Our wand’ring, weary, restless hearts
Are then renewed no more to rove.
Now a new principle takes place,
Which guides and animates the will,
This love,—another name for grace,—
Constrains to good, and bars from ill.
Here the new principle, which is otherwise expressed as love to God, is no other than this. The higher sentiments are excited into predominating activity, and led to contemplate with love and gratitude the government of God and the wonderful love, revealed in the great work of redemption of fallen men, a work in which he now feels himself especially interested. It is a change of the balance and direction of the faculties. They have seized hold of new things, which are now regarded as all important; but before they were looked upon with indifference. In relation to the mental faculties, it is not a new principle, but a new administration, produced by a change of majority. Hence the mental decisions are different. The actions spring from different motives—from a prevailing love to God, and obedience to his will.
In thus far speaking of conversion, we have shown what the Holy Spirit does not do, rather than what He does. We have done this to narrow down the field of mystery to its due limits, and to impress our readers with the necessity and importance of understanding and applying the true principles of mind in relation to religious action, as well as to education and self-culture. Having done this, we believe we have gone the full extent to which reason can go. We must look to revelation, and that alone, for whatever further light is obtained on this subject. In doing so, we are confident the reader will find nothing inconsistent with our views. What is not explained in revelation is known only to the Almighty, and is therefore a mystery past finding out.
The great laws which regulate the growth, exercise, and rest of the organs, and the force of the principle of habit or repetition, all go to show the following propositions to be eminently true and of immense importance.