The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain itThe soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it

4. The sincere choice of Heaven as our final Happiness, will make us aspire to the greatest height of Holiness we are capable of in the present state. For the End has always a powerful virtue to transform a Man into its likeness: and Heaven is a state of perfect conformity to the Holy God. This difference is observable between the Understanding and the Will in their Operations: The Understanding in forming Conceptions of things, draws the Object to it self. The Will is drawn by the Object it chooses, and is always fashioning and framing the Soul into an entire conformity to it. Thus carnal Objects when propounded as the End of a Man, secretly imprint on him their likeness, his Thoughts, Affections, and whole Conversation is carnal. As the Psalmist speaks of the Worshippers of Idols,¹ they that make them are like unto them, so is every one that trusteth in them: whatever we adore and esteem, we are ⟨p. 110⟩changed into its Image. Idolaters are as stupid and senseless, as the Idols to which they pay Homage. Thus when God is chosen as our supreme Good and last End, by conversing with him the Image of his glorious Holiness is derived on the Soul, and it becomes Godly: the Heart is drawn by his attractive excellencies, and the Life directed to him. This being a point of great importance, I shall further prove and illustrate it. There is no deliberating about the degrees of that which is loved for it self as our End. More or less may respect the Means that are valued and used to obtain it, but the love of the End is vast and unlimited. A Physician endeavours to recover his Patient to sound and perfect Health, that being the End of his Art. He that seeks for Honour or Riches, is not content with a mediocrity of Success, but drives on his Affairs to the full period of his Desires. An ardent Lover of Learning with a noble jealousy strives to excel others in Knowledge. In short, no Man designs and longs for a thing as his Happiness, but will use all diligence to gain the present and full Possession of it. Therefore it cannot be imagined that any ⟨p. 111⟩Person sincerely propounds the enjoyment of Heaven as his End, but Love will make him fervent and industrious to be as Heavenly as is possible here.

4. The sincere choice of Heaven as our final Happiness, will make us aspire to the greatest height of Holiness we are capable of in the present state. For the End has always a powerful virtue to transform a Man into its likeness: and Heaven is a state of perfect conformity to the Holy God. This difference is observable between the Understanding and the Will in their Operations: The Understanding in forming Conceptions of things, draws the Object to it self. The Will is drawn by the Object it chooses, and is always fashioning and framing the Soul into an intire conformity to it. Thus carnal Objects when propounded as the End of a Man, secretly imprint on him their likeness, his Thoughts, Affections, and whole Conversation is carnal. As the Psalmist speaks of the Worshippers of Idols,