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. They are not a convenient Good to the Soul. What proportion is there between a spiritual Nature and carnal Sensualities, between the divine Offspring, and the low voluptuousness of Flesh? What are Treasures of Gold and Pearls, but shining Dust and the froth of the Sea, and can these enrich a Heavenly Being? What is Honour and Reputation? an invisible imagination formed in a few Heads: What is Praise, a favourable sound from a few Mouths? And can a Fancy, a Breath be the solid Good of the Soul? As well may an empty Dream afford substantial Nourishment to the Body.

1. They are not a convenient Good to the Soul. What proportion is there between a spiritual Nature and carnal Sensualities, between the divine Offspring, and the low voluptuousness of Flesh? What are Treasures of Gold and Pearls, but shining Dust and the froth of the Sea, and can these enrich a Heavenly Being? What is Honour and Reputation? an invisible imagination form'd in a few Heads: What is Praise, a favourable sound from a few Mouths? And can a Fancy, a Breath be the solid Good of the Soul? As well may an empty Dream afford substantial Nourishment to the Body.

Hence the Expectation is far above the Fruition of earthly Things. Whilst seen by the false Beams of Fancy and the Passions, they promise fair, but upon trial are found to be a mere Illusion, that has nothing real but the bitterness ⟨p. 14⟩that attends them. And from hence there is a perpetual generation of Desires in the Breasts of Men, the^† end of one is the beginning of another, as Fuel increases the Fire. The wanting Soul becomes more ardent by failing in what it expected, and makes endless inquiries for matter of satisfaction. Seneca observed an image of this in Nature, and gives the Moral of it.^‖ A Tortoise if turned on the Back, though it suffer no pain, is violent in Motion till it recovers its natural Posture. Thus Man, though free from external Troubles, yet is in restless changes, always casting about till he obtains the Happiness for which he was made, that is adequate to his Capacity. Who will show us any Good? is the voice of Mankind chasing several Hopes, and engaged in infinite errors in the search of Felicity here below. But the confluence of all worldly things cannot quiet the ravings of their misguided Appetites. The Persian Kings with all their Royalties, and Revenues and Delights,