THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL: II LUSTRATED IN A COURSE OF SERIOUS AND PRACTICAL WITH A DEVOUT MEDITATION, OR PRAYER, ADDED TO EACH CHAPTER. BY-P. DODDRIDGE, D. D. Without Abridgment, LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, AND SOLD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; D.26.7.89 OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 1827. 1419. f. 310 CONTENTS. THIE Introduction, with an account of the design of the Work A prayer for success in promoting the rise and progress of religion CHAP. II.-The careless sinner awakened The meditation of a sinner who begins to be awakened CHAP. III.-The awakened sinner urged to immediate consider- ation, and cautioned against delay A prayer for one who is tempted to delay CHAP. IV.-The sinner arraigned and convicted The confession of a sinner, convinced in general of his guilt CHAP. V.-The sinner stripped of his vain pleas The meditation of a convinced sinner, giving up his vaiu pleas CHAP. VI.-The sinner sentenced The reflection of a sinner struck with the terror of his sentence CHAP. VII.-The helpless state of the sinner under condemnation The lamentation of a sinner in this miserable condition The sinner's reflection on this good news CHAP. X.-The sinner seriously urged to accept of salvation A compassionate prayer in behalf of the impenitent sinner Reflection on the encouragements he has to do it CHAP. XIII.-The doubting soul more particularly assisted The soul submitting to divine examination, the sincerity of its An humble supplication for the influences of divine grace CHAP. XVI.-The christian convert warned of, and animated The soul alarmed by a sense of these difficulties committing itself CHAP. XVII.The christian nrged to, and assisted in, an express 160 A prayer for one who earnestly desires to attend, yet has some remaining doubts concerning his right to that solemn ordinance 158 CHAP. XIX.--Some more particular directions for maintaining A serious view of death, proper to be taken as we lie down CHAP. XX.---A serious persuasive to such a method of spending A prayer suited to the state of a soul that longs to attain such a life CHAP. XXI.---A caution against various temptations, by which the young convert may be drawn aside. The young convert's prayer for Divine protection. CHAP. XXII.---The case of spiritual decay and languor in religion 195 A prayer for one under spiritual decays An humble supplication for one under the hidings of God's face CHAP. XXV.The Christian struggling under heavy afflictions 228 An address to God under the pressure of heavy affliction The Christian breathing earnestly after growth in grace CHAP. XXVII.---The advanced Christian reminded of the mer- An example of the genuine workings of this grateful joy in God CHAP. XXVIII.The established Christian urged to usefulness The Christian breathing after more extensive usefulness CHAP. XXIX.-The Christian rejoicing in the views of death The meditation and prayer of a Christian, whose heart is warmed CHAP. XXX.-The Christian's dying behaviour A meditation and prayer suited to the case of a dying Christian 242 244 THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF RELIGION IN THE SOUL. CHAPTER I. ་ INTRODUCTION.-DESIGN OF THE WORK. WHEN we look round about us with an attentive eye, and consider the characters and pursuits of men, we plainly see, that though in the original constitution of their nature, they only, of all the creatures that dwell on the face of the earth, are capable of religion, yet many of them shamefully neglect it. And whatever different notions people may entertain of what they call religion, all must agree in owning, that it is very far from being a universal thing. Religion, in its most general view, is such a sense of GOD on the soul, and such a conviction of our obligations to him, and of our dependence upon him, as shall engage us to make it our great care, to conduct ourselves in a manner, which we have reason to believe will be pleasing to him. Now when we have given this plain account of religion, it is by no means necessary that we should search among the savages of the African or Ame rican nations to find instances of those who are strangers to it. When we view the conduct of the generality of people at home, in a Christian and Protestant nation, in a nation whose obligations to GOD have been singular, almost beyond those of any other people under heaven. B |