So Sermon. the natural man's beff condition, fuch are never fingIe when at their very belt : Even when they are molt ferious in prayer, they are but going about to eflablifh their own righteoufnefs ; When they fail, and give alms, and the like, it is that they may have force ground for a good onion of themfelves, or that others may have a good opinion of them, being always a &ed from felt- motives and for felf -ends. A third defe& is,The want of unbiaffed affe &ions,thefe being partial and biaffed, will pur the man to reafon and difpute for the filencing of his Confcieoce ; and this eye not being fingle, the whole body is full of darknefs : Af- fe&ions being inclined or fwayed to this or that fide,they will feek to fway Confcience to that fide they incline to This is it that maketh force to follow after and to haun. the company of thole who are erroneous in their judge ment, notwithflanding that they have good reafon to th- contrary laid before them from the word of God, whiche they reje&, and that without challenge, being quit biaffed and prejudged in their affe&ions : Thus many natural men lay this for a conclufion,That fo much only is holinefs, and that no more is needful, and what is more is but fuperfluous nicenefs ; and fo they prejudge their Confcience by that. 4. I is defe&ive in this, That it maintaineth not its peace, nor anfvereth its challenges from Chrift's blood ; it is not fprinkled with clean, but with foul water (to fay fo) It ma be,it putteth the man to take on tome refoluti. on,or to come under force vow, as to fomewhat that it may be is no commanded duty of religion, nor bath any valu- able influence upon it ; or he will as it were fprinkle his Confcience with his tears : Thus many will grant that they . have finned, but withal they think, and will be ready to fay, That they have a good heart, or a good meaning, or that fueh and fuch a man,well efteemed of,hath fuch a fin, and is as guilty as they are, or that many have had fuch fins who have yet gone to heaven : On fuch and others the like pitiful grounds they found their peace, and by filch filly fhifts they feek to quiet their Confcience. Yea, fome- imes from the confideration of the poiibility of pardon, many conclude confidSntly that they are a &ually par- doned.
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