Secondly, Our affections may be melted, even upon the score and account of Christ; and yet that is no infallible evidence of a gracious heart. And the reasons for it are,
The first Reason, because we find all sorts of affections acted and vented, by such as have been no better than temporary believers. The stony ground hearers in Matth. 13.20. received the word with joy: and so did John's hearers also, who for a season rejoiced in his light, Joh. 3.35. Now if the affection of joy under the word may be exercised, why not of sorrow also? If the comfortable things revealed in the Gospel may stir up the one, by a parity of reason, the sad things it reveals, may answerably work upon the other. Even those Israelites whom Moses told that they should fall by the sword, and not prosper, for the Lord would not be with them; because they were turned away from the Lord; yet when Moses rehearsed the message of the Lord in their ears, they mourned greatly. Numb. 14.39. I know the Lord pardoned too many of them their iniquities, though he took vengeance on their inventions; and yet it's as true, that with many of them God was not well pleased, 1 Cor. 10.5. Many instances of their weeping and mourning before the Lord, we find in the sacred story: and yet their hearts were not steadfast with God.
⟨p. 331⟩The second Reason is, because though the objects, about which our affections and passions are moved, may be spiritual; yet the motives and principles that set them on work, may be but carnal, and natural ones. When I see a person affected in the hearing of the word, or prayer; even unto tears▪ I cannot presently conclude, surely this is the effect of grace. For it's possible the pathetical quality of the subject matter, the rhetoric of the speaker, the very▪ affecting tone, and modulation of the voice, may draw tears; as well as faith working upon the spirituality, and deep concernment the soul hath in those things.
Whilst Austin was a Manichee, he sometimes heard Ambrose, and saith he, I was greatly affected in hearing him even unto tears, many times; howbeit, it was not the Heavenly nature of the subject, but the abilities and rare parts of the speaker that so affected him. And this was the case of Ezekiels hearers, Ezek. 33.32. Again,
The third Reason is, these motions of the affections, may rather be a fit and mood, than the very frame and temper of the soul.
Secondly, Our affections may be melted, even upon the score and account of Christ; and yet that is no infallible evidence of a gratious heart. And the reasons for it are,
The first Reason, because we find all sorts of affections acted and vented, by such as have been no better than temporary believers. The stony ground hearers in Matth. 13.20. received the word with joy: and so did Iohn's hearers also, who for a season re•oyced in his light, Joh. 3.35. Now if the affection of joy under the word may be exercised, why not of sorrow also? If the comfortable things revealed in the Gospel may stir up the one, by a parity of reason, the sad things it reveals, may answerably work upon the other. Even those Israelites whom Moses told that they should fall by the sword, and not prosper, for the Lord would not be with them; because they were turned away from the Lord; yet when Moses rehearsed the message of the Lord in their ears, they mourned greatly. Numb. 14.39. I know the Lord pardoned too many of them their iniquites, though he took vengeance on their inventions; and yet it's as true, that with many of them God was not well pleased, 1 Cor. 10.5. Many instances of their weeping and mourning before the Lord, we find in the sacred story: and yet their hearts were not stedfast with God.
⟨p. 331⟩The second Reason is, because though the objects, about which our affections and passions are moved, may be spiritual; yet the motives and principles that set them on work, may be but carnal, and natural ones. When I see a person affected in the hearing of the word, or prayer; even unto tears▪ I cannot presently conclude, surely this is the effect of grace. For it's possible the pathetical qual•ty of the subject matter, the rhetorick of the speaker, the very▪ affecting tone, and modulation of the voice, may draw tears; as well as faith working upon the spirituality, and deep concernment the soul hath in those things.
Whilst Austin was a Manichee, he sometimes heard Ambrose, and saith he, I was greatly affected in hearing him even unto tears, many times; howbeit, it was not the Heavenly nature of the subject, but the abilities and rare parts of the speaker that so affected him. And this was the case of Ezekiels hearers,
