Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

Men tempted to Evil, by their own Lulls. 3 i the mind, and the perfetion of them, S ER M. which requireth our chief application as be- II. ing our principal concern and ultimate hap- pinefs. That inferior part of our conftitu- tion, in itfelf innocent and necefrary for fuch beings, yet giveth the occafion whereby we, abufing our liberty, are drawn away and enticed to evil by various ways; fuch as, vehement defires beyond the real value of the obje &s ; an immoderate indulgence in the gratification of thofe defires, either in inftances which are prohibited by reafon and the laws of God, or even within the licenfed kinds, above the proper limits which the end of fuch gratification hath fixed; all tending to weaken the devout and virtuous affections which are the glory of our nature and the diftinguifhing excellence of man; to enervate the'mind, and violate confcience, or that fenfe of right and wrong which God hath placed in us as the guide of our a Lions. Other affe &ions alfo tempt us, as forrow, which often through our weaknefs exceed - eth in proportion the event which is the occafion of it ; fear of force future appre- hended calamity or difrrefs, often magnified by the imagination ; and anger, which ought only to aim at our own defence againft in- juries, but for the molt part is accompanied with

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