,DISCOURSE L 517 supreme love to God on all the other passions, or how this divine passion will engage all the rest of the affectionate powers in the interests of religion.III. Ofwh::t use and importance thepas- sions are in religion, and what advantage is to be derived from them. IV. How far the passions may be abused., even in reli- gious concerns, or what is the irregular use of them., and how their efforts should be limited and restrained.Under each of these heads I shall propose some useful reflections. V. We shall shew how the affectionate Christian may be vindicated, against the cavils and reproaches of men, in his warmest exer- cises of devotion.VI. What relief or comfort may be given to humble and sincereChristians, who complain that they feel but very lowdegrees of this affectionate love to God, or of the exerciseof pious passions, either in public worship, or in their devout retire- ments. VII. What are the most proper and effectual methods of exciting and engaging the affections in religion. Of each of these in their order. First, " What is presupposed and implied in the supreme and affectionate love of God ì" I answer, these five things*. I. Some good degrees of the knowledge of God, and such an acquaintance with him, as may raise the highest esteem of him in our mind. It is impossible that we should love any thing that we know not : And it is not to be expected that we should love God supremely, or with all Qur heart, if wehave not known him to bemore excellent, and more desirable than all other things we are acquainted with. We must have the highest opinion of his transcendent worth, or we cannot love him above all things. It is granted, we may love or delight in some objects of an inferior nature, as they are instruments of our health or ease, or comfort; so we are said to love our habitation and our food, be- cause they minister to our conveniency er support.in the present life. We may love some poor worthless wretches with good-will and compassion, because we design to bestow some'benefits upon them. We love our country and our kindred with a sort of na- tural attachment of the heart, because they belong to ourselves, andwe are, as it were, ofa piece with them. We love our friends because we esteem them possessed of some, valuable properties, and able to confer benefits on us, or to relieve our wants : But unless we see the great and blessed God, as a being possessed of the highest excellencies, and capable of;bestowing on us the. I mighthave described the affectionate love of God here by the love of esteem, the love of benevolence,' and the love of complacency, according to the distributions of love in the " Treatise of the Passions," mentioned in the pre- face; but I chose rather in this place to shew, what acts or operations of the understanding'and 'Will, are presupposed and included in the love of God: The more affectionate operations of it are reserved to the next discourse. ttk3
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