Moft Important and Interefting Subjects. IN TWO VOLUMES. By JAMES HERVEY, A. M.. The Memorial of thine abundant Kindness fhall be VOL. I. THE THIRD EDITION DUBLIN: Printed in the Year M. DCC. LVIII. Wallers. Campbell THE RIGHT HONOURABLE of Carradale Lady FRANCES SHIRLEY. MADAM, F Chriftianity was inconfiftent with true Polite I' nefs, or prejudicial to real Happiness, I fhould be extremely injudicious, and inexcufably ungrateful, in prefenting these Eflays to your LADYSHIP. But as the Religion of JESUS is the grand Ornament of our Nature, and a Source of the fublimeft Joy, the Purport of the following Pages, cannot be unworthy the Countenance and Protection of the most accomplished Perfon. Nei ther can there be a With, more fuitable to the Obligations or the Dictates of a grateful Heart, than that You may experience what You read, and be what You patronize. DID Religion confift in a formal Round of external Obfervances, or a forced Submiffion to fome rigorous Aufterities, I fhould not fcruple to join with the Infidel and the Senfualift, to dread it in one a. 2. View, View, and to defpife it in another. You need not be informed, MADAM, that it is as much fuperior to all fuch low and forbidding Singularities, as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, It is defcribed by an Author, who learnt its Theory in the Regions of Paradise, and who displayed its Efficacy in his own moft exemplary Converfation-It is thus defcribed by that incomparable Author; The Kingdom of GCD, is not Meat and Drink, but Righteoufifs and Peace, and Joy in the HOLY GHOST. To be reconciled to the Omnipotent GOD To be interested in the unfearchable Riches of CHRIST-To be renewed in our Hearts, and influenced in our Lives, by the fanctifying Operations of the Divine SPIRIT This is evangelisal Righteousness. This is genuine Religion. This, MADAM, is the Kingdom of GOD established in the Soul. How benign and inviting is fuch an Inftitution! How honourable and advantageous fuch a State! And from fuch Privileges, what other Effects can flow, but that Peace, which passeth all · Understanding? That Joy, which is unspeakable and glorious? Is there any Thing in the Amusements of the Gay, and Purfuits of the Ambitious, of greater, of equal, of comparable Value? Is not all that Wealth can purchase, all that Grandeur can bestow, fomewhat like those glittering Bubbles, which, when viewed, are Emptiness, when grafped are Nothing? Whereas, the Comforts, the Benefits, the Hopes of Christianity, are at once fupremely excellent, and infinitely infinitely durable. A Portion, fuited to the Dignity of a rational Soul; large as its Faculties, and immortal as its Being. ALL thefe Bleffings are centered in CHRIST; were purchafed by CHRIST; are communicated from CHRIST.-It is for want of knowing thofe boundless and everlafting Treafires of pardoning, justifying, faving Merit, which the LORD JESUS CHRIST poffeffes, and which he freely difpenfes even to Sinners, that fo many unthinking Perfons: are attached to ignoble Objects, and beguiled by delufory Pleasures. Unhappy Creatures! What can they do, but catch at Shadows, and stoop to Tri-fles, while they are ignorant of the grand, the fubftantial, the exalted Good?—It is for want of duly attending to that Fulness of Grace, and that Plen-teoufnefs of Redemption, which dwell in our most adorable SAVIOUR, that fo many ferious Perfons are Strangers to the Tranquillity and Sweetness of Religion are fubject to all its Restraints, but en-joy few, if any of its Delights. Miftaken Zealots! How can they avoid the gloomy Situation and the uncomfortable Circumftance, fo long as they with--" draw themselves from the SUN of RIGHTEOUS-NESS and his all-chearing Beams?? : MAY your LADY SHIP live continually under his heavenly Light and healing Wings! Be more fully affured of his dying Love, and have brighter, ftill brighter Manifestations of his immenfe Perfections! By thefe delightful Views, and by that precious Faith, may your Heart be transformed into his ho 3 |