The Treatise on Religious Affections

ing marks of the work of the Spirit of God, including both his common, and his saving influences; but what I have now in view, is to describe the nature of the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit, and to point out the peculiar signs by which they are distinguished from every thing besides, of which the mind of man can possibly be the subject. If I have succeeded in any tolerable degree, I hope this work will tend to promote the interest of religion. And whether I have succeeded or not, I hope, through the mercy of a gracious God, to obtain from him the acceptance of my endeavours, and from the real followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, their candour and their prayers.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.

On the Nature of the Affections, and their Im-
portance in Religion,

PART SECOND.

On those Things which afford no decisive Ev-
idence, either that our Affections in relation
to Religious Things are truly gracious; or
that they are not,

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PART THIRD.

On the distinguishing Signs of truly gracious,

and Holy Affections,

Sign I. Truly gracious Affections are produc-.
ed by supernatural, spiritual, and divine
influences on the heart,
II. The first objective ground of gracious
Affections is the TRANSCENDENTLY EXCEL-
LENT, and AMIABLE NATURE of divine things,
abstractedly considered; and not any con-
ceived relation they bear to ourselves, or
to our own interest,

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III. That excellency in divine things, which
is the first objective ground of gracious
Affections, is their MORAL BEAUTY,
IV. In the production of gracious Affections,
our minds are so enlightened, that we ob.
tain proper and spiritual views of divine
things,

151.

160

V. Gracious Affections are attended by a ra-
tional and spiritual conviction, respecting
the truth and reality of divine things, - - 179
VI. Gracious Affections are attended by evan-