[1] Christianity ends not in negatives. No man clears his
garden of weeds but in order to the planting of flowers or
useful herbs in their room. God calls upon us to dispossess
our corruptions, but it is for the reception of new
inhabitants. A room may be clean, and yet empty; but it is
not enough that our hearts be swept, unless they be also
garnished, or that we lay aside our pride, our luxury, our
covetousness, unless humility, temperance, and liberality
rise up and thrive in their places. The design of religion
would be very poor and short should it look no further than
only to keep men from being swine, goats, and tigers,
without improving the principles of humanity into positive
and higher perfections. The soul may be cleansed from all
blots, and yet still be left but a blank. But Christianity
is of a thriving and aspiring nature, and requires us to
proceed from grace to grace (2 Pet. i. 5-7), ascending by
degrees, till at length the top of the ladder reaches
heaven, and conveys the soul so qualified into the mansions
of glory.--_South,_ 1633-1716.