THE INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK WITH SOME GENERAL ACCOUNT OF ITS DESIGN.
1.2.That true religion is very rare, appears from comparing the nature of it with the lives and characters of men around us.--3. The want of it, matter of just lamentation.--4. To remedy this evil is the design of the ensuing Treatise.--5. 6. To which, therefore, the Author earnestly bespeaks the attention of the reader, as his own heart is deeply interested in it.--7.to 12. A general plan of the Work; of which the first fifteen chapters relate chiefly to the Rise of Religion, and the remaining chapters to its Progress,--Prayer for the success of the Work.
1. WHEN we look around us with an attentive eye, and consider the characters
and pursuits of men, we plainly see, that though, in the original constitution
of their natures, they only, of all the creatures that dwell on the face of the
earth, are capable of religion, yet many of them shamefully neglect it. And
whatever different notions people may entertain of what they call religion, all
must agree in owning that it is very far from being a universal thing.
2. Religion, in its most general view, is
such a Sense of God in the soul, and such a conviction of our obligations to
him, and of our dependence upon him, as shall engage us to make it our great
care to conduct ourselves in a manner which we have reason to believe will be
pleasing to him. Now, when we have given this plain account of religion, it is
by no means necessary that we should search among the savages of distant Pagan
nations to find instances of those who are strangers to it. When we view the
conduct of the generality of people at home, in a Christian and Protestant
nation, in a nation whose obligations to God have been singular, almost beyond
those of any other people under heaven, will any one presume to say that
religion has a universal reign among us? Will any one suppose that it prevails
in every life; that it reigns in every heart? Alas! the avowed infidelity, the
profanation of the name and day of God, the drunkenness, the lewdness, the
injustice, the falsehood, the pride, the prodigality, the base selfishness, and
stupid insensibility about the spiritual and eternal interests of themselves
and others, which so generally appear among us, loudly proclaim the
contrary. So that one would imagine, upon this view, that thousands and tens of
thousands thought the neglect, and even the contempt of religion, were a glory,
rather than a reproach. And where is the neighborhood, where is the
society, where is the happy family, consisting of any considerable number, in
which, on a more exact examination, we find reason to say, "religion fills even
this little circle?" Where is, perhaps, a freedom from any gross and scandalous
immoralities, an external decency of behavior, an attendance on the outward
forms of worship in public, and, here and there, in the family; yet amidst all
this, there is nothing which looks like the genuine actings of the spiritual
and divine life. There is no appearance of love to God, no reverence of his
presence, no desire of his favor as the highest good: there is no cordial
belief of the Gospel of salvation; no eager solicitude to escape that
condemnation which we have incurred by sin; no hearty concern to secure that
eternal life which Christ has purchased and secured for his people, and which
he freely promises to all who will receive him. Alas! whatever the love of a
friend, or even a parent can do; whatever inclination there may be to hope all
things, and believe all things the most favorable, evidence to the contrary
will force itself upon the mind, and extort the unwilling conclusion, that,
whatever else may be amiable in this dear friend--in that favorite
child--"religion dwells not in his breast."
3. To a heart that firmly believes the Gospel,
and in views persons and things the light of eternity, this is one of the most
mournful considerations in the world. And indeed, to such a one, all other
calamities and evils of human nature appear trifles, when compared with
this-the absence of real religion, and that contrariety to it which reigns in
so many thousands of mankind. Let this be cured, and all the other evils will
easily be borne; nay, good will be extracted out of them. But if this continue,
it "bringeth forth fruit unto death;" (Rom. 7:5) and in consequence of it,
multitudes, who stare the entertainments of an indulgent Providence with us,
and are at least allied to us by the bond of the same common nature, must, in a
few years, be swept away into utter destruction, and be plunged, beyond
redemption, into everlasting burnings.
4. I doubt not but there are many, under the
various forms of religious profession, who are not only lamenting this in
public, if their office in life calls them to an opportunity of doing it; but
are likewise mourning before God in secret, under a sense of this sad state of
things; and who can appeal to Him that searches all hearts as to the sincerity
of their desires to revive the languishing cause of vital Christianity and
substantial piety. And among the rest, the author of this treatise may with
confidence say, it is this which animates him to the present attempt, in the
midst of so many other cares and labors. For this he is willing to lay aside
many of those curious amusements in science which might suit his own private
taste, and perhaps open a way for some reputation in the learned world. For
this be is willing to wave the labored ornaments of speech, that be may,
if possible, descend to the capacity of the lowest part of mankind. For
this he would endeavor to convince the judgment, and to reach the heart of
every reader: and, in a word, for this, without any dread of the name of an
enthusiast, whoever may at random throw it out upon the occasion, he would, as
it were, enter with you into your closet, from day to day; and with all
plainness and freedom, as well as seriousness, would discourse to you of the
great things, which he has learned from the Christian revelation, and on which
he assuredly knows your everlasting happiness to depend; that, if you hitherto
have lived without religion, you may be now awakened to the consideration of
it, and may be instructed in its nature and importance; or that, if you are
already, through Divine grace, experimentally acquainted with it, you may be
assisted to make a farther progress.
