r8 Of Self - Denial. S E R M. and that we cannot praftife virtue without fell- T. denial. Now (hall we find fault with the author of our religion for requiring us to do what our own reafon requires, and without which we cannot have peace in our own minds, nor any hopes of a future felicity ? Again, if we confider the life of man, as it now is within the limits of the prefent Efate, abftra ±ing from the confideration of religious . virtue, and of a future condition of being, we íhall find that felf- denial is neceffary to our obtaining the ends of it ; and that this is a pre- cept of prudence as well as chriflianity. Man in his prefent Rate, which to every one who confiders it attentively will appear to be a Bate of probation and difcipline, may be confider - ed in two different capacities, the natural and the religious ; between which there is a re- markable analogy: both are under the govern- ment of divine providence ; both terminate in fuch happinefs as we are capable of, but of different kinds , the one aims at, and has its complete end in our higheft felicity, which confifls in the perfe6tion of virtue and righte- oufnefs; the other, the natural capacity, per- files the greateft eafe, profperity, or enjoy- ment, which in the whole can be attained here : the attaining of thefe different ends in a great meafure, depends upon ourfelves. As virtue
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