arjfing from vicious .Habits. 21 good natured enough to hear the enquiry SE R M. without impatience, as fome are, he will give VIII. no other anfwer than that he bath got fuch a "--"" "d habit, he doth it without defign or fo much as thinking of it. Alk him further concern- ing the reafon of it, and put him in mind of its finfulnefs, you will find that cuftom bath alfo prevailed againft the fenfe of evil, and in- troduced an opinion of its innocence : Per- haps having nothing to fay in juffification or excufe of the praäice, he may drop fuch ge- neral words as thefe, if it be a fin, I am forry for it, or God forgive me ; but after all it is extremely difficult to fix a conviction of guilt, which is principally to be attributed to the influence of the evil habit. This cer- tainly muff be a furprifing appearance to a man that confidereth human nature abflra ±- ly. Is it not ftrange that a rational being fhould be fo hardened againft reafon as to maintain an opinion for which he hath no pretence of argument ; or at leaft be infenfi- bie of a truth fo clear, againff which he bath no colour of an objeaion ? But if we look into the world, and confider men as they adtually are, we thall find multitudes of pa- rallel inftances, nay, inftances where the force of cuftom goeth much farther, even to make rrien believe things molt a bfurd and P 4 bar-
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