210 Of Inability to do Good S E R M. fubjeft to them, properly belongeth to the VIII. human conftitution, and is worthy of the wifdom, and goodnefs of its author; fo, like other things in our imperfed and mutable ¡late, it is capable of being abufed to evil : our greateft perfeélion of virtue confifteth in good habits, and is attained by conftant prac- tice, and the greateft wickednefs men fall into, is by accuftoming themfelves to do evil. It is this latter my text leadeth me to confi- der, and the prophet reprefenteth it in fo ftrong terms, as if vicious habits rendered men wholly impotent to good, as uncapable of it, as a creature is of changing its very nature. Can the Ethiopian change his {kin, or the leopard his fpot ? I will in this dif- courfe, Fiz fl, Confider and endeavour to explain the nature of evil habits, particularly the tendency of them, to render men indifpofed to moral goodnefs. Secondly, Will thew you in what fenfe the doEtrine of the text is to be underftood, or that difabilrty to do good, which is contraCted by being accuftorned to do evil. Thirdly, direa you to the proper applica- tion of it.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=