Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.3

3'¢2 The Foundation of S E R M. and which God will accept, is, the habi- XIII. tuai prevalence of good difpofitions againff `"''r' ' the contrary, though infirmities ftill remain, And this is what every man may difcern concerning himfelf who carefully attendeth to what paffeth in his own mind. May not one who is accuftomed to felf refection, know what are the affeEfions that rule the general tenor of his conduEt ? And in par-. ticular inftances, which have been the fub- jea of deliberation, wherein there are fen - fible oppofite tendencies in the heart, may he not be able to judge which of them pre - vaileth, whether prejudice, paffion, and felfifh delire, fhunning a diligent inquiry; or if the voice of confcience be heard "againft their clamour, and that judgment followed which is the refult of an attentive and im- partial examination ? I cannot in this difcourfe finifh what I in- tended to fay from the text, and therefore I (hall for the prefent conclude with this re- fleaion, that as fincerity admitteth of vari- ous degrees, we fhould always endeavour to grow in it. By a vigorous attention of mind, and the diligent ufe of proper means, efpecially a careful improvement of the gofpel grace, our conqueft over pafïions and lufts which darken and miflead the mind,

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