2 Of Self - Denial. S E R M.felf-denial which the religion of Chrift enjoins; I. and to aßift you in it, I will endeavour in this difcourfe, firfl, to explain, and fecondly, to vindicate it from any juft imputation of feve- rity, and fhew the reafonablenefs of it. Firfl, the word denying, in its primary fig - nification, means either an at of the under - ftanding, refufing its affent to a propofition laid before it ; or an ad of the will refufing its confent to an application, requeft, or defire Which is prefented to it. From this Taft is bor- rowed the figurative expreffion of denying ones felt. As there are various tendencies in our nature, various appetites, affections, and paf- iions, prompting us to different aftions; when the mind deliberating upon them, comes to a determination of choofing fome, and rejecting others direftly oppofite, thofe, which are fo rejected, are faid to be denied. And becaufe the motions, however contrary, are all from within; for though the occafion, or the objeét, may be foreign, yet the propenfity or the af- fection, we know is our own ; therefore the thwarting and controuling fuch motions, is call'd a denial of ourfelves. For example, when the lower appetites and inclinations, which the apoftle yames calls lull, compre- hending them all under one denomination, when
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