Of Self -Denial. i 3 As this is the natural progrefs of fin, where- S E R M. by it advances to its reign in our mortal bo- L dies, bringing the foul into the moll abject -`J llavery ; in oppofition to it, felf-denial be- come habitual would recover us to true free- dom, reftoring the fovereignty of reafon and confcience. And the acquiring of fuch a habit I would principally recommend as the very. perfection of our obedience to our Sa- viour's command in the text. It is acquired as all other habits are, by cuflomary practice or frequently repeated ads. Let us then arm ourfelves with ftrong refolution, and in pur- fuance of it, accuftom ourfelves to watch over the firft tendencies of appetite and pafiion ; to examine carefully the report of the imagina- tion concerning them ; to fufpend our confent to their motions, till we have maturely weighed and compared them with the jtift rules of afion, and teen them agreeable ; perempto- rily to reject their demands when confcience gainfays, or is doubtful ; and refolutely to oppofe their dominion. When this kind of difcipline is habitual to us, the difficulties of felf- denial are conquered, and the practice of our duty is eafy. Indeed, when men have long gone on in. an evil courfe, and have been ufed to indulge every appetite without controul, their firft effays PII
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