ál, 232 ,S'elf- government efntial to fifdoin. S E R M. ercife, and that the nobler affections of our IX. nature may have their full force. Any one who but a little reflecteth on the frame of men, will fee that the underftanding is a high faculty, by which we all fuppofe our- felves diftinguifhed from the inferior kinds of animals; we value ourfelves upon it ; its capacity is large, reaching to a vaft variety of objects ; its exercifes are various, and we have ftrong perceptions of pleafure arifing from them. Should we not then exert our utmoft power to preferve it free and undif- turbed, and to enjoy the ufe and improve- ment of it to the higheft degree of perfec- tion we are capable of ? But the irregula- rities mentioned in the lower parts of our nature, the vanities and errors of the ima- gination, and the extravagancies of the paf- fions, tend to darken the underftanding and marr its free exercife, as every one's experi- ence will fatisfy him who doth at all attend to what paffeth in his own mind ; and therefore, certainly, we Mould with our ut- moft power oppofe thofe diforders which obfcure that which is a principal glory of our frame. Again ; the felf- determining power is an excellent one, and a high prerogative of our nature. We cannot, I think, but be fenfi- ble
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