is is
that faculty of the mind by which it forms ideas of things communicated
to it through the senses. Thus, when you see, hear, feel, taste, or
smell anything, the image of the thing is impressed upon the mind by the
imagination. It also brings to our recollection these images, when they
are not present. It is thought to be only by impressing these images
upon the imagination, that he can operate upon our souls. Hence, we may
account for the strange manner in which our minds are led off from the
contemplation of divine things, by a singular train of thought,
introduced to the mind by the impression of some sensible object upon
the imagination. This object brings some other one like it to our
recollection, and that again brings another, until we wander entirely
from the subject before us, and find our minds lost in a maze of
intellectual trifling.

Satan adapts his temptations to our peculiar tempers and circumstances.
In youth, he allures us by pleasure, and bright hopes of worldly
prosperity. In manhood, he seeks to bury up our hearts in the cares of
life. In old age, he persuades to the indulgence of self-will and
obstinacy. In prosperity, he puffs up the heart with pride, and
persuades to self-confidence and forgetfulness of God. In poverty and
affliction, he excites feelings of discontent, distrust, and repining.
If we are of a melancholy temperament, he seeks to sour our tempers, and
promote habitual sullenness and despondency. If naturally cheerful, he
prompts to the indulgence of levity. In private devotion, he stands
between us and God, prevents us from realizing his presence, and seeks
to distract our minds, and drive us from the throne of grace. In public
worship, he disturbs our minds by wandering thoughts and foolish
imaginations. When we have enjoyed any happy manifestations of God's
presence, any precious tokens of his love, then he stirs up the pride of
our hearts, and leads us to trust in our own goodness, and forget the
Rock of our salvation. Even our deepest humiliations he makes the
occasion of spiritual pride. Thus we fall into darkness, and thrust
ourselves through with many sorrows. If we have performed any
extraordinary acts of self-denial, or of Christian beneficence, he stirs
up in our hearts a vain-glorious spirit. If we have overcome any of the
corruptions of our hearts, or any temptation, he excites a secret
feeling of self-satisfaction and self-complacency. He puts on the mask
of religion