. 5• No wonder if an unhoJly foul be a jl.1ve to Pa!Ji:m, when the Body is inclined to it: For fitch a one is under the power o( ft!fiftnufi, carna/jty and rrorldlintji ; and from under rhe Government of Chrifi and his fpiric; and wantcth that life of Grace by which he 010uld cure and fubdue the corrupri~ ons of nature. The way for ~uch aone to m1fter p.:~!lion, is not to fhive by natural felfith principles and reafons, which are partial, poor and weak; but to look tirft to the main, and to feek with fpeed and earndlntfs for aNew and faniJijied hearr, and get God! Im.tge, and his fpirit and renewing quick– ning Grace: This is the only <ffitl:ual conqueror of Nature. A dull and gentle difpofition may feem · without this. to cm1quer that which never much affaulted it; ( the tryal of fuch perfons bting fom~ other way ): But none conquercrh Smn indeed but the fpirit of Chrift. And if you foaitld be frei from p.J/fion, and not befree from an unholy carn.. d worldly hc.1rt, you mull: per~fh at laH, if you ftem– c:d the c.:.~lnujl perfons upon earth. Begin therefore at the foundation, and tCe that the Body of fin be mortified, and tha.t the whole tree be rooted up whkh beareth thc:fe evil bitter fruits; and that the Holy vi{iorioJH ncw·uature be within you; and then you will refill: fin with Li.ght and Life, which others rdill but as in their flcer. 9· 6. Dirt d . 2· More p.:.~rticxlarly, let your fouls be jlifl prjJcffid witiJ tbe fe Jr of God, a11d live !If in Direl1. 1 i.. biJ f,;mily undtr his t)'t and Government, that hi1 authority may be more poWerful tl9.m temptatirms, a11d your boly convcrfe witiJ him, may mal(.e him Jfifl more regarduJ by Jll'l't t/,_m riim or anj crutUra. And thtn this Sun will put Ollt t11CleiTer lights, and the thunder of hi~ voice will drown the whitpners that would piovoke you, anJ the humming of thofe wafps which make rou fo impuimt: God would m1ke the crea[ure nothing, and then it would donotbing to difiurb yOU, br Car:y )'ou into fin~ Uu y. 7· Dird. j .
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