256 The Proud and Scornful S E R M. a great influence on their underftanding, and X. go far in forming their judgment of things; ' they are eafily induced to imagine that true which they are fond of, and very unwilling to difcover a truth which muff reproach them, is contrary to their interefts, and will give them uneafinefs in a courfe they are re folved to purfue. This is direly the cafe of a vicious man, with refpeEt to religious inquiries, or feeking after wifdom. The truth lieth againft the intereft of his lufts and wicked habits, which he cannot, or ra- ther will not, bring himfelf to a refolution of forfaking, and therefore is ready to catch at any pretence whereby he may counte- nance his continuing in them. If there be reality in religion, if there be a necefiàry and molt important difference between mo- ral good and evil, both in their nature and confequences, the finner muff be felf-con- demned, and therefore he maketh a hard fhift to get rid of fuch troublefome princi- ples, and at laft to confound light and dark- nefs, good and evil, fo to draw iniquity with the cords of vanity, as the prophet fpeaketh, Ifaiah v. 18. Or, to be encouraged in his wicked ways by frivolous deceitful pretences, till at laft he arriveth to the utmoft height of fcorning, bidding defiance to Almighty God,
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