PREFACE g. To the love of Gott, 8fc. IN the first edition of these discourses, "the Doctrine of the Passions" stood as an introductionto them, wherein, their general nature was explained, their various kinds reduced to some regular order, the uses of them in human life represented, and moral anddivine rules were proposed for the government ofthese natural and active powers. Thislittle treatise has been much enlarged, and printed by itself, under a distinct title, viz. "The Doctrine of the Pas.. sions explained and improved." These "Discourses of the Love of God, and the Use and Abuse of the Passions in Religion" now follow; and since there are readers of a different taste, who have desired each of them alone, they may now chose for themselves, or they may order the bookseller to join them together if they please. Many years are now passed since the general design of both these trea tises was formed, and some brief sketches of themwere drawn, which had lain by me in long silence among other papers. 'That Which inclined me, at last, to draw up these discourses, of the " Use of the Passions in Religion," into a more regular form, was the growing deadness and degeneracy of our age in vital religion, though it grew bright in rational and polite learning. There are too many persons who have imbibed, and propagate this notion, that it is almost the only business of a preacher to teach the necessary doctrines and duties of our holy religion, by a mere explication of the word of God, without enforcing these things on the conscience, by a pa- thetic address to the heart; and that the business of a christian, in his attendance on sermons, is to learn what these doctrines and duties are, without taking any pains to awaken the devout sensations ofhope and fear, and love andjoy, though the God ofnatme bathordained them tobe the most effectual allurements or spurs toduty in this present animal state. We are often told, that this warm and affectionate religion belongs only to the weaker parts of mankind, and is not strong and manly enough for personsof sense and good reasoning. But where the religious use of the passions is renounced and abandoned, wedo not find this coldand dry reasoning sufficient to raise virtue and piety to any great and honourable degree, even in their men of sense, without the assistance of pious affections. On the otherhand, it mustbe acknowledged also, there havebeen many persons who have made their religion to consist too much in the working of their passions, without a due exercise of reason in the things of God. They have contented themselves with some devout raptures without seek- ing after clear conceptions of divine things, or building their faith and hope, and practice, upon a just and solid foundation of sacred knowledge. What- soever is vehement, if it path but the name of God annexed to it, the-; are ready to think and call sacred and divine'. This sort of religion lies very much exposed to all the wild temptations of fancyand enthusiasm : A great deal of the bigotry of the world, and the madness of persecution maybe as- scribed to this unhappy spring. .I thought it necessary therefore, to speak of the abuse of the passions, as well as the use of them, and to guard against mistakes on both sides. Voc. n. k x
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