5. But he earnestly entreats this favor of you
that, as it is plainly a serious business we are entering upon, you would be
pleased to give him a serious and an active hearing. He entreats that these
addresses, and these meditations, may be perused at leisure, and be thought
over in retirement; and that you would do him and yourself the justice to
believe the representations which art here made, and the warnings which are
here given. to proceed from sincerity and love, from a heart that would not
designedly give one moment's unnecessary pain to the meanest creature on the
face of the earth, and much less to any human mind. If he be importunate, it is
because he at least imagines that there is just reason for it, and fears, lest,
amidst the multitudes who are undone by the utter neglect of religion, and
among those who are greatly damaged for want of a more resolute and constant
attendance to it, this may be the case of some into whose hands this treatise
may fall.
6. He is a barbarian, and deserves not to be
called a man, who can look upon the sorrows of his fellow creatures without
drawing out his soul unto them and wishing, at least, that it were in the power
of his hand to help them. Surely earth would be a heaven to that man who could
go about from place to place scattering happiness wheresoever be came, though
it were only the body that he were capable of relieving, and though he could
impart nothing better than the happiness of a mortal life. But the happiness
rises in proportion to the nature and degree of the good which he imparts.
Happy, are we ready to say, were those honored servants of Christ, who, in the
early days of his church, were the benevolent and sympathizing instruments of
conveying miraculous healing to those whose cases seemed desperate; who poured
in upon the blind and the deaf the pleasures of light and sound, and called up
the dead to the flowers of action and enjoyment. But this is an honor and
happiness which it is not fit for God commonly to bestow on mortal men. Yet
there have been, in every age, and blessed be his name, there still are those
whom he has condescended to make his instruments in conveying nobler and more
lasting blessings than these to their fellow-creatures. Death has long since
veiled the eyes and stopped she ears of those who were the subjects of
miraculous healing, and recovered its empire over those who were once recalled
from the grave. But the souls who are prevailed upon to receive the Gospel,
live for ever. God has owned the labors of his faithful ministers in every age
to produce these blessed effects; and some of them "being dead, yet speak"
(Heb. 11:4) with power and success in this important cause. Wonder not
then, if, living and dying I be ambitions of this honor; and if my mouth be
freely opened, where I can truly say, "my heart is enlarged." (2 Cor. 6:11)
7. In forming my general plan, I have been
solicitous that this little treatise might, if possible, be useful to all its
readers, and contain something suitable to each. I will therefore take the man
and the Christian in a great variety of circumstances. I will first suppose
myself addressing one of the vast number of thoughtless creatures who have
hitherto been utterly unconcerned about religion, and will try what can be
done, by all plainness and earnestness of address, to awaken him from this
fatal lethargy, to a care (chap. 2), an affectionate and an immediate care
about it (chap. 3). I will labor to fix a deep and awful conviction of guilt
upon his conscience (chap. 4), and to strip him of his vain excuses and his
flattering hopes (chap. 5). I will read to him, O! that I could fix on his
heart that sentence, that dreadful sentence, which a righteous and an Almighty
God hath denounced against him as a sinner (chap. 6), and endeavor to show him
in how helpless a state he lies under this condemnation, as to any capacity he
has of delivering himself (chap 7). But I do not mean to leave any in so
terrible a situation: I will joyfully proclaim the glad tidings of pardon and
salvation by Christ Jesus our Lord, which is all the support and confidence of
my own soul (chap. 8). And then I will give some general view of the way
by which this salvation is to be obtained (chap. 9); urging the sinner to
accept of it as affectionately as I can (chap. 10); though not thing can be
sufficiently pathetic, where, as sin this matter, the life of an
immortal soul is in question.
8. Too probable it is that some will, after all
this, remain insensible; and therefore that their sad case may not encumber the
following articles, I shall here take a solemn leave of them (chap. 11); and
then shall turn and address myself as compassionately as I can, to a most
contrary character; I mean, to a soul overwhelmed with a sense of the greatness
of its sins, and trembling under the burden, as if there were no more hope
for him in God (chap. 12). And that nothing may be omitted which may
give solid peace to the troubled spirit, I shall endeavor to guide its
inquiries as to the evidences of sincere repentance and faith (chap.
