g4. l'he Caufes and Danger of Self- Deceil. SERM. errors and darknefs. As on the one hand III. there is an awful judgment of God which the fcripture expreffes by giving men up to flrong delufions, hardening their hearts, for the punifhment of their unbelief and difobe- dience, and leaving them to walk in their own counfels ; fo, on the other hand, there is nothing more agreeable to the will of God and the benignity of his nature, than to give inflrution to honeft minds fin- cerely difpos'd to receive and faithfully to improve it. He is the Father of lights, from whom every good and perfeal gift comes down, and he will give liberally, without upbraiding to every one who is fenfible that he wants wifdom, and afks it from him; nor is there any petition we can addrefs to him with greater confidence of being heard, if we ask not ainif, but with an up- right intention to know that we may do his will. In this his faithful fervants have given us an example which we ought to imitate, and have good encouragement to hope for fuccefs. David prays in the 26th" Pfalm, Examine me O Lord ! and prove me, try my reins and my heart. And in the 139th Pfirlm, 23d and 24th verfes, this is the application he makes of his excellent me- ditations
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