Confidence towards God, explained. 349 fcioufnefs of integrity or uniformly good S E R ivt. affelions, and a regular virtuous courfe of XIV. action, but alfo confidence towards God ; indeed, towards all moral agents, fo far as our integrity and our works are known to them ; efpecially towards him who is thoroughly acquainted with all our ways and thoughts, and whom we acknowledge to be the pureft and moli perfef of all beings ? And whether, on the other hand, the felf- reproaches of the heart for vicious inclina- tions and wicked actions be not accompanied with a fecret confufion, arifing from the confideration of an awful prefence, to which moral turpitude is difagreeable; and, if fenfible of its own ill defervings, it hath not a fecret dread of fuitable returns, efpe- cially from the righteous judge of the world? The minds which are afraid of looking into themfelves, which is the cafe of many, feem to give a tacit confent to this, there be- ing no imaginable reafon why they fhould decline fuch an inquiry, which they cannot but be fenfible is fo becoming them, and which to an honeft heart yields fo great fatisfaftion ; no reafon, I fay, but a fecret mifgiving fear of the confequences, and that they fee where it muff: end, either in aban- doning their vices, which they are obfti- nately
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