OCR Text |
Show [ 7 l of C/zrz'flz'an Graces. of Sin, which is in his Members. nuine Efiefis and Products of the Holy Spirit, Now as Inclination may be conlidered as a firlt enabling, and then concurring with our general Term for all the various Pallions exif'ting own Endeavours, they are in the Scripture in Human Nature, it deferves our Notice, that Language emphatically fiiled, The Fruits of when any of thefe Paflions are placed on lawful and innocent Objects, and gratified in a the Spirit: The very Catalogue of which Fruits, called 2727206672: Pleafures, or law ll] an‘oymmtr. as given us by St. Paul, doth plainly lhew, that they are no other than the above-mentioned moral Virtues fpiritualized and improved, by the And under this Clafs we are to comprehend all the innocent Recreations, Emoluments, and. Conveniences of the prefent Life. fuperior Advantages of the Chrifiian Difpenfa- tion. Now the Fruits of the Spirit, faith the Apofile, are Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Sufl‘ering, BUT when any of our Paflions are of a moral Gentlenefs, Goodnefs, Faith, Meeknefs, and Nature, and immediately tend to moral Objects, God, or Man,---then the mfg/it Exercife of fuch Temperance; againlt which there is no Law: And I will add, if there is no Law of God againl't them, every Law and Ordinance of Man, if it was only for the Sake of the prefent modemze Degree,--fuch Gratifications are rightly Pafiions is properly termed Mom! Virtue, or the Duties of natural Religion. Therefore Piety Happinefs of Mankind, Ihould tend to cherilh and Compaflion towards Man, are all the Prodt1€ts of this religious Exercife, and virtu ous and promote them. ON the other Hand, every irregular Indul- Application of our Pallions. gence of our Appetites and Paflions, is a Vice-~- BUT when we take into the Account the fitpm'ar Motives and addilz'mzzl Obligations of the a Crime---and a Sin: A perfonal Vice, as re- garding ourfelves, a Crime againf't Society, and Gofpcl, together with the Helps and Aflif'tances a Sin againf't God. thereby communicated to the Faithful in Chrifi; Offender acts againf't fuperior Light and Con- that is, when we confider ourfelve s as living according to the C/m'flitm Rule, and actuated by viction, in that Proportion his Guilt is aggravated, and his Punilhment will be the forer in a future State. Now thefe criminal Gratifications, or rather thefe wicked Perverfions of the natural Defires of Mankind, are characterized , r _ by it, Milt? dab. 34‘5"!" I :9 3- i 4" v 'x..llr"? ~r' -~---#'"-4'- t 4 'towards God, Benevolence, Juftice, Chari ty, the Power and Spirit of Chriftia nity,---Th€n thefe moral Virtues rife in Efiimati on, and be-' come dignified with the honourabl e Appellation of And in Proportion as every m And as they are the gen; w "my rainy" LA A [ 6 l Slave of his Pallions into Captivity to the Law |