therefore that the perverfions of judgment
be corrected ; and in order that man may be
patient of fuch corredtion, he muft have a
due fenfe of thefe perverfions ; how^ incom-
plete his notions, how imperfedt his princi-
ples are : in fhort how weak, how defective
his reafoning, his moral powers. For if a
philofopher take a difciple, who has adopted
a falfe tafte, or falfe notions ; unlefs he can
firft make him fenfible of the wrong impref-
lion he has received, all the precepts of true
fcience will be thrown away upon him : in
like manner, if the difciple of Chrifl be
not firft fenfible of the perverfenefs of his
manners and opinions ; he will find it im-
pofiible to embrace the purchafed redemp-
tion with becoming gratitude ; or to conform
himfelf to the means appointed for his fanc-
tification. From hence the necefilty of re-
pentance and mortification appears ; the ne-
ceffity, that he who would receive the gofpel,
fhould put off (in the language of St Paul ' )
and crucify the old man, before the work
of regeneration can have a beginning.
But the fame contraft, which has rendered
the neceffity of repentance, of the mortifi-
cation and denial of former fentiment fo

* Gal. c. 5. V. 24.
apparent.
SERMON IV. 91

apparent, may poffibly feem to reprefent the
duty as abfolute in its nature ; more abfolute,
than in fadl, would be pradlicable.
