Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-03-19


The affections are but so many acts
end motions Of the viii, according to the
quality, distance, and absence of objects
presented to is. Grace has its birth in
the understanding, but its seat for the
greatest part is IN the will therefore
the viii is much TO be observed in its
tempers, inclinations, and notions which
are the affections of the soul as we call
ihem.
The Almighty is one principal object
OF our love, desire, delight, JOYS. hope,
&c. which are called the liking aeec-
tidas ,--all Of them may be comprised in
love. The act. Of love toward God are
principally three ;--desire, hope, and
delight. BY desire and hope, love ex-
tends itself toward God as absent; by
delight she enjoys him as present: de-
sire is love 10 motion; delight is love
in rest; hspe is love, having motion in
her rest, and rest in her motion; and in
expectation there is neither perfect rest,
nor perfect motion.
The FIRST act of love is desire -
Which is the soul longing Tor, and fol-
lowing after God. As prayer is the pre-
ssa.iog our desires to God, they who are
full Of desires are fell of prayers for
the soul tina, leaes after him, breathes
out rpsny signs, and tears into the throne
of grace. If God be present it hangs
upon him with humble inueaties not to
depart if absent he flies AFTER him with
mournlul complaints and cries to return
to him he cannot be answered or quiz
eted il ne finds not the losses and ruins
Of his spirit repaired.
The second act of love is hope: Mr..
Locke says, "hoPe is that pleasure in
the mind, which every one finds IN hin-
self, upon the thought of profitable
future enjoyment Of thing, which is ap
TO delight bim." It's an act ofthe will
extending itself toward that which is fu-
turs, and vi great importance TO chris.
tiaa. tits an anchor to the soul to sup
port i, in time. OF trouble and gosd
TO excite anu push forward 20 endeavor
In times of peace,
Hope has its certainty, its acts, and
its efficacy. There may be certainly
in the object, yet not always IN toe sub
iect. for 1.-THE hope Of the nypocrite viii
perish" Ii Respects the good hoped to
in three-fold degree of tuturity. Some
hope tor Heaven as possible only, this
is The lowest degree others nope Tor II
as probable, yes not slihout tears OF mis-
sing; whilst others have strong and
ssr.ain hope. The FIRST is weak; the
second is fldctuatlpg the third is set
led one. such as the Apostle calls the
6 FIJI assurance Of hohe."
Hope has TWO acts, desire, and expee-
tation. Desire is the reaching forth of
the viii to the thing prsmissd: Expec-
ts,ion has two things Shish constitute
IL; 6rsr, the fixing the heart upon the
object desired; secondly, the resting the
the soul in the futurity OF 1T.
A live hope is an eHicacious one; and
as there are many effects, will instance
a few. Ii will set the h'ghest value on
he promises of God. Faith comrsnds
the promise into hope, 1t reveals the
worth and truth of i, +: Hope then en-
brace. il, reckoas II as It's greatest trea-
sure, and leeds upon II as It's richess
mama. Il cruci6ss the affections TO the
world. and eievates the heart to Heaven;
"where .ae treasure is, there viii toe
heart DE ALSO" 1t quickens the soul IN
IL. efforts, and makes it wiling and con-
slant, cheerful and diligent in ell It's en-
beavers after God. 1t enables man 70 |
forego the greatest afliction, and arns
him with patience and courage in the
hour Of persecution. SO that be tan re-
jo;ce and glory in trihnlation."
The third act oflove is delight: This
iss sweet contsnInent of mind in God,
and according to Inc degree Of love, is
osr delight in him. The same love
that uuiekens desire and hope after God