However, I’ll venture to say in general, that we must never oppose Commotion with Commotion, nor be in Passion our selves if we wou’d reform anothers, else we lose many good Opportunities and seem to seek the gratification of our own humor rather than our Neighbours good. No discouragements shou’d shock us, no ungrateful returns shou’d lower our Temper, but we must expect and be prepar’d to bear many repulses and wild disorders, and patiently sustain that greatest uneasiness to a Christian Mind, the bitter appearance that our Hopes are lost, and that all the Labour of our Love is ineffectual! We must abound both in Good-Nature and Discretion, and not seldom make use of quite contrary Means to bring about the End we aim at. Removing all Fuel from the Passion sometimes; and sometimes Indulging it as far as Innocently we may; and if nothing else will do, give it line enough, that so it may destroy it self in its own Excesses. But ah! will any one drive us to such a desperate Remedy as often Kills, and cannot Cure without a very great Care, and a more than Ordinary assistance of GOD’s Grace, which they have little reason to hope for, who abandon themselves to Temptations, and push things to such Extremities! Will nothing less than Temporal Ruin which unreasonable Passions naturally end in serve to prevent Eternal? and it were well if even that wou’d do, for they usually involve in both. If therefore such as are in Passion are capable of hearing any thing but what soothes ’em in their own way, I wou’d beg of ’em for GOD’s sake and their own, to grant but this one very easy and equitable Request, which is Calmly to Hear and to Consider what may be said against their darling Passion. For if it be Right it will stand the test of all that can be urg’d against it; if it be not, is it Good for them to retain and cherish it any longer? And if they refuse to listen to the _Kind_, tho according to them, unseasonable and mistaken advice that is given, and seek no further than for Arguments to Justifie themselves, do they not by so great a Partiality secretly confess that they are in the Wrong, and wou’d not have it discover’d that they are so, because they’re resolv’d with or without Reason to continue their irregular Passion? And the cause of this strange Resolution seems to be this, That a Passion of any sort having got the hank of one, it becomes so Natural, so Agreeable, that the going about to wean them from it, looks like an attempt to deprive them of all their Joy; and they’re hardly persuaded to part with what’s a _Present_ Delight, let its Consequences be what they may, and tho the quitting of it be in order to th’ enjoyment of that much Sweeter, as well as Nobler Pleasure, which arises from the due use of Reason; and with which those Wise and Holy Souls are entertain’d, who prefer the relishes of a Rational before those of an Animal Life.