2. Sin has degraded Man from his native State and Dignity. Man by his Extraction and Descent was the Son of God, a little lower than the Angels, consecrated and crowned, as a Priest for the Service and Communion ⟨p. 47⟩with his glorious Maker, and as King over the World. But being in Honour, he understood not his Dignity, his Duty and Felicity, and became like the Beasts that perish. By his Rebellion against his Creator, he made a Forfeiture of his Dominion, and lost the Obedience of sensible Creatures, and the Service of Insensible; which I only mention, and shall restrain my Consideration, to show how he is become like the Beasts, as an Effect resulting from his Sin. He is devested of his white Robe of Innocence, and his noblest Perfections, Reason and Religion. Sense and Imagination, the leading Faculties in Brutes, are his Rulers: The rational governing Powers of Man, have lost their superior Sway, and the Carnal Passions rove without Reins to forbidden Objects. The lower Appetites are predominant, which is the most ignominious and ⟨p. 48⟩cruel Servitude wherein Human Liberty can be entangled and fettered. His Understanding and Will, that were capable of taking a flight for the Discovery and Fruition of Celestial and Eternal Things, are debased, and limited to sensual perishing Things, and derive vilifying Qualities from them. He is Earthly-minded; his Aims, Contrivances, Desires are fastened to the Earth: the Divine Spark within him is covered under Ashes. He is carnally minded, always studying and making Provisions for the Flesh. This is a viler Debasement, than if the Counsellors of State were employed in the sordid Offices of the Kitchen or Stable. Nay, 'tis a Diminution below the Rank of Beasts, for by Nature they are uncapable of directing their Eyes and Desires towards Heaven; but Man is Brutish by his voluntary Sin. To see the Head of a rapacious Wolf, or ⟨p. 49⟩fierce Tiger, or lustful Horse joined to the Body of a Man, how monstrous would it appear? But 'tis more unnatural and ignominious, for Men, in whom Reason and Religion should govern, to resemble them in the Brutish Appetites of Lust and Rage; for there is a nearer Affinity between the Body of a Man and of a Beasts, that agree in the common sensible Nature, than between the Immortal Spirit of a Man, and the Beasts that perish. In short, Sin has enslaved Men to Satan an Infernal Fiend:
2. Sin has degraded Man from his native State and Dignity. Man by his Extraction and Descent was the Son of God, a little lower than the Angels, consecrated and crowned, as a Priest for the Service and Communion ⟨p. 47⟩with his glorious Maker, and as King over the World. But being in Honour, he understood not his Dignity, his Duty and Felicity, and became like the Beasts that perish. By his Rebellion against his Creator, he made a Forfeiture of his Dominion, and lost the Obedience of sensible Creatures, and the Service of Insensible; which I only mention, and shall restrain my Consideration, to shew how he is become like the Beasts, as an Effect resulting from his Sin. He is devested of his white Robe of Innocence, and his noblest Perfections, Reason and Religion. Sense and Imagination, the leading Faculties in Brutes, are his Rulers: The rational governing Powers of Man, have lost their superior Sway, and the Carnal Passions rove without Reins to forbidden Objects. The lower Appetites are predominant, which is the most ignominious and ⟨p. 48⟩cruel Servitude wherein Human Liberty can be intangled and fetter'd. His Understanding and Will, that were capable of taking a flight for the Discovery and Fruition of Celestial and Eternal Things, are debased, and limited to sensual perishing Things, and derive vilifying Qualities from them. He is Earthly-minded; his Aims, Contrivances, Desires are fastened to the Earth: the Divine Spark within him is cover'd under Ashes. He is carnally minded, always studying and making Provisions for the Flesh. This is a viler Debasement, than if the Counsellors of State were employed in the sordid Offices of the Kitchin or Stable. Nay, 'tis a Diminution below the Rank of Beasts, for by Nature they are uncapable of directing their Eyes and Desires towards Heaven; but Man is Brutish by his voluntary Sin. To see the Head of a rapacious Wolf, or ⟨p. 49⟩fierce Tyger, or lustful Horse joined to the Body of a Man, how monstrous would it appear? But 'tis more unnatural and ignominious, for Men, in whom Reason and Religion should govern, to resemble them in the Brutish Appetites of Lust and Rage; for there is a nearer Affinity between the Body of a Man and of a Beasts, that agree in the common sensible Nature, than between the Immortal Spirit of a Man, and the Beasts that perish. In short, Sin has enslaved Men to Satan an Infernal Fiend:
