explained and recommended. 3 9 3 damental principles of religion, and nothing S E R M. can be more apparently our duty, as men, XV. than to apply our minds to the ferious con - `--vJ fderation of them, fo the affe &ions planted in our hearts will even naturally terminate on them, as excellent in themfelves, and of the greateft importance to our happinefs, if the courfe of thefe affections be not wilfully and obflinately obftructed by violent con- traded prejudices and prepoffeßìons. Having now finifhed the explication which I propofed of thefe two directly oppofite principles, faith and fight, I leave it to yourfelves to judge which is the more reafonable and becoming you. In govern - ing ourfelves, and taking the meafures of our conduct by the one, that is, fight, we only provide for the lower part of our na- `ture, and for a very fhort duration; all our cares are employed about the enjoyments of the body, of the fenfes, and the imagina- tion, of a tranfitory life which is but the in- fancy of our being ; the fuperior powers of our minds are neglected, or not exercifed in a proper manner, and to anfwer the ends they were defigned for. What a difparage- ment is it to reafon, capable of difcerning fublime truths, and entertaining the mind with high pleafure, to be ufed wholly in 2 the
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