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Thus are we nice in grains and fcruples but knaves in matters of every day ftraining at gnats, yet swallowing camels-mifera-. bly cheating ourselves, and torturing our reafon to bring us in fuch a report of the fin as fuits the prefent appetite and inclination.

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Most of us are aware of and pretend. to deteft the barefaced instances of that hypocrify by which men deceive others, but few of us are upon our guard or fee that more fatal hypocrify by which we deceive and over-reach our own hearts. It is a flattering and dangerous diftemper, which has undone thousands - we bring the feeds of it along with us into

the world they infenfibly grow up

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with us from our childhood

they lye long concealed and undisturbed, and have

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generally got fuch deep root in our natures by the time we are come to years of understanding and reflection, that it requires all we have got to defend ourfelves from their effects.

To make the cafe ftill worse on our fides, 'tis with this as with every grievous diftemper of the body the remedies are dangerous and doubtful, in proportion to our mistakes and ignorance of the caufe: for in the inftances of felf-deceit, though the head is fick, and the whole heart faint, the patient seldom knows what he ails:- of all the things we know and learn, this neceffary knowledge comes to us the laft.

Upon what principles it happens thus, I have endeavoured to lay open in the first part of this difcourfe; which I con

clude

clude with a ferious exhortation to struggle against them; which we can only hope to do, by converfing more and oftener with ourselves, than the business and diverfions of the world generally give us leave.

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We have a chain of thoughts, defires, engagements and idleneffes, which perpetually return upon us in their proper time and order, let us, I beseech you, affign and fet apart fome fmall portion of the day for this purpose of retiring into ourfelves, and searching into the dark corners and receffes of the heart, and taking notice of what is paffing there.. If a man can bring himself to do this task with a curious and impartial eye, he will quickly find the fruits of it will more than recompenfe his time and la

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bour. He will fee feveral irregularities and unfufpected paffions within him which he never was aware of, he will discover in his progress many fecret turns and windings in his heart to which he was a stranger, which now gradually open and disclose themselves to him upon a nearer view; in these labyrinths he will trace out fuch hidden fprings and motives for many of his moft applauded actions, as will make him rather forry, and ashamed of himself, than proud.

In a word, he will understand his errors, and then fee the neceffity, with David, of imploring GoD to cleanse him from his fecret faults - and with fome hope and confidence to say, with this great man after his conviction

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"Try

"Try me, O GOD! and feek the ground "of my heart, prove me and examine 66. my thoughts, look well if there be

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any way of wickednefs in me, and lead "me in the way everlasting."

Now to Gop the Father, &c. &c..

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