Confidence towards God, explained. 3 6 t nor in the fubftance of outward actions, as S E x M, that whereby they are fatisfied : But the XIV. lawgiver, to whom all things are naked and `--v-3 manifeít, and who bath endued us with felf- reflecting powers, and a fenfe of good and evil, he demandeth our hearts, the pro- per exercife of our affections, and of our aétive felf- determining powers : Our opi- nions are neither morally good or evil, other - wife than in confequence of this primary obligation ; all the virtue which is in them, is derived from integrity of good affections, and a diligent application of our minds to the difcovery of truth ; and for external acts, as the intention of the divine law is not completely fulfilled in them, they are no farther neceffary to our acceptance, nor doth the confcience itfelf lay the ftrefs of its con- fidence upon them any farther, than as they are the certain evidences and infeparable fruits of good inward difpofitions. But though wrong opinions in religion and morals, are only fo far criminal" as they proceed from depraved affection or negli- gence ; when they are embraced, they tend to increafe that depravity of heart and cor- ruption of manners. This is the cafe of fuperflition, which bath produced very mil- chievous effects in the world. When men have !Ú
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