Confidence towards God, explained. 351 beloved fin, are neceffarily accompanied S ER M. with diffidence and fear ; and the finners XIV. fhunning industriously the light of his own fpirit or confcience, which Solomon calleth the candle of the Lord, /arching the inward parts ; this, I fay, muff be attributed to the fame caufe : Shall it be Paid that all this proceedeth only from human weaknefs; that the felf applauding joy and confidence of a virtuous mind is but enthuafiafm, the effect of a deluded warm imagination ; and that the diftruftful dread of a vicious one arifeth wholly from a fuperftitious fear - fulnefs, imbibed by the prejudices of edu- cation, and cherifhed by the often - inculcated inftrudions of weak or defigning men ? I know nothing in the power of human na- ture in order to our being affured of truth or being delivered from error, but a fair im- partial enquiry, and to that we appeal in the prefent cafe. The generality of harden- ed finners mull according to this rule be ac- knowledged to have prejudged the caufe, and therefore to be unqualified for deter- mining it, for their hearts will tell them they defignedly avoid a trial : But if any one will pretend to argue upon it, let it be obferved, that there are certain principles, in which the mind mutt neceffarily rest, without ¡i¡ jl
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