Edwards - BX7230 .E4 1746

ci Religion confifls much PART I. Change wrought in the Mind or Converfation of any one Perfon, by any thing of a religious Nature, that ever he read, heard or law, that had not his Affe }ions mov'd. Never was a natural Man.. en- gaged earncfliy to leek his Salvation : Never were any fuch brot y ht to cry afterWifdom, and lift up theirVoice forUnderftanding, and wrefile withGod inPrayer forMercy; and never was one humbled,and bro't to the Foot of God, from any thing that ever he heard or ima- gin'd of his own Unworthinefs and Defervings of God's Difpleafure ;. nor was ever one induced to fly for Refuge unto Chrifr, while his Heart remain'd unaffected. Nor was there ever a Saint awakened out of a cold, lifelefs Frame, or recovered from a declining State in Religion, and brought back from a lamentable Departure from God,. without having his Heart affedted. And in a 'Nord, there never was any Thing confiderable brought to pals in the Heart or Life of any Man living, by the Things of Religion, that had not his Heart deeply affeéted by thofe Things. 4. The holy Scriptures do every where place Religion very much in the Affections ; fuch as Fear, Hope, Love, Hatred, Defire, Joy, Sorrow, Gratitude, Compaffion and Zeal. The Scriptures place much of Religion in godly Fear ; infomuch that 'tis often fpoken of as the Charaaer of thofe that are truly re- ligious Perfons, that they tremble at God's Word, that they fear before him, that their Flefh trembles for Fear of him, and that they are afraid of his judgments, that his Excellency makes them afraid, and his bread falls upon them ; and the like : And a Compellation commonly given the Saints in Scripture, is, Fearers of God, or they that fear the Lord. And becaufe the Fear of God is a great Part of trueGodlinefs, hence true Godlinefs in general, is very commonly called by the Name of the Fear of God ; as every one knows, that knows any thing of the Bible. So Hope in God and in the Promifes of his Word, is often fpoken of in the Scripture, as a very confiderable Part of true Religion. 'Tis mention'd as one of the three great Things of which Religion confrfts, i Cor. 13. 13. Hope in the Lord is alto frequently men- tioned as the Charaaer of the Saints : Pfal. 146. 5. Happy is he that bath the God of Jacob for his Help, whop Hope is in the Lord his God. _Ter. 17. 7. Bled is the Man that trufleth in the Lord, whofe Hope the Lord is. Pfal. 31. 24. Be of good Courage, and he Jhallflrengthen your Heart, all ye that Hope in the Lord. And the like in many other Places. Religious Fear and Hope are, once and again, joined toge- ther, as jointly confiituting the Charaaer of the true Saints. Pfal. 33. 18. Behold the Eye of the Lord is upon them that Fear him, upon them that Hope in his Mercy. Pfal. 147. i I. The Lord taketh Plea- lure in them that Fear him, in thofe that Hope in his Mercy. Hope is fo

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