The danger of prosperity discovered in several sermons upon Prov. I. 27 /

3. Fleshly Lusts smother and suppress the Dictates and Testimony of the enlightened Conscience, that they are not influential ⟨p. 78⟩upon the Life. The Dictates of Conscience are in a direct Line, instructing and advising Men in their Duty: the Testimony is by reflection upon their Errors from the Divine Rule, and condemning them for their Guilt.

3. Fleshly Lusts smother and suppress the Dictates and Testimony of the enlightned Conscience, that they are not influential ⟨p. 78⟩upon the Life. The Dictates of Conscience are in a direct Line, instructing and advising Men in their Duty: the Testimony is by reflexion upon their Errors from the Divine Rule, and condemning them for their Guilt.

1. The Dictates of the enlightened Conscience are supperest. 'Tis the observation of ^*the Philosopher, concerning sensual Persons, that they have Reason in the Faculty and Habit, but not in the Use and Exercise. The practical Understanding declares our Duty, that 'tis absolutely necessary to obey God; and Men assent to it in the general: but when this Principle is to be applied to Practice in Particulars that are ungrateful to the corrupt Will, Lust draws a Veil over it, that it may not appear to check the sensual ⟨p. 79⟩Inclinations. Whilst the Mind seduced by the Senses, is intent upon the pleasing Object, it does not actually and strongly consider the Divine Command; and Conscience is brought under the control of the impetuous Passions. The Light of Reason, as well as of Divine Revelation, discovers, that the blessed Beginning, and the happy End of Man, is to be like God, and to enjoy his Love; but when there is a competition between his Favour, and the things of the World, the carnal Heart suppresses the Dictates of the Mind, and makes a blindfold choice of things present and sensible, as if Man were all Earth, and there were no spark of Heaven within him.