13); which will be farther illustrated by a more particular view of the several
branches of the Christian temper, such as may serve at once to assist the
reader in judging whit he is, and to show him what he should labor to be (chap.
14). This will naturally lead to a view of the need we have of the influences
of the blessed Spirit to assist us in the important and difficult work of the
true Christian, and of the encouragement we have to hope for such divine
assistance (chap. 15). In an humble dependence on which, I shall then enter on
the consideration of several cases which often occur in the Christian life, in
which particular addresses to the conscience may be requisite and useful.
9. As some peculiar difficulties and
discouragements attend the first entrance on a religious course, it will here
be our first care to animate the young convert against them (chap. 16). And
that it may be done more effectually, I shall urge a solemn dedication of
himself to God (chap. 17), to be confirmed by entering into a communion of the
church, and an approach to the sacred table (chap. 18). That these engagements
may be more happily fulfilled, we shall endeavor to draw a more particular plan
of that devout, regular and accurate course, which ought daily to be attended
to (chap. 19). And because the idea will probably rise so much higher than what
is the general practice, even of good men, we shall endeavor to persuade the
reader to make the attempt, hard as it may seem (chap. 20); and shall caution
him against various temptations, which might otherwise draw him aside to
negligence and sin (chap.21).
10. Happy will it be for the reader, if these
exhortations and cautions be attended to with becoming regard; but as it is,
alas! too probable that, notwithstanding all, the infirmities of nature will
sometimes prevail, we shall consider the case of deadness and languor in
religion, which often steals upon us by sensible degrees (chap. 22); from
whence there is too easy a passage to that terrible one of a return into known
and deliberate sin (chap. 23). And as the one or the other of these tends in a
proportionable degree to provoke the blessed God to hide his face, and his
injured Spirit to withdraw, that melancholy condition will be taken into
particular survey (chap. 24). I shall then take notice also of the case of
great and heavy afflictions in life (chap. 25), a discipline which the best of
men have reason to expect, especially when they backslide from God and yield to
their spiritual enemies.
11. Instances of this kind will, I fear, be too
frequent; yet, I trust, there will be many others, whose path, like the dawning
light, will "shine more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4:18) And
therefore we shall endeavor, in the best manner we can, to assist the Christian
in passing a true judgment on the growth of grace in his heart (chap. 26), as
we had done before in judging of its sincerity. And as nothing conduces more to
the advancement of grace than the lively exercise of love to God, and a holy
joy in him, we shall here remind the real Christian of those mercies which tend
to excite that love and joy (chap. 27); and in the view of them to animate him
to those vigorous efforts of usefulness in life, which so well become his
character, and will have so happy an efficacy in brightening his crown (chap.
28). Supposing him to act accordingly, we shall then labor to illustrate and
assist the delight with which he may look forward to the awful solemnities of
death and judgment (chap. 29). And shall close the scene by accompanying him,
as it were, to the nearest confines of that dark valley through which he is to
pass to glory; giving him such directions as may seem most subservient to his
honoring God and adorning religion by his dying behavior (chap. 30). Nor am I
without a pleasing hope, that, through the Divine blessing and grace, I may be,
in some instances, so successful as to leave those triumphing in the views of
judgment and eternity, and glorifying God by a truly Christian life and death,
whom I found trembling in the apprehensions of future misery; or, perhaps, in a
much more dangerous and miserable condition than that I mean, entirely
forgetting the prospect, and sunk in the most stupid insensibility of those
things, for an attendance to which the human mind was formed, and in comparison
of which all the pursuits of this transitory life are emptier than wind and
lighter than a feather.
12. Such a variety of heads must, to be sure, be
handled but briefly, as we intend to bring them within the bulk of a moderate
volume. I shall not, therefore, discuss them as a preacher might properly do in
sermons, in which the truths of religion are professedly to be explained and
taught, defended and improved, in a wide variety, and long detail of
propositions, arguments, objections, replies, and inferences, marshalled and
numbered under their distinct generals. I shall here speak in a looser and
freer manner, as a friend to a friend; just as I would do if I were to be in
person admitted to a private audience by one whom I tenderly loved, and whose
circumstances and character I knew to be like that which the title of one
chapter or another of this treatise describes. And when I have discoursed with
him a little while, which will seldom be so long as half an hour, shill, as it
were, step aside, and leave him to meditate on what he has heard, or endeavor
to assist him in such fervent addresses to God as it may be proper to mingle
with those meditations. In the mean time, I will here take the liberty to pray
over my reader and my work, and to commend it solemnly to the Divine blessing,
in token of my deep conviction of an entire dependence upon it. And I am well
persuaded that sentiments like these are common, in the general, to every
faithful minister to every real Christian.
A Prayer for the Success of this Work, in promoting the Rise and Progress of Religion.
