DiSCOURSI' V, 585 and their reasoning faculties: The affections are neither the guides to truth, nor the judges of it, nor must the (reacher set them to their-sprightly and fervent work, till he has informed the mindbyclear explication and sincere' argument. 'The sun in the heavens gives us a. fair document in this case : His light comes before hisheat : The dawn of the morning grows up by degrees, and introduces the fervors of noon. So let the preacher diffuse his light over the assembly, before he kindle their warm affec- tions. Let him convince their reason and judgment ofthe truth of every article of religion, whichhe persuades them to believe ; let him shew the duty and thenecessity of every part of holiness, which he prescribes for their practice. Let him imitate that noble pattern of divine oratory, Apollos at Ephesus, who was an .eloquent man, andmighty in. the scriptures, he was fervent in .spirit, and could raise the passions of those that heard him, yet he was willing to kindle the flame of his own oratory by the light of his own understanding, and when he himself had learned the way of God, more perfectly, he mightily convinced the Jews by divine argument, and skewed therm by the scriptures, that Jesus Was the Christ; Acts xviii. 21, 28. Then there was a proper way made for his following zeal and fervor to displaythemselves. III. If the passions are of such eminent service in reli- gion, and yet they are in danger of unruly excesses, "howmuch need have we to beg earnestly at the throne of grace, that they may be all sanctified ?" It is only the sanctifying influence of the blessed Spirit; that -can excite them in a due degree, and can give them proper limits and regulations. It is nothing but divine grace can raise them to a due height, on alljust occa- sions, and yet preserve then from any irregular conduct and un- happy effects. In this sinful state of corrupt nature, we are averse to the things of God : Our passions are violent toward sensible ob- jects, but are hardly movedby the most important discoveries in religion. It is God alone who can correct and change their corrupt bias, and 'give them a divine tendency. They are so ready to take a wrong turn, and sometimes to make wide mischief; even in the matters of religion, that God alone can keep them constant in their right situation and course. They . are living wheels of strong and powerful movement in human nature, but they make wretched work if they are not put in motion. by a regular and happy spring. They are glorious and noble instruments of religion, when under good conduct, but they are ungovernable and mischievous powers, when they go astray ; and they arealso too prone to wander from their proper place and duty. Let it, therefore, be the matter of our daily pray, that we may be " sanctified throughout in body, soul and spit li ;" 1 Thess. v. 23. and that every faculty of our nature may lend its proper aid to the kingdom of grace within us, till we
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