couraged-Great changes in moral character occurring with-

out our notice-Blindness to the infidelity consequent upon

them-Difficulty of breaking from worldly society-Things

implied in our attachment to it-The prospect presented to

the mind-Worldliness-Practical atheism-Peculiar dan-

gers of youth-Whether religion is an easy practice-What

is essential to make it so-Its nature-Its requisitions agree-

able to the truest philosophy.....

CHAPTER VI.

...

113

Want of self-knowledge a cause of error in religion-Self-love

-Examples of its deceptive operation-Its opposition to cor-

rect views of truth-Perils of the state to which it carries the

mind-Difficulty of understanding this state, and of escaping

from it-Errors that grow out of it—Its incompatibility with

moral improvement - Two weighty inferences Sense of

guilt always slight in habitual sins-Great sins rendered sin-

less in our eyes by a continuance in them-Secret sins-The

peculiar danger of them-Their effect on the moral percep-

tions-The false security and infidelity which insensibly

spring from them-The folly of deciding on our character

from the opinion of others-Deceptive appearances-Prayer

of a Roman worshipper-Great inconsistencies in practice-

Instruction drawn from the conduct of the thief and the rob-

ber-The moral decency of their example compared with

that of others-Effect of sinning on the judgment-Errors in

one respect leading to error in all others-Reflections....... 139

CHAPTER VII.

Influence of character on belief-Direct application of the rea-

soning in the preceding chapter-Analogies between what

men think of themselves and what they think of others-

These considered as the cause and proof of infidelity-Indif-

ference of men to religion not accidental, but the result of

settled opinions-Mental processes by which these opinions

are acquired-The deductions of sense taken for those of rea-

son-Reason held in the service of sense-Singular love of

།

the world-Our own depravity approved when it goes to

excess in one direction, yet hated under other and lower ma-

nifestations-Idolatry-Analogy of its forms to human cha-

racter-Condition of the heart-Its changes great, yet imper-

ceptible-Nature, not counsel, taken for a guide in spiritual

perplexity-Its inventions-Its resentment of the truth-Its

proneness to clothe God in its own likeness-Spiritual idol-

atry-Analogies bearing on the general subject-True basis

of practical infidelity...

CHAPTER VIII.

Page

170

Singularities in human conduct-Importance of knowing our-

selves-Proneness to possess God with our own likeness—

Causes of delusion in our judgment of him—Application of

the subject to the reader-Reasons for distrusting his own

opinions shown by various analogies-Continued argument

with him-Separate responsibility of the head and heart-

Peculiar evidence of divine truth-Difficulties in the way of

believing-When they are insuperable- How overcome-

Misconceptions of the gospel-Necessity of divine grace—

Questions and troubles about human ability considered-Of-

fice and sacrifice of Christ, how estimated-Characteristics

of the times-Needful despair-Proofs of infidelity......... 207

CHAPTER IX.

Man treated as a rational being in all the divine dispensations-

No mysteries of feeling in regard to the doctrines of grace-

Reason a competent judge of things necessary to salvation-

Hinderances to its right exercise-Our difficulty with religion

our fault-Contrariety of the sentiments and practice of

Christ to human nature a ground of unbelief-Our incapa-

city to comprehend and believe the gospel-How acquired—

How to be removed -Divine grace attainable when truly

desired-Acts of holy obedience free and rational-Dispensa-

tions of grace encouraging in every scriptural view of them—

Power of truth-Misconceptions of it the same thing as infi-

delity-Testimony of the Scriptures-Striking guilt of sin-

ners in likening God to themselves...

-

236

CHAPTER X.

Inferences growing out of or consistent with the principles of

the preceding discussion-Doctrines of religion viewed in

relation to our spiritual necessities-Mode of justification—

Due esteem of divine grace-Operation of faith-Its effects

rational-Agency of the Spirit-His fruits contrasted with

the works of the flesh-Just deductions of reason- -Contra-

riety of Christianity to our corrupt nature a proof of its divine

origin-Reason competent to judge of this-The assistance

it gives to faith-Obligation it imposes on us to believe

strongly-Justness of our thoughts of God depending on the

purity of our hearts-Conceptions of holy men contrasted

with those of the wicked-Necessity of a light that tries and

purifies.

Page

......260

POPULAR INFIDELITY.

CHAPTER I.

Vanity of man separate from his immortality-The chances of being finally lost-Plans and hopes of safety-Strange contrariety of faith and practice-Deep delusion-The art and success of spiritual foes-Infidelity not readily owned-Persons chargeable with it in practice-The Reader-His candour-His interest in the subject-Its difficulty no discouragement.

THE transient nature of his existence, as well as the little he can know and do at best, stamps an inexpressible meanness on man, if we contemplate him aside from the hope of immortality. But regarding him as destined to live beyond the present scene, to live in bliss or wo, in glory or dishonour, according to the character of his agency here, every thing about him seems important. Indeed, the danger is, that our respect for him as a being of this high destiny, may hinder our being duly shocked with his degeneracy, when he voluntarily forsakes the end of