ari ang from vicious Habits. 22Ì doing, and therefore the inability here fpoken S ER M. of is not natural but moral only. If we VIII. confider the reafon of the cafe, it will appear `-^rte at firft fight very ftrange to afl'ert, that men thould, by a repetition of criminal ads, dif- charge themfelves from the obligation of their duty, and the more frequently they tranf- grefs thereby become the more faultlefs. But there is nothing elfe in a cuftom of doing evil than a frequent repetition of finful ans. Let us attend ferioufly to what paffeth in our own minds upon a review of our offences, and the flare into which they bring us with refpeft to the judgment of God, for that is the furefl way we have to judge concerning the quality of our anions, and according to the fentence pronounced by confcience, fo may we expert the decifive judgment of the fupreme tribunal will be. If our hearts con- demn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things ; if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God. Now, it is certain no man ever did, or pof_ fibly could, think himfelf the lefs guilty for an ill habit, but the more. It may indeed render him more difinclined to refleft, and more unattentive and averfe to the light which maketh manifeft his evil deeds ; but if he Both refleft at all, and he may fometime find it
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=