Confidence towards Cod, èxplained. 339 judgment we make of ourfelves, upon which Ss R M. we are to found our expectations from God XIII. our fupreme judge. 6thly, There is another fòúree of error which it will require our utmoft care to guard againft, that is, prejudices and pre- poffeffions, the influence of evil habits, and corrupt felfifh affections byafing the mind. They muff be ftrangers to the weaknefs of the human nature, who do not know how much the private inclinations and averfions of men fway their judgment. How eafily do we go into opinions which are agreeable to us ? how difficultly are we perfuaded to affent to what mull give us uneafinefs ? Into that molt pernicious of all errors, the heart's not condemning for heinous crimes, men do not fall but by an habitual courfe of wickednefs, and through the influence of the molt corrupt affections. So ftrong is the fenfe of moral differences naturally in the minds of all mankind, that no man ever yet arrived to fuch a height of ftupidity as to call evil good, or to be eafy and con - fident in a vicious courfe of life, till after a ftrong reluctance he bath violently conquered his reafon, and after many ineffectual re- monftrances fo baffled confcience, that it ceafeth to reprove ; and then the judgment Z 2 of
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