Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

arfng from vicious Habits, aog tures fhould arrive to the perfect ufe of their S E R M. faculties by the exercife of them, and that the VIII. ends and enjoyment of life fhould fo far de- pend upon themfelves, that they fhould finifh their own qualifications for their voluntary works, and, by pradtice,e_that manner of aEt- ing become pleafant to them which they chufe. A great deal of our knowledge of the world which may be ufeful to our felves proceedeth from obfervation and experience; and that knowledge direfteth the bufinefs of life in a much larger extent than the original inftinéts of nature could do of themfelves, and without fuch affiflance. It is their ob- ferving the convenience to themfelves, which arifeth from them, that putteth men upon learning arts and fciences, and it is an ad- vantage, that ufeful labour by habit is made pleafant and eafy. But the more extenfive the influence of habits is, the more do they require our attention, the rather becaufe the very being of them, and their ftrength and influence depend upon our felves. For our original defires we are not accountable, they are not wholly fubjeft to our own choice ; but the propenfities contradted by our own voluntary alts are directly imputed to us, whether they be good or bad. As habits, or rather a capacity of them, and mans being Vol IV. P fubjed

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