THE usual Method whereby the Enemy of Mankind trains so many into his bloody snares, is by enticing the lower Faculties, the Senses, the Fancy, the Passions, to prevail upon the Will and Mind, and accordingly his motives are pleasure or pain that affect ⟨image 3⟩us from sensible things. But on the contrary, the great Lover of Souls first enlightens the Understanding to discover what is the most excellent Good, what the most pernicious Evil, and by that discovery moves the Will to pursue the one, and fly from the other, and so descends to work upon the Affections and Senses, that with readiness they follow the direction and command of the Superior Powers in Man. These Objects being Spiritual ⟨image 3⟩and future, and therefore raised above the highest Regions of Sense, are only apprehended and become effectual by the evidence of Faith. As the Spartan in Plutarch after trying many ways to set a Carcass upright in a living posture, and finding that all his Endeavours were vain, it was so suddenly discomposed, the head sinking into the bosom, the hands falling, and all the parts in disorder, concluded something was wanting within, that is ⟨image 4⟩the living Soul, without which the Body has no strength to support it self. Thus the most convincing Reasons, pressed with the greatest vehemence of Affection, all the Powers of the World to come are of no Efficacy upon those who have not Faith, the vital Principle of all Heavenly Operations.
THE usual Method whereby the Enemy of Mankind trains so many into his bloody snares, is by enticing the lower Faculties, the Senses, the Fancy, the Passions, to prevail upon the Will and Mind, and accordingly his motives are pleasure or pain that affect ⟨image 3⟩us from sensible things. But on the contrary, the great Lover of Souls first inlightens the Understanding to discover what is the most excellent Good, what the most pernicious Evil, and by that discovery moves the Will to pursue the one, and fly from the other, and so descends to work upon the Affections and Senses, that with readiness they follow the direction and command of the Superior Powers in Man. These Objects being Spiritual ⟨image 3⟩and future, and therefore rais'd above the highest Regions of Sense, are only apprehended and become effectual by the evidence of Faith. As the Spartan in Plutarch after trying many ways to set a Carcass upright in a living posture, and finding that all his Endeavours were vain, it was so suddenly discompos'd, the head sinking into the bosom, the hands falling, and all the parts in disorder, concluded something was wanting within, that is ⟨image 4⟩the living Soul, without which the Body has no strength to support it self. Thus the most convincing Reasons, prest with the greatest vehemence of Affection, all the Powers of the World to come are of no Efficacy upon those who have not Faith, the vital Principle of all Heavenly Operations.
