Chap. 6 Queflion.r, andCafet of Confcieuce about Affe5 ions)6,c and fclaca of 1 life liesin love, joy, defire, hope, &c. and how much difcomfort in feare, grief, anger, hatred, envie, &c ? Thegreateft troubles that ,eve_ be- fel many,ivere procured by their own difordered paflìons. So I Tim. 6.9i ro. 27ins. 3. t. ro 5. job; 12.43. The belt menare fubje& to difcover humane infirmities in their affe&ions, as ( Moles, Pp/. 5o6. 33. lob, eh. 40. 5. David, 2 Sam. 18. 33. eflbrahans, Gen. 1 _. 18, 19. `Peter, Mat. 54. 30, 31. Paul and Barnaher, Aft. 54. 15. Elias, I Kitts 19. 4. Affe&ions make us convertible to God, marriageable to Chrift, pliable to relations, and tra&able to good or evil. I. Convertible toGod : for in the Converfion offinners he works upon their affc&ions, to draw and gain them to himfelf, as .Aat z. 27. and 16. 29, 30. 2. Marriageable toChrift : fdr Chrift wooes our affe&ions, when he would ma ry us to himfclf, byheart - charming co.npcllations and arguments , Cant. 15' -. 1 3. Pliable to relations : for relations are founded in affe&ions : as love is the glue that makes man and wife cleave each ro other, Eph. ç.31. fo ofParents andchildren, Mailers andfervants. Sooffriends, 1 Sam. 18. s. 4. Tradable, either to goodor evil, to truth or errour. Hence a. Saran to drawmen from the Truth andOrdinances, labours to bring them in- to dillafte of their Minifters. ì. To draw them intoerrour, he labours to bring thebroachers and teachers of errours into favour with their hearers, Eph. 4.14. 3. To drawmen to fin he bewitches their aff'edions, and by them blindes and corrupts their judgement, as he didEves, G:n. 3.6,52. (Fenner.) See Mr. Ball. of the Government of Affc&ions. Tyner.! Quell. whether may the flrenoth of grace confff with the want of thofe flronaaffrflions, whichChrifßiaxr have found in thewf,'ffConverfion? .4nfw. For anfwer hereunto thefe three things are robe confidered. Firtt, When a man may he faid to lofe his firli affe&ions ? Secondly, in what cafes a ftrongChriftían may be faidtowant thong affe&i- ons? Thirdly, whence it is that they which have ftrong grace may yet want fuch ftrong affcdrons as they had at their firft Converfion ? For the firft, Affe&ions are fitlycompared to the pulfesof the foul, bywhich judgement may be given of theBate and temperof the foul ; and that we may know when our afte&tons beat low andaredecayed, we may judgethereof by thefe lignes. I. Whenwe have not fuch quick defires after duties. Moftly a Chrillian at his fin} Converfion, isfo earneft andeager after holy duties, that he will fcarce allow himfclf time for theduties of his particular calling. Yea, many times theytirethemfclvesinhearino, reading, meditation, &c. Butafterwards this heat abates, and they pray leffe, hear feldomer, &c. whichufually proceedsfrom their multitudeof worldlyoccafions. z. Affe&ions may be judged tobe decayed, when men want thofe foúl-ra- vifhing joyeswhich formerly they have had: which being abated, their affe&i' ons altoare abated. 3. Affe&ions are decayed, when fcnfibleprofiting, byOrdinances is abated.In- deed, a manmay profitby Ordinances, and yet not be fallible ofhisprofiting. Hemaygrow at theRoot infolidity of Grace, though it may not (hoot up fo much in bloffome ofaffeelions. F Queft. 35
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