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lightning , which for a moment dazzle the eye of the spectator , and then leave him in deeper darkness . And such circumstances surely should make us careful , lest we build hay and stubble on the foundation which is alone
a secure one : lest we confound religious principle with frames and feelings : lest we mistake the anguish of an overheated imagination and overexcited sensibility , for repentance unto salvation ; or their fervours of transport , for that love to God and love to man in wjiich religion chiefly consists .
Perhaps the views of Christian truth , entertained by the Unitarian Christian , may give less transport tp the sinner ; but they give him that hope which maketh not ashamed ^ that hope which , cherished by faithful obedience , will communicate what
is infinitely more valuable thau religious ecstacy , religious peace and comfort , founded on the testimony of heart , that God and Christian duty are now sincerely sought , and that he is now earnestly and steadily endeavouring to comply with the terms of love and mercy .
As a conclusion of He whole , let it be deeply impressed on our hearts , that if we hope for divine aid in the work and trials of the Christian life , w ^ must earnestly work out our own
salvation with watchfulness and holy fear ; that if any man have not the spirit of Christ , he is none of his ; and that the friiit of the spirit , by which alone we can be secure we have
received the influences of our heavenly Father , are piety and purity , uprightness and benevolence , meekness and patience , and , in a word , a holy life and conversation . In such fruits may ye abound , and may ye he finally owned as the disciples of Jesus Christ
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the sense in which an Unitarian hn&-nister recommends the use of such addresses , and the result which he supposes to be connected with them . 44
The text assures you , my young friends , lhat if you acknowledge God in all your ways , he will direct your steps / Possibly the journey of life which lien before you may be long and intricate ; but it will not be less happy on that account , if you conduct
yourselves wisely and virtuously amidst the various scenes and events of it ; if you are favoured with the direction and blessing of that Being , without whom our strength is weakness , our prescience the most presumptuous
folly , and our animated and confident expectation , the most absurd and mortifying delusion * But if your thoughts and desires be directed to God * if your prayers be offered to him ; if you seek that wisdom which cometh from above , * and do not whollv
rely upon your own sagacity and circumspection , then will you be able to perceive the leadings of Divine Providence , then will you hear , as it were , 4 a voice behind you , saying , This is the way , walk ye in it / I presume , my young friends , that you will not
any of you imagine that I am leading you to expect any supernatural impression , any impulse or bias upon your minds , or any suggestion to your understanding which is not consistent with the usual and ordinary operation of causes and their effects . You will
not expect that , without any effort on your part * you will retire from the throne of grace , where you have been seeking that direction or consolation which you need , with greater wisdom , or with greater composure and tranquillity than when you
presented yourselves there , if you have not been accustomed , * in every thing by pruyer and supplication , with thanksgiving , to make known your requests unto God ;* for all your superior discernment , all your increased acquiescence and confidence and joy , must result from the more lively
perception of the IMvineagency , and the deeper conviction ° f the Divine presence and care , which wiH thus be impressed upon your minds , and proport ion ably influence your conduct * You wilt reel nothing of that inspiration , or of that supernatural guidance , of which some hare presumptuously
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€ & £ Extract from ct Sermon on Divine Influence .
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Mansfield , Sir , September 28 , 1819 . THE various replies which have been given to the queries proposed by nay friend L . J . J-, may be thought to furnish a , sufficient
answer tQ his inquiries ; but if the following extract from 3 sermon , addr « R 9 § d to > young persons , from Prov , iii . 6 , appear to you to he apposite , you will , perhaps , admit the passage into a coroer of your valuajble Repository . It will , at least , serve to explain
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1819, page 622, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1777/page/34/
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