limited view of the subject, appears to be much the same with that which is aimed at in the present work. The view which is taken of the nature of pure or holy love, namely, that in its basis it is the love of existence, (a doctrine to which some, who have not reflected much on the subject, may have objections,) does not essentially differ, I believe, from that which is presented by President Edwards, in his Treatise on the Nature of Virtue. All those writers, of various denominations of Christians, who hold to the doctrine of sanctification in the present life, as a thing provided for and attainable, agree more or less with what is here said. But this would afford but little satisfaction, if I did not fully believe that it is also in accordance with the Bible.

ness.

It is generally conceded among Christians that a better day is approaching, and the great characteristic of that day will be, and must be, practical holiSo that holiness of heart and life, as a matter of personal realization, is brought closely home to all. Let us, therefore, in the expressive language of Scripture, stand "with our loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness." Perhaps we may be called to endure trials; but we should not forget that truth emerges safely from its conflicts, and that virtue is not destroyed, but only purified, by suffering. All things will be well, when God dwells in man.

Bowdoin College, Jan. 1, 1851.

T. C. U.

CONTENTS.

PART FIRST.

OF GOD, AND THE RELATIONS HE SUSTAINS TO HIS CREATURES.

On the Greatness and Supremacy of God,

On the Relation of the Uncreated to the Created,

Summary of some Leading Principles,

PART SECOND.

ON FAITH, AND THE UNION OF GOD AND MAN IN FAITH.

I.-On Faith as an Element of the Divine Nature,

II. On Faith as the Constitutive Element of Human and Divine

-

Union,

III. On the relation of the Work of Christ to the Restoration of

Union, . .

IV.-The Life of Faith in Distinction from the Life of Desire,

V. Of the Union of God and Man in Faith,.

PART THIRD.

6

11

ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND THE UNION OF GOD AND MAN

IN KNOWLEDGE.

I.-All Knowledge necessarily in God, .

II. - Human Knowledge based upon the Divine,

III.— Characteristics of the Knowledge which is from God,

IV. On the Gradual Development of Divine Knowledge,

V.-On the Union of God and Man in Knowledge,

PART FOURTH.

ON THE LOVE of God, AND THE UNION OF GOD AND MAN IN LOVE.

II.

On the Scripture Declaration, that God is Love,

III.-On the Love of Existence in Distinction from the Love of

IV.

V.

Character,

Thoughts on the Creation of Holy Existences,.

On the Three Forms of Love; namely, of Benevolence, of

Complacency, and of Union, ..

VI. On the Union of God and Man in Love,

-

VII. On the Manifestations of Love in the Form of Sympathy,

VIII. - On the Religion of Love as compared with the Religion of

Obligation, ..

IX.-The Union of God with Man in Love excludes all Idola-

trous Love of the Creatures,

PART FIFTH.

II.

-

On the Perpetual Identity of the Divine Will,

III.

IV.

ON THE WILL OF GOD, AND THE UNION OF THE DIVINE AND HUMAN

WILL.

I.On the Relation of the Will of God with other parts of the

Divine Nature,

On the Natural and Moral Supremacy of the Divine Will,

On the Union of the Human and Divine Will,

V.

VI.

On the Different Degrees of Union with the Will of God,

- On Training the Will to Habits of Subjection,

VII.

On the Relation of Suffering to Union, .

167

VIII.

- Illustrations of the Relation between God and Man, by the

Relative Position of Man and Child,

173

PART SIXTH.

ON THE UNION OF MAN WITH GOD IN HIS PROVIDENCES.

I. On the True Idea of Providence, and its Extent,

-

. 183

II.

-

On the Law of Providence in Distinction from the General

Nature or Fact of Providence, . . .

193

-

III. On the Strictness of the Retributions of the Law of Provi-

dence, . .

199

IV. Of Providence in Connection with Man's Situation in Life,'. 206

CHAP.

AGE

V. On the Wisdom and Goodness of God, as displayed in his

Providential Arrangements,

VI.—On the Relation of Providence to Spiritual Growth,

...

.212

. 219

VII. — On the Law of Providence in Relation to Simplicity of Spirit, 223

VIII. Of the Union of God and Man in Providence, .

-

.228

IX. — Relation of Harmony with Providence to the Order and Dis-

order which exist in the World,

234

X.-Illustrations of Interior or Spiritual Solitude,

XI.-The Hermit taught by an Angel,

PART SEVENTH.

238

.244

UNION WITH GOD IN THE WORK OF MAN'S REDEMPTION.

I.

II.

On the Successive Developments of the Plan of Redemption, 252

Of the Three Forms of Redemption - Physical, Mental and

Social, ..

. 261

III. Of Union with God in the Work of Mental or Personal Re-

IV. Of Union with God in the Work of Redemption in relation to

others,

. 277

V.- Of Union with God in the Observance and the Duties of the

Sabbath,

285

VI.— Of Union with God in the Redemption and Sanctification of

the Family,

290

VII. Of Union with God in the Work of Civil and National Re-

demption, .

315

-

ness, ..

VIII. — On Union with God in the Redemption of the Arts and

Literature,

IX. On the Nature and Practical Extent of the Power of Love,

X.-Principles and Explanations on the Subject of Practical Holi-

-

XI. On the Union of Man with God in the Spirit of Prayer, . .362

XII.-On the Relation of the Character of Man to the Happiness of

God,

PART EIGHTH.

OF THE PEACE OR REST OF THE SOUL IN A STATE OF UNION.

I. On the True Idea of a Soul at Rest,

II.-The Soul in Union rests from Reasonings,

III.-The Soul in Union rests from Desires,

CHAP

IV.-The Soul in Union rests from the Reproofs of Conscience,

V.-The Soul in Union rests from Disquieting Fears,

. 397

VI. The Soul in Union rests from Conflicts with Providence,

VII.The Soul in Union rests from the Anxieties of Labor,

VIII.The holy Soul has Peace, because what it wants in itself it

, finds in God,

-

IX. The holy Soul has Peace, because its action is natural and

without effort, .

X.The Soul in Union with God has Rest, because it has passed

from the Meditative to the Contemplative State,

-

XI. Of the Spirit and Practical Course of the Man who is at rest

in God,.

XII.The Soul in Peace is the true Kingdom of God,

402

409

413

419

425

430