590 THE AFFECTIONATE CHRISTIAN VINDICATED. melancholy a thing as to forbid all pleasure? llave We not per- mission to love God the most amiable spirit, whose perfections and glories surpass all created beings ? Must we never take de- light in God, the Author of our nature, and the source of eternal blessedness ? Isreligion the only thing whence all pleasing affec- tion must befor ever banished and excluded? And must I with- hold all these pleasant aridpowerful sensations of nature from intermingling wills the things of God ? Hath my wise and mer- ciful Creator given me such a faculty as admiration, and may I admire the heavens and the earth, the fishes, the beasts, and the birds, and notadmire that all-wise and almighty Being that made me and them ? May l lay out my wonder on any thing, or on every thing besides the great God, who created all these won- ders ? Ilath he formed my soul to delight and love, and hath he confined these sweet and pleasurable capacities only to be em- ployed about creatures, when the Creator himself is infinite and supreme in loveliness ? Will not this most amiable of beings expect that I should lovehimself, andgive me leave to make him my delight ? Is it lawful- for me to fear a lion or an adder, a whirlwind or a flash of lightning, and may I not indulge a holy and solemn dread of that glorious being that made lightnings and whirlwinds, adders and lions, and has unknown thunders in reserve firprofane sinners? Doth he give me leave to mourn and weep for the loss of my ease or my health, or my friends, and may I never indulge my sorrow, to arise for all my multiplied offences against his law, my former rebellions against his govern- ment, and my refusals of his grace ? Thus tar I have begged leave for the passions to assist religion and I think reason gives an ample permission. But I may rise tobolder language here, and pronounce my argument with stronger force, if I should resume the first part of this head of reasoning, and make all these enquiries turn upon the point of obligation and duty. Since I know this God to be infinite in goodness, and the author of all my comforts, am I not -bound to love him with all my strength, and with all my soul ? If he is a being of sovereign power, holiness and justice, ought I not always to fear before him, and to grieve heartily that I have offended against his holy laws ? Is it not my duty to mourn for sin, and to be ashamed of my unnatural and unreasonable conduct ? And cloth not God require, that I should rejoice before him with thankfulness, when I have some hope that he hash accepted my submission, pardoned my sin, and holds me in his favour and love? But let me proceed yet further in this argument, and say; have not my passions themselves been too often engaged in folly and sin ? And must they do nothing for the interests of religion and virtue ? Hath not the great and blessed God been affronted and dishonoured by these warm and active powers of my
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