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

1. Worldly Things are not perfective of his highest Faculties. Man is but one degree lower than the Angels, and carries the Image of God indelibly engraven ⟨p. 11⟩in his Spiritual Immortal Soul; And accordingly the order of things in the visible World is established. Thou hast set him over the Works of thy Hands, and put all things under his Feet. By Nobility of Nature, and the condition of his state, he is incomparably above them. And can inferior things make him better? can Gold be more precious by incorporating with a baser Metal? or Light more resplendent by mixing with Clouds and Smoke? All the Bona adventitia, the good things of this World, Honours, Riches, Pleasure, cannot denominate him truly Wise and Holy, cannot add the least intellectual or moral Good, wherein the rectitude and brightest excellence of Man is truly placed.

1. Worldly Things are not perfective of his highest Faculties. Man is but one degree lower than the Angels, and carries the Image of God indelibly ingraven ⟨p. 11⟩in his Spiritual Immortal Soul; And accordingly the order of things in the visible World is establish'd. Thou hast set him over the Works of thy Hands, and put all things under his Feet. By Nobility of Nature, and the condition of his state, he is incomparably above them. And can inferior things make him better? can Gold be more precious by incorporating with a baser Metal? or Light more resplendent by mixing with Clouds and Smoak? All the Bona adventitia, the good things of this World, Honours, Riches, Pleasure, cannot denominate him truly Wise and Holy, cannot add the least intellectual or moral Good, wherein the rectitude and brightest excellence of Man is truely plac'd.

Nay they are consistent with all those sordid Lusts, that blemish and defame the humane Nature, and sink it below it self. External Honour is no Character of real Desert, and considered absolutely, confers no more to Virtue than to Vice. As Varnish in Painting serves only to give Lustre and Vivacity to the Colours, whether the Design be regular or ill, the Picture deformed or beautiful, and makes the Beauty or Deformity