ABSTRACT
A French Augustinian preacher, Jean-François Senault wrote a book on the ‘usage’ of emotions that was printed in Paris in 1641. Senault approached the subject of the ‘passions’ from a variety of angles: their uses and dangers, how to moderate them and how a prince should use them. In the following chapters, located at the start of his work, Senault considered emotions in a religious context. Every one describes the felicity of that state according to his Imagination; methinks a man may say that as many as speak thereof, guide themselves according to their inclinations; and that they place there, such pleasures as they are acquainted with, and do most desire. Some say the whole earth was one Paradise; that of the Seasons, whereof our years are composed, there was only Autumn, and the Spring: that all Trees had the property of Orange trees, and that they were at all times loaded with leaves, flowers, and fruit.
