224. Self-government ejential to Wifdotn. S E R M. der any law, becaufe we have no liberty in IX. them. The original determinations of our nature we cannot poffibly alter nor hinder, and we are not obliged to it. We cannot put a flop to the perception we have by our fenfes, to our hearing founds, feeing colours, and perceiving other fenfible qualities ; nor yet to the original appetites, as hunger and thirft, or to the natural defire of happinefs; nor indeed to the approbation of anions morally good, when we underftand them, and the difapprobation of that which is evil. Thefe things do not belong to the rule of our fpirits, they are the confiant necefl'ary effects of the law of nature, or the confli- tution which the Author of our beings bath given us. But there are powers and affeaions in our minds, the exercife whereof is under our direction, and we are accountable to our - felves for it. For inflance, a man's rule over his fpirit confifteth in fufpending his de- termination, till he hath duly examined the caufes and motives upon which it is found- ed. I obferved before, that we are liable to many miftakes in this Rate of infirmity, whereby we are drawn into a wrong con - due ; not that the fault confifteth in the erroneous opinions themfelves, but the cri- minal
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