Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.1

like the fhining Light. 297 of God, and the new creature ; it is weak, S E R M. but it is entire and permanent, naturally XII. growing up to maturity. We (hall be con- vinced it muff be fo if we attend to the confritution of our own minds ; for the in- telleEtual and moral, indeed all the altive powers of the human nature, are weak and narrow at firft ; they enlarge by degrees, they acquire flrength by exercife, and are improv'd by habits; every ones experience will fatisfy him in this, who reflets on his own progrefs in knowledge, and in all the qualities which render life either agreeable or ufeful. What a poor unfinifhed, un- adorn'd, and infipid thing, is the life of man in infancy, though indued with all the capacities which belong to its kind, till obfervation and ufe have form'd it to the profecution and attainment of its proper ends ? Religion muff in this refpe 1 be like all other improvements of nature, which de- pend on the exercife of our own powers ; nay, it is fo more peculiarly, becaufe it de- pends more upon ou,rfelves, and requires a more ferious and attentive refle Lion and care, than many other improveable qualities or fci- ences, which we can attain : It differs there- fore fo far from the vifible light, which ne- ceffarily 1

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