A26808:150
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
The sovereign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it by William Bates ...The soveraign and final happiness of man with the effectual means to obtain it by William Bates ...
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. How derogatory is it to his Majesty to offer to him the dregs of our Age, the relics of a licentious careless Life spent in the works of Vanity? Is this to give Glory to God? 1Contempt provokes Superiors as much as actual Injuries. And how vilifying is it of his excellent Greatness, that Men lavishly wast the best of their time upon their Lusts and the World, and when through weakness of Age, or the violence of a Disease they can no more relish the pleasures of Sin, then only to seek his favour, and presume upon it, as if he could not be happy without them, and it were his interest to receive them. If ye offer the blind for a Sacrifice is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and the sick is it not evil? Offer it now to thy Governor, will he be pleased with thee to accept thy Person? saith the Lord of Hosts.
1. How derogatory is it to his Majesty to offer to him the dregs of our Age, the reliques of a licentious careless Life spent in the works of Vanity? Is this to give Glory to God? 1Contempt provokes Superiors as much as actual Injuries. And how vilifying is it of his excellent Greatness, that Men lavishly wast the best of their time upon their Lusts and the World, and when through weakness of Age, or the violence of a Disease they can no more relish the pleasures of Sin, then only to seek his favour, and presume upon it, as if he could not be happy without them, and it were his interest to receive them. If ye offer the blind for a Sacrifice is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and the sick is it not evil? Offer it now to thy Governour, will he be pleased with thee to accept thy Person? saith the Lord of Hosts.
2. Consider what Sincerity or moral Value is in Religion that merely proceeds from bitter constraint? 'Tis a rule in Law, falsum est eam peperisse, cui mortuae Filius extractus est. 'Tis not a natural Birth when the Child is extracted from the dead Mother. 'Tis not