The Gospel Promotive of True Happiness

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1843 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. PLEASURES OF THE IMAGINATION. Let Us try our proposed test in one more example--I mean the pleasures of an intellectual character, which flow through the channel of the imagination; and we shall find that in regard to these also, Christianity has placed her votaries on a vantage-ground, which raises their enjoyment of the pleasures, which the imagination imparts, vastly above what the worldling can ever derive from this source. If we attentively examine the constitution of our mental system, we shall find that the imagination is one of the most important of our faculties, and exercises the most powerful influence over our character and our happiness. It is this faculty, which invests with such an attractive aspect, and tinges with such brilliant colouring, the opening scenes of life to the inexperienced eye of youth. It is this faculty, which gives such fatal charms to the forbidden fruit of sinful pleasure; and throws round the objects of earthly ambition such a dazzling glare of seductive splendour. It is this faculty, which arrays the various idols that the votaries of this world worship with such enticing allurements, that their blinded worshippers think it not too much to sacrifice even the favour of God, and the glories of Heaven, for the objects of their idolatrous devotion. And therefore it is this faculty, of which Satan makes such fearful use, in seducing the souls of men into the snares, by which he hopes to chain down their affections and desires to the things of time and sense, and thus induce them to forget and forego the joys and glories of eternity. Surely these considerations alone are sufficient to show, that on the due direction and regulation of this faculty the formation of our character, and consequently of our happiness, ..