514 PREFACE. As afoundation for these discourses, I chose to treat of the love of God, which in a sovereign manner rules and manages, awakens or suppresses all the otherpassions ofthe soul. The whole train ofaffections, both the painful and the pleasant ones, are under the power and regulation of love. In my pursuit ofthis subject, I have endeavouredto avoid all extremes ; that is, nei- ther to turn religion intoa matter of speculation or cold reasoning, nor to give up thedevout christian to all wandering fooleries of warm and ungoverned passion. I hope I have maintained the middle way, which, as it ismost agree- able totheholy scripture, andto the genius of christianity, so it has produced thenoblest fruits of righteousness inevery age. On this account I may pre- sume, that the track, which I have pursued, will give nojust offence to the wisest and the best of christians. In order to makethis work more serviceable to the purposes of practical godliness, I have endeavouredto form a pathetic meditationupon the argu- ment of each discourse, that I might, as far as possible, exemplify the practice of those things which I recommend to the world, and assist the de- vout reader to make apresent use of them toward bis advancement in the christian life.
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