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

For as when the understanding Faculty, either from the indisposedness of the Organs, as in Idiots, or from the disorder of Fancy by the inflammation of the Humours, as in distracted Persons, cannot weigh and compare, and therefore makes a perverse judgment of things; so the carnal Mind by not due measuring and pondering, judges falsely of Spiritual Things. If something no bigger than the Hand were put before the Eye, it would intercept the Sight of the Heavens; and he that not considering the properties of things near and distant, should conclude that piece to be bigger than the Heavens, were justly reputed a Fool. And the Folly of carnal Men is more gross, who prefer things present to Sense, before what is future and of everlasting consequence to the Soul. But there are some ⟨p. 269⟩actions which if done by a Natural, would be counted Folly, yet being done by those who in the reputation of the World are Wise, are esteemed Prudent, but they are the most deplorable Folly. Now as the restoring the Laesum principium, the broken Mind to its sound State, whereby 'tis able to consider, discern and conclude of things according to their Nature, such is the action of God's Spirit upon the corrupt Mind, clarifying and enlightening it, so that it receives full conviction by the clearest marks of divine Authority shining in the Gospel of the Truth of all the great and precious Promises therein contained, and causing it by a steady application of the Thoughts to see the vast difference between what is Temporal, and Eternal, how despicably light all the Vanities of this World are found, when put in the Balance against the infinite inestimable Happiness of the next. In short, the renewed Mind knows Spiritual Things according to their Nature and Qualities, believes, esteems, and determines that they are of Eternal moment, and absolutely necessary for the Happiness of Man. And as when the natural Faculty of seeing is perished, 'tis irreparable by ⟨p. 270⟩human Skill, and without a Miracle can never be restored, so the intellectual Faculty when darkened by sinful Lusts, without the renewing power of the Spirit can never know Spiritual Things as they ought to be known.

For as when the understanding Faculty, either from the indisposedness of the Organs, as in Idiots, or from the disorder of Fancy by the inflammation of the Humours, as in distracted Persons, cannot weigh and compare, and therefore makes a perverse judgment of things; so the carnal Mind by not due measuring and pondering, judges falsly of Spiritual Things. If something no bigger than the Hand were put before the Eye, it would intercept the Sight of the Heavens; and he that not considering the properties of things near and distant, should conclude that piece to be bigger than the Heavens, were justly reputed a Fool. And the Folly of carnal Men is more gross, who prefer things present to Sense, before what is future and of everlasting consequence to the Soul. But there are some