Pages
cams_benton_b028_f001_003_005
(5) [centered]
3. A new state of the affections fixed supremely on new objects. Loves what once he disliked – delights in new things – All glowing love unfelt before – with a devotion wh. [which] longs & thirsts for God & Christ.
Fulfills – measurably – the com-mand – Thou shalt love t. [the] Lord thy God with all t. [thy] heart &c [etc.].
This is now the great strong love of the heart – controls all lesser affe'ts [affects] & disposs [dispositions] – leads to restrain all inor-dinatt [inordinate] desires & affects –.
cams_benton_b028_f001_003_006
(6) [centered]
(a) Is one passive or active – is the change wrought in him; or does he work it himself?
Ans. [Answer] Not wroght [wrought] in by any physic. [physical] energy. Not a cloud or machine.
Man does work himself under diivine influences – wh. [which] he might resist.
Not waits till something visits him – must convert himself – not wait to be converted.
No conversion in sleep – in darkness – Itelligent [Intelligent ] act – Same as sin is.
Repents in view of number, enormity, influence, causelessness of his sins – forsakes casts off &c [etc.] = all his actively.
cams_benton_b028_f001_003_007
(7) [centered]
(b) Is this change Instantaneous?
In general it is –. The change of his will is t. [the] nucleus of the whole – this new choice is instantaneous.
(State modifications – the analyt-ical acts &c. [etc.]) –
This is t. [the] begin. [beginning] – sudden begin. [beginning] of t. [the] new life – – Sanctification is the progress of the same, after.
(c) Is it entire? All things are new – new character – new affect new hopes &c. [etc.] Choice covers whole mor. [moral] char. [character] – weak choice – may be in diff. [different] degrees. Some notice at first then others. Sin in Spef. [specific] ac. [action] may come – as benev. [benevolence] in miser ~
cams_benton_b028_f001_003_008
(8) [centered]
Remarks ~
1 See whose the fault is that we are not all penitent now. (God is waiting our time.) We must change our course – we must repent – will not come without our action ~
2. See how to begin the work of personal reformation. Come home into heart – change the source of mor. [moral] ac [action] – – make a new internal change – put on a new character – & everything else will follow in due time ~
cams_benton_b028_f001_004_001
(No. 21.) Sunday Eve - 28 May '48 [1848]. 24. Feb. '61 [1861] ~ Proverbs 23:7 ~ [centered] ~ For as he thinketh in his heart so is he ~ ~ Speak to meaning of the text – by reference to its connection. As a man's heart is – so is he. Words do not always indicate the heart's thoughts. The con -nection shows this to be the true meaning. Similar passages are in Pss [Psalms] 12:2 – 28:3 – – 62:4 – 55:21 –. Does not mean – As a man thinks he is – so is he – – Nor that if a man thinks he is right – that is enough & he may concern him-self no further –. But it may mean that the prevailing