594 TnE ATF'ECTIONATE CHRISTIAN VINDICATED. so long and blessed a correspondence. We proceed now to the sixth general. Since it appears to be a matter of such importance to have the 'affections engaged in the affairs of religion, somehumble and sincere souls may be ready to pronounce hard things concerning themselves, and conclude they have no true religion, because they feel theiraffections but little moved: We proposed therefore, that thesixth general head of discourse should offer some "con- solations to such honest and humble christians, who endeavour to love and serve the Lord their God with all their powers, but find very little of this exercise of the pious passions in compari- son with what others feel." Let me address such persons as these in thefollowing manner:, 1. Since you doubt whether you love God with all your heart, that is, with your warmest affections, " search and en- quire with holy fear, and with the greater diligence, whether you love him with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength." llb you lore hire with all your mind? Have you the highest esteem of him in your judgment as the most excellent and best of beings, and as your only sufficient good ? Do you love him with all your soul! Have you chosen him for your eternal portion, both in this world and that which is to come ? Is your will firmly resolved for God and religion ? Are you sincerely willing to forsake every sin and to return to God, to give up yourself to him as your Lord and Ruler, and receive him as your God and reconciledFather, according to the discoveries of his grace in Christ Jesus ? Do you love him with all your strength ? Do you desire to obey and serve him all your days ? Do you worship himwith holy diligence, ann promote his honour in the world, accordingto the utmost of your capacity ? If you find these things wrought in you, and done by you, you have abundant reason to take comfort in this evidence of your christianity. Where the mind and will are sincerely engaged on the, side of God and religion in this manner, the love of the heart is not utterly wanting ; the affections must be in some measure sanctified, though perhaps you may not feel so frequent, so powerful, and so lively an exercise of them as other christians may enjoy. These things are a better proof of true faith and real piety, than a sudden flash of affection can be, where these more steady operations of the mind and will are wanting. II. Though all the sons and daughters of Adam have some degrees of passions in their very frame and nature, yet remem- ber that the temper of all men is not equally affectionate. Con- sider now and enquire, whetheryour temper has so much of these affectionate principles wrought in it as some of your neighbours-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=