The Caufes and Danger of Self -Deceit. 6 that the affent of the mind direly and im- SERM. mediately depends upon the will, which cer- III. tainly it does not ; for we often find ourfelves conftrained to believe what we are the moft difinclined to ; but it is in our power in a great meafure to deprive ourfelves of, and to defeat the belt means of attaining to, or pre- ferving the knowledge of the moft important truths, by turning away our attention from the evidence of them, and engaging it to dif- ferent, or contrary objefts; and this is prin- cipally owing to the influence of prevalent evil affeéions and pallions, efpecially when habitually indulged ; fo that the truth not being received in the love of it, but detained in unrighteoufñef , and the light which makes man f fl being hated, as our Saviour fpeaks, by degrees produces an infenfibility, and even unbelief. This was the reafon why the ews rejected chriftianity, and the very caufe of their condemnation, * That when the light of the gofpel came into the world, they loved darknefs rather than it, becafe their deeds were evil. The immediate refult of vicious affe ±ions and unruly pal-lions thoroughly poffeffing the * John iii. ¡9. VOL. II. F hearts
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