ar ang from vicious Habits. 213 like pronenefs there is to do what the habit S E R M. prompteth to. Perhaps, there may be alto VIII. Tome confufed regard to the original defign of an oath, which is a folemn atteftation of the fpeaker's veracity, to gain credit to his affertions, and to confirm bis declared pur- pofes to be afterwards executed ; and in this cafe the paffions of men give a greater force to the habit, which is matter of common obfervation ; but the mere cuflom itfelf pro - duceth the effect without any thing added to it, and they who have given themfelves the profane habit fall into this fin as readily as if it were even natural to them. Secondly, Cuftom fupplieth the place of reafon, which is not at all attended to. It is very natural for us, and upon reflection it muff appear very fit, to enquire into the grounds upon which we aft; when any thing new and unaccuftomed is propofed, we mull fee force evidence of truth, and force motives of action, to determine our affent and engage our compliance; but when habits ob- tain, this is overlooked, and there is no fur- ther fearch for reafon. It mull: be acknow- ledged a great weaknefa in the human mind, but there is nothing more certain in fart, that points of belief early and frequently in- culcated gain an affent, which is tenaçioufly P 3 adhered
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