But secondly—The doctrine of voluntary and involuntary affections and thoughts in the human mind has a direct tendency, not only to confirm the evidence of the Sacred Scriptures respecting the two invisible kingdoms of good and evil and their operation on man, but also respecting the grand object and design of the ALMIGHTY in imparting to man, by the medium of those Scriptures, a rule of life for his guidance and direction, so as to preserve him from infernal pollution and danger, and conduct him to the highest possible state of angelic purity and peace.
For what shall we say is the general tenor of the language of Divine revelation, as addressed to mankind? Is it not an affectionate and powerful application, from the GREAT FATHER OF BEING, to all His intelligent creatures, to make that voluntary in themselves which was before not voluntary, and to make that involuntary which was before voluntary? Man, for instance, at his creation, or by natural birth, has no voluntary good appertaining to him, because by creation, or at his natural birth, he loves himself and the world better than GOD and his neighbour,—and thus his voluntary principle is defiled with every kind of evil. By creation therefore, or at his natural birth, man is a perfect stranger to the love of GOD and of his neighbour, and thus to that pure and holy love which
