This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ...whereas these poor wretches have suffered themselves to be led on blindfold, by example and custom, unexamined appearances and ungoverned inclinations, with no more notion of inquiring, whether they are in the right road, than if there were nootheratall. Or if ever they have deliberated, they have done it ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ...whereas these poor wretches have suffered themselves to be led on blindfold, by example and custom, unexamined appearances and ungoverned inclinations, with no more notion of inquiring, whether they are in the right road, than if there were nootheratall. Or if ever they have deliberated, they have done it unfairly or superficially; or upon some one point of their behaviour, not the whole; and perhaps, only which of two interfering desires, both of them wrong, they should gratify. But surely the first division of human conduct is into religious and irreligious. Which of these two we ought to prefer, is the question that we are to begin with: and it will be time enough to consider, in, what way we shall be bad, after we have examined, whether it is not our wisdom to be good. 1 Kings xviii. 81. f Rom. vi. IS. I Rom. vi. 13.19. Josh. xxiv. 16. In this most important inquiry an imperfect view of things may easily deceive us, and doth in fact deceive the generality of mankind. We must therefore be very careful to lay before ourselves the whole of what is to be expected, hoped or feared. But indeed both our own passions and appetites, and the opinions and practices of the world, will be sure to remind us abundantly of what makes in favour of prohibited indulgences. And consequently, in order to keep our judgment upright, we must be diligent in representing to ourselves what makes against them. And we cannot possibly do it in a better method, than that of the Apostle, addressing himself to. the Roman converts: What fruit liadye tlien in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of tJiose things is death. In these words is proposed to our serious thoughts, . I. The present unprofitableness of sin. ' II. The shamefulness of it. III. The...
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