82 The Caufe and Danger of Self - Deceit. SERM. he would be very loth to find. Let us III. be always upon our guard, that we may 1.^^) do juftice to ourfelves, that we may pre- ferve our integrity and have confciences void of offence ; particularly let us not neglecli the natural admonitions we have in the fecret fufpicions of felf- deceit which arife in our own breafts ; do not pafs them over {lightly, but examine them with deliberation and candour, that we may be fully fatisfied concerning the grounds we at upon. Thirdly, In ordinary life, and in cafes of importance, what is right and wrong in a queftion propos'd will generally appear to our firft thoughts, fo good is God to his intelli- gent creature's, teaching them what they {hould do, fo plain hisprecepts, fo fure aguide, a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. Therefore, it is for the moll part fafe to reft in the firft reprefentation of confcience; at leaft, we fhould ftudioufly endeavour to keep a clear and lively fenfe of it When we in- cline to take a wider compafs in our delibera- tions, to enter into a long detail of circum- fiances and tedious perplexing debates, the truth of the cafe may be, I am afraid often is, that we are only rafting about for plaufible pretences, whereby to miflead our ownjudg- ment,
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