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

Indeed the choice were not difficult between lying Vanities and substantial Blessedness, if uncorrupted reason had the Superior sway: but in this lapsed state of Nature, the Understanding and Will are so depraved, that present things pleasing to sense, ravish the Heart into a Compliance. Men are deceived, not compelled into ruin: the subtle Seducer prevails by fair Temptations. This ⟨p. 166⟩will be evident by reflecting upon the frame and composition of Man, as he consists of Spirit Soul and Body, and the manner of his acting. The Spirit is the intellective discerning Faculty, the Seat of Reason, capable to compare and judge of the qualities of things, and foresee their issues. The Body includes the lower Faculties, the Senses Fancy and Passions, that are conversant about present things. The Soul is the Will, the principle of Election, in the midst of the other, as the Centre to which all their Addresses flow. Now upon the proposal of the spiritual and carnal Good in order to Choice, the Will is to be directed by the Mind, and by its own Authority to rule the lower Passions. But alas! the Mind has lost its primitive Light and Purity, Vigilance and Integrity, neglects its Duty, and from Ignorance, Error and carnal Prejudices often pleads for the Flesh: and the Will, the rational Appetite, is voluntarily subordinate and enslaved by the Sensitive. From hence it is that in the competition, Heaven with all its Glory is despised, and the present World embraced. To open this more particularly, Consider.

Indeed the choice were not difficult between lying Vanities and substantial Blessedness, if uncorrupted reason had the Superior sway: but in this lapsed state of Nature, the Understanding and Willare so depraved, that present things pleasing to sence, ravish the Heart into a Compliance. Men are deceived, not compelled into ruin: the subtile Seducer prevails by fair Temptations. This ⟨p. 166⟩will be evident by reflecting upon the frame and composition of Man, as he consists of Spirit Soul and Body, and the manner of his acting. The Spirit is the intellective discerning Faculty, the Seat of Reason, capable to compare and judge of the qualities of things, and foresee their issues. The Body includes the lower Faculties, the Sences Fancy and Passions, that are coversant about present things. The Soul is the Will, the principle of Election, in the midst of the other, as the Centre to which all their Addresses flow. Now upon the proposal of the spiritual and carnal Good in order to Choice, the Will is to be directed by the Mind, and by its own Authority to rule the lower Passions. But alas! the Mind has lost its primitive Light and Purity, Vigilance and Integrity, neglects its Duty, and from Ignorance, Errour and carnal Prejudices often pleads for the Flesh: and the Will, the rational Appetite, is voluntarily subordinate and inslaved by the Sensitive. From hence it is that in the competition, Heaven with all its Glory is despised, and the present World embrac'd. To open this more particularly, Consider.