DISCOURSE III. The Use of the Passions in Religion. lE have seen already what is included in " loving God with the heart, and how this divine love will influence all the other' affections into a suitable and correspondent exercise." We pro- ceed now to the third general head of discourse, and that is, to show the use of the passions in religion, or what advantage may be obtained by them, or expected, from them in the christian life : And here we shall find the advantages of them so great and nu- tnerous, as will render it necessary for every one who possesses serious religion to have the affections of his soul engaged in it. AdvantageI. " The passions being duly awakened, will set the powers of the understanding at work, in the search of divine truth and religious duty, and render the knowledge of God exceedingly desirable to sinful men." We are by nature ihoughtles of God and divine things : A little, a verylittle general knowledge of religion satisfies our desires, becausewe imagine it is sufficient for our necessities. The bulk of mankind have their passions touched with earthly things, and they are ever enquiring who will shew us where corn and wine,, the pleasures of sense, the possessions of this world, honours or preferments, are to be gotten ? . Too many are ready to join with the profane wretches, who are described in Job xxi. 14. They say unto God, depart from o us, we desire not the knowledge of thyways : we do not want to know much ofGod, nor what is ouf duty to him. But when the arrows of conviction strike through the soul, when the heart is awakened to a pathetic sense of sin, and the fear of divine vengeancepossesses and tormentsthe spirit, then it is the most importunate enquiry of the heart and the lips, What shall we do to be saved ? Acts xvi. 30. How 'shall we escape the wrath to come? How is the governing justice of the great God to be satisfied for our offences ? 'What is the way to be made partakers of his pardoning mercy ? Wherewith shall Ï appearbefore the Lord, and in what manner shall I bowmyself, and worship the Most High God? Micah vi. 6. This was the language of the awakened jailor, who had just before scourged the saints of theLord, the holy apostles ; Acts xvi. 30. This was the earnestcryofthecrucifiers ofChrist himself, at St. Peter's ser- mon, when theywere pricked to their hearts ; Acts ii. 37. This is the language of natureconvinced of sin, and the danger of divine in- dignation. St. Paul learned all the terrors of the Lord, and felt
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