226 Of Inability to do Good S E R M. tion which is properly the fault of the mind, VIII. and to be charged wholly upon it. ' --Y--r Now, apply this to the cafe before us, the cafe of men far gone in impious and immoral courfes; by ill cuftoms they have contraäed difeafes of mind, the virtuous affeftions are weakened exceedingly, pallions are become exorbitant being ufed to no reftraint, their fenfual delires are grown to an impetuous Vio- lence, and their indifpofition to good is heigh- tened into inability. But what is this inability ? nothing but irrefolution, which was not only criminally contraEted, but continueth to be directly and properly their own fault, and ftiil the farther it proceedeth the more culpable they are. I acknowledge it is difficult for fuch fanners, they have made it difficult for them- felves to repent, in the fcripture fenfe of that word, that is, to be renewed in the fpirit of their minds, to break off their habitual fins by righteoufnefs and a thorough amendment, pra tifing the oppofite virtues ; but this doth not ceafe to be their duty, nor doth it ceafe to be in their power. What hindereth ? when we have faid all we can of our impo- tence to good, it amounteth to no more than inattention, and want of refolution ; and what is there in the power of Ow if attention and refolution be not ? The
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