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Bible Dictionaries
Habit
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or A power and ability of doing any thing, acquired by frequent repetition of the same action. It is distinguished from custom. Custom respects the action; habit the actor. By custom we mean a frequent reiteration of the same act; and by habit the effect that custom has on the mind or body. "Man, " as one observes, "is a bundle of habits. There are habits of industry, attention, vigilance, advertency; of a prompt obedience to the judgment occurring, or of yielding to the first impulse of passion; of apprehending, methodizing, reasoning; of vanity, melancholy, fretfulness, suspicion, coveteousness, &c. In a word, there is not a quality or function, either of body or mind, which does not feel the influence of this great law of animated nature." To cure evil habits, we should be as early as we can in our application, principiis obsta; to cross and mortify the inclination by a frequent and obstinate practice of the contrary virtue. To form good habits, we should get our minds well stored with knowledge; associate with the wisest and best men; reflect much on the pleasure good habits are productive of; and, above all, supplicate the Divine Being for direction and assistance. Kaims's Elem. of Crit. ch. 14: vol. 1; Grave's Mor. Phil. vol. 1: p. 143; Paley's Mor. Phil. vol. 1: p. 46; Jortin on Bad Habits, ser. 1. vol. iii; Read in the Active Powere, p. 117; Cogan on the Passions, p. 235.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Habit'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/h/habit.html. 1802.
