OR, A SERIES O F DIALOGUES AND LETTERS, UPON THE Most Important and Interesting Subjects. IN THREE VOLUMES. By JAMES HERVEY, A. M. The Memorial of thine abundant Kindness shall be fhewed, and VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for JOHN and JAMES RIVINGTON, at the MDCCLV. 13. то The Right Honourable Lady FRANCES SHIRLEY. MADAM, F Christianity was inconsistent with true Politeness, or prejudicial to real Happiness, I should be extremely injudicious, and inexcufably ungrateful, in presenting these Effays 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 Аг moft moft accomplished Perfon. Neither can there be a Wish, 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 confist 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 Sensualist, to dread it in one View, and despise 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 difplayed its Efficacy in his own most exemplary Conversation.-It is thus described by that incomparable Author; The Kingdom of God, is not Meat and Drink, but Righteousness, and Peace, and foy 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 evangelical Righteousness. This is genuine Religion. This, MADAM, is the Kingdom of GOD established in the Soul.-How benign and inviting is fuch an Institution! How honourable and advantageous fuch a State! And from fuch Privileges, what other Effects can flow, but that Peace, which paffeth 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, somewhat like thofe glittering Bubbles, which when viewed are Emptiness, when grafped are Nothing? Whereas, the Comforts, the Benefits, the Hopes of Chriftianity, are at once fupremely excellent, and infinitely durable. A Portion, fuited to the Dignity of a rational Soul; large as its Faculties, and immortal as its Being. ALL these Blessings are centered in CHRIST; were purchased by CHRIST; 'are communicated from CHRIST.-It is for want of know |