574 ABUSE OF THE PASSIONS IN RELIGION. a wretched and mischievous abuse of passion is this, when per- sons shall suffer it to lead them to such unwarranted and sinful modes of worship, and persuade them to believe such strange doctrines, as are not only contrary to the express word of God, but aperfect contradiction to nature, sense, and reason ! Instan- ces of this kind might be still multiplied. I have mentioned these few only to make it appear how unreasonable a thing it is to form our opinions in religion by the influence of the passions. II. Then must the affections in matters of religion be pro- nounced irregular, as when they run before the understanding, or when they rise higher toward anyparticular object than the judg- ment directs." As in the foregoing particular, I told you that the passions werenot designed to be directingpowers of the soul, in the search of truth or duty ; so neither are they made to rule all within us ; but they are to be governedby reason and under- standing : And inwhatsoever instances they assume a superiority over the understanding, or run before it, they are excessive and irregular. Let us enter into a fewparticulars : I. Some persons as soon as they begin to find further light dawning upon their minds, and are let into the knowledge of some doctrine or sentiment, which they knew not before, imme+ diately set their zeal to work : Their zeal is all on a flame to propagateand promote this new lesson of truth, before their own hearts are well established in it, upon solid reasonings, and be- fore they have considered whether it be a doctrine of great im- portance, and whether it merit such adegree ofzeal. How com- mon a case is it among christians, and too often found among ministers of the gospel, to give a loose to their affections at the first glimpse of some pleasingopinion, or some fresh discoveryof what they call truth ? They help out the weakness of the proof by the strength of their passions, and by the pleasure they take in the opinion they have embraced. This confirms their assent too soon, and they grow deaf to the arguments that are brought to opposeit. They construe every text in the scripture to support this doctrine, they bring in the prophets and apostles to maintain. it. They fancy they see it in a thousand verses of their bibles, and they pronounce all men heretics that dare maintain the con- trary opinions. Their conduct in this matter is so vehement, as though every gleam of light were sufficient to determine their faith, because it happens to fire their affections ; they grow so warm about it, as though every opinion in religion were funda- mental ; and so fiery is their zeal, as though everymistake de- served the severest censures. Nor is this the case of christians only, with relation to the new opinions they receive: There are too many who take up most of their articles of faith at first without due examination, and without sufficient argument: Their veneration for great
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