24 Religion cons much PART I. the Scriptures do fo frequently place the Sin and Corruption of the Heart in Hardnefs of Heart; it is evident, that the Grace and Holi- nefs of the Heart, on the contrary, muff, in a great Meafure, confiff in its having pious Affec`fions, and being eafily fufceptive of fuch Af- fe1ion. Divines are generally agreed, that Sin radically and funda- mentally confills in what is negative, or privative, having its Root and Foundation in a Privation or Want of Holinefs. And therefore un- doubtedly, if it be fo that Sin does very much confiff in Hardnefs of Heart, and fo in the Want of pious Affec`fions of Heart ; Holinefs does confift very much in thofepista letions. I am far from fuppofing that all Affedfions do Phew a tenderHeart : Hatred, Anger, Vain- glory, and other felfifh and felf-exalting Affec- tions, may greatly prevail in the hardeff Heart. But yet it is evident that Hardnefs of Heart, and rendernefs of Heart, are Expreffions that relate to the Affeaions of the Heart, and denote the Heart's being fufceptible of, or Phut up againft, certain illations, of which I (hall have Occafion to fpeak more afterwards. Upon the Whole, I think it clearlyand abundantly evident, that true Religion lies very much in the Affeaionc. Not that I think there Arguments prove, that Religion in theHearts of the trulyGodly, is ever in exaa Proportion to the Degree of Affeaion, and prefent Emotion of the Mind. For undoubtedly, there is much Affe&ion in the true Saints which is not fpiritual : Their religious Affections are often mixed ; all is not from Grace, but much from Nature. And tho' the Affe&ions have not their Seat in the Body, yet the Conffitu- tion of the Body,' may vetiemuch contribute to the prefent Emotion of the Mind. And the Degree of Religion is rather to be judged of by the Fixednefs and Strength of the Habit that is exercifed in Affec- tion, whereby holy Affedfion is habitual, than by the Degree of the prefent Exercife : And the Strength of that Habit is not always inPro- portion to outward Effeas and Manifeftations, or inward Effe&s, in the Hurry and Vehemence, and fudden Changes of the Courfe of the Thoughts of the Mind. But yet it is evident, that Religion confiffs fo much in Affeaion, as that without holy Affecrfion there is no true Religion : And no Light in the Underffanding is good, which don't produce holy Affeaion in the Heart ; no Habit or Principle in the Heart is good, which has no fuch Exercife ; and no external Fruit is good, which don't proceed from fuch Exercifes. Having thus confidered the Evidence of the Propoftion laid dodvn, I proceed to fome Inferences. i. We may hence learn how great their Error is, who are for diícarding all religious AffeSions, as having nothing folid or fubftan- tial in therm. There
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=