rupoas Religious Subjeds< 365 Firfi, the bad charaEers and difpofitions SEa of fame men here reprefented by the alluflon j° of dogs and /ine. We may be fure they are extremely bad, unworthy of the powers the privileges, and dignity of the human na- ture, elfe our Saviour would not defcribe them as he Both, by figures, which thew that they difhonour and degrade huma- nity itfelf. And, therefore, this cannot be the common condition of mankind, nor the condition of any man without a voluntary contracted depravity : for our fiate by nature, weak and imperfect as it is, is not brutish, unlefs we ourfelves have corrupted it But the men whole difpofitions are become like dogs and fwine towards the purity and good - nefs of the chriffian religion, are thofe who have made them fo by habitually indulging their fenfual affeEtians and pallions, and who th ugh the deceitfulnefs of fin have har- dened their hearts into an obflinate, nay furious difaffeE.tion to b.olinefs and virtue. Every human mind, not debauched by its own, fault, is capable of good impreffions, and hath thofe fentiments and feelings to which the laws of chriftian morality are agree- able. Eut thefi: may be (rifled, and in a great
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