SECTION XXXY. 507 6. Whenever you feel a passion arise,and are doubtful whe- ther it be fit to be indulged or no, make a trial of it in prayer, by appealing to God concerning it ; see whether it will bear that test, even the test of a tender conscience near the throne ofGod. 7. Make every irregular passion a matter of humble mourning and complaint before the mercy-seat : Prayearnestly for supplies ofdaily strength against the irregular efforts ofnature and passion : Cry nut for help from above, whenever you are combating with your unruly affections ; God has premised sufficient aid in the gospel. His grace can enable you both to conquer, and to bear vastly beyond the feeble powers of your own nature. Reason and resolutionwill do much, but religion is a diviner spring of strength and victory. 8. Call yourselfcontinually to account for every irregular fit of passion. Let it never break out and defile your soul without some effectual mortification of it by holy repentance. Thinkhow it discomposed your spirit, disturbed your quiet, ruffled your temper, broke your peace ; think how if drew your heart away from God, indisposed you for acts ofworship, and unfitted you for death. Thinkof this, andbe ashamed of your foolish indulgence of any faulty and violent affection of the soul : Condemn your- selfwithout spreading abroad your excuses and apologies ; and print this shame and self condemnation deep upon your spirit : Let it live there in plain and painful characters, and review it especially in the hour of new temptation. Thus every immode- rate effect ofpassion, and every victory that it has obtained over you, shall become an occasionofits own ruin. 9. Treasure up in your mind and memory, such words of scripture as are happily suited to subdue the various unruly pas- sions of nature. The word of God is given us for this end. I have laid up thy word in my heart saith David, that Imight not sin against thee ; And wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way, a young man whose spirits are warm, and whose passions are violent, but by taking heed thereto, according to thy word? Ps. cxix. 9, 11. When these enemies of peace and holiness arise within you, take the sword of the spirit to hew them down ; the sword of the spirit is the wordof God; Ephes. vi. 17. Many a vicious passion faints, and languishes, and dies at the appearance- of divine truth. Shall I mention a few sentences of holy writ, which are proper to allay these criminal efforts of nature ? Against pride and scorn, read Prot). xi. 2. Itrhen pride com. eth then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom. Prov. xvi.18. Pridegoeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit befbre a fall, Prov. vi. 16, 17. The Lordhateth aproud look. Eccles. vii. 8. He that is poor in spirit, is better than he that is proud in spirit. Jam. iv.6. God resistelh the proud, but givethmore grace to the humble. Ps. i. 1. Blessed is the man that. sitteth not in the seat of the
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