262 Sincere Obedience the beff Preparation SE M. ruptaffedion which may mifleadhis judgment, X. is bell able to difcern what is agreeable or dif agreeable to it. Any one who is acquainted with human nature and has made obfervations on mankind, muff be fenfible that the affections and paffions of men have averygreat influence on their underftandings, inclining them to judge of things quite differently from what they would do, if their minds were free from prejudices. And this makes the great diffe- rence between good and bad men in judging of moral do&rines. The former readily re- ceive the truth becaufe they are heartily wil- ling to obey it ; and the more they difcover of it, the greater fatisfadion they have arifing from a confcioufnefs of their own integrity: or as our Saviour fpeaks, * He that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manif jl, that they are wrought in God. The other, the obftinately vicious, are averfe to the fame truth becaufe it reproaches them for their wickednefs which they are unwilling to forfake, and therefore they catch at every handle or colourable pretence whereby they may fupport, themfelves in reje&ing it; or, according to our Lord's exprefßion in the place juft now referred to -- Every one th¢t * John iii. zt. -1 yer. zo. Oth
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