58g A'tust or THE PASSIONS IN aELIGION. which is verynear a-kin to this, and may stand next in rank ; and that is, when we behold the vices of men with holyaversion and hatred, and immediately transfer this hatred to their persons, whereas we ought to pity and pray for them : Or when we sëe a fellow-christian fall into sin, and because we hate the sin, we hate the sinner too, and 'suffer- our hatred to grow into disdain and irreconcileable enmity, and that even though the offender has given signs of sincere repentance. This is not christian zeal, but human corruption ; and'such criminal indulgence of the pas- sions, which ought to hemortified, if ever we would be imitators ofthe holy Jesus : Ilehated even the least sin, but loved and 'saved the greatest of sinners, and delighted to receive penitents to his love. 3. It is a culpable exercise of the passions, when holy emula- tion, degenerates into envy. At first we admire the virtues of 'others, we respect their persons highly, 71M imitate their conduct, and aspire after the saine degrees of piety. and goodness ; we have -a holy ambition' to equal them in every grace, and in everyvirtue, and ifpossible to exceed them ; all this is right and worthy-of -praise ; but when I shall fall short of the attainments ofmy neighbour, and envy him on the account of his'superior character ; when I feel an inward displeasure against my brother, becausehis gifts or graces shine brighter than mine, then the holy affection degenerates, and becomes a lust ofthe flesh, instead of aftuit ofthë spirit. 4. Imightgive another instance also of this kind ; and that is, when love to fellowchristians begins on a spiritual account, between persons of different, sexes, and there is a mutual delight in each other's company and pious conversation ; but without great watchfulness thischristian love may be in danger of dege- nerating into vicious desires ánd corrupt passions. .5. It maybe worthour nóticealso, that there Is another dan- ger of the degeneracy of a devoutpassion, when persons of apious and cheerful spirit have takengreat delight in-singing thepraises of God, and meet together at the stated seasons for this purpose; but,in time, this has - sensibly sunk into the pleasure of the ear, intoa mere natural relish of harmony, 'and delight of soundswell Connected. This may have easily happened, when fine instru- mentsof church-music havebeen used to assist'psalmodv, or when persons pride themselvesin tóo nice and delicatea skill in singing, in too exquisite a taste in harmony, eventhough the words which they sing may be holy and religious. To guard against these dangers, let christians frequently tinter intotbeir own hearts, and endeavour, as far as possible, to examine their spirit and conscience, todistinguish between their inward workings of piety, and the mere exercises of animal na- ture; or the workings of corrupt affection, and set a constant guard upon their hearts in this respect,
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