2 8 Religion con f s much PART I. gion. And yet how common is it among Mankind, that their Affec- tions are much more exercifed and engaged in other Matters, than in Religion ! In Things which concern Men's worldly Intereft, their outward Delights, their Honour and Reputation, and their natural Relations, they have their Defires eager, their Appetites vehement, their Love warm and affeElionate, their Zeal ardent ; in thefe Things their Hearts are tender and fenfible, easily moved, deeply imprefs'd, much concerned, very fenfibly affected, and greatly engaged ; much deprefs'd with Grief at worldly Loffes, and highly railed with Joy at worldly Succeffes and Profperity. But how infenfible and unrnov'd are molt Men, about the great Things of another World ! How dull are their Affections ! How heavy and hard their Hearts in thefe Mat- ters ! Here their Love is cold, their Defires languid, their Zeal low, and their Gratitude (mall. How they can fit and hear of the infinite Height and Depth and Length and Breadth of the Love of God in Chrift Jefus, of his giving his infinitely dear Son, to be offered up a Sacrifice for the Sins of Men, and of the unparallel'd Love of the in- nocent, holy and tender Lamb of God, rnanifefted in his dying Ago- nies, . his bloody Sweat, his loud and bitter Cries, and bleeding Heart, and allithis for Enemies, to redeem them from deferved, eternal Burn- ings, and to bring to unfpeakable and everlafting Joy andGlory; and yet be cold, and heavy, infenfible, and regardlefs ! Where are the Exercifes of our Affections proper, ifnot here ? What is it that does more require them ? And what can be a fit Occafion of their lively and vigorous Exercife, if not fuch an one as this ? Can any Thing be let in our View, greater and more important ? Any Thing more wonderful and furprifing ? Or more nearly concerning our Intereft ? Can we fuppofe the wife Creator implanted fuch Principles in the hu- man Nature as the Affections, to be of Ufe to us, and to be exercifed on certain proper Occafions, but to lie Rill on fuch an Occafion as this ? Can any Chriltian, who believes the Truth of thefe Things, entertain fuch Thoughts ? If we ought ever to exercife our Affections at all, and if the Crea- tor han't unwifely conftituted the human Nature, in making thefe Principles a Part of it, when they are vain and ufelefs ; then they ought to be exercifed about thofe Objects which are molt worthy of them. But is there any Thing, which Chriftians can find in Heaven or Earth, fo worthy to be the Objects of their Admiration and Love, their earneft and longing Defires, their Hope,and theirRejoicing, and their fervent Zeal, as thofe Things that are held forth to us in the Gofpel of Jefus Chrift ? In which, not only are Things declared molt worthy to affect us, but they are exhibited in the molt affectingMan- ner. The Glory and Beauty of the bleffed Jehovah, which is molt worthy in it fell, to be theObject of ourAdmiration and Love,is there exhibited in the molt affecting Manner that can be conceived of, as it
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