Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-06
Thoughts upon Temptation.

Thoughts upon Temptation.
There are two kinds of language used
in treating upon moral subjects-the
one theological: and the other phllo'o'
phieal; but the difference Of terms can
not alter the nature Of things. The
technical terms used by theological wfi-
tiers, are not always seriptural, but often
such a. have come into use under accl-
dental circumstances, and arc retained
on account of their familiarity. Nor Is
the nomenclature of the moral philoso-
piers settled with any considerable de-
gree of precision. twere indeed to be
wished, that more correct and Uniform
msde of speaking upon subject OF such
importance were adopted; until this
shall be done, i. seems doubtful whether
the public mind vii! ever obtain correct
general ideas upon subjects relating to
virtue. We are in the habit of speak
ing of the good or bad qualities OF the
heart, and it is to them that we generally
apply our ideas of temptation or trial
The heart, Gas We speak, or person
may have his propensities and habits,
good or bad, the strength of which may
be tried under circumstances. But are
any trials or temptations brought to act
Immediately upon oar hearts, without
the intervention and medium of our
senses and mental faculties? l have
been inclined to think, that it is not less
correct to speak of the trials Of the un-
Outstanding, than of the heart. That
some men have stronger propensitics,
and have contracted more inveterate ha.
BITS than others, is undeniable. But
whatever may be the degrees of those
propensities and habits, he whose Jndg-
ment is not sufficiently clear and strong
to contrsul and overcome them, may in
this respect be considered as weak
man. But though it may be true that
the heart is affected through the medium
Of the other faculties, yet it is certain,
that when its emotions are excited, it
reacts with wonderful force upon the
intellectual faculties. We see pretty
good specimen of this law Of operation,
between the faculties Of the heart and
of the mind under the influence of fear
A coward judges the magnitude of
danger to be much greater, than brave
man his heart is proportionably agi-
tated and hi. imagination alarmed; he
looks again, and the danger seems dou-
bled. The result of this second judy
ment, gives new emotion to the heart,
which again produces new. alarm to
the imagination, SC. In the language
of christian experience, man is said
to be tempted to fear. Is not the tempt
alton quite as great test of the clear
ness and strength of his religious per
ceptions, as of the moral qualities ofhis
heart, &C.! What l mean to insinuate
by these remarks is, that we should not
Judge of the actions of men, as we do
of the motions of machines. We act
in some respects like rational creatures,
even when We commit sin. Our mental
faculties take part in our vices and
it is generally found that they are to US
a seeming good-an error of Judgment.
1t is astonishing to contemplate bad mon
in their best mood, and good men under
their strongest besetments. The compa.
rison then seems to be in favor OF the tor.
mer; but viewed IN the opposite extreme,
& the difference of their characters seems
almost immense. Could those changes
take effect if the moral qualities of the
heart were as abstractly distinct as the
physical properties of bodies! Our vir-
tues and vices may perhaps be consider
ed as having their seat in our understand
ings, in our propensities, and in our ha-
bits. Aneminently good man is said in
scripture to be man of like passions
with his creatures. And another
sacred writer in describing an extreme
state Of decentralization, says, that the
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