An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, Note; Man is far better taught, than either the Beasts of the Earth, or Fowls of the Air.

Man, as Man, hath that in him, which wonderfully exceeds the Beasts of the Earth and Fowls of the Air; he hath Reason in him, which they have not; he is a reasonable creature, which they are not, and so can do that which they cannot. Man, by the power of Reason is able, first, to propose to himself an end in what he doth; secondly, to choose fit means for the attaining of that end; neither of which Beasts can do. And if any man be without wisdom to propose to himself a right end, and to choose due means lo•ding thereunto, there's little difference between that man and a beast, surely all his wisdom is but brutish. Further, God hath not only given Man a sense of those things which are hurtful to him, as he hath to the Beasts of the Earth and Fowls of the Air; but God hath given Man an Understanding, by which, he knowing God, may worship him, by which also he may see into and foresee the causes of things, and likewise rightly apply known means, either to prevent or remedy evils, and to bring about that which is good. Again, as God hath bestowed that wonderful blessing of Reason upon Man, above Beasts and Fowls, which makes him capable of higher instructions and fruitions, than either of them; so God hath provided higher and better means for the instruction of Man, than he hath for the instruction of Beasts. He teacheth us more. For,

Man, as Man, hath that in him, which wonderfully exceeds the Beasts of the Earth and Fowls of the Air; he hath Reason in him, which they have not; he is a reasonable creature, which they are not, and so can do that which they cannot. Man, by the power of Reason is able, first, to propose to himself an end in what he doth; secondly, to chuse fit means for the attaining of that end; neither of which Beasts can do. And if any man be without wisdome to propose to himself a right end, and to chuse due means lo•ding thereunto, there's little difference between that man and a beast, surely all his wisdome is but brutish. Further, God hath not only given Man a sense of those things which are hurtful to him, as he hath to the Beasts of the Earth and Fowls of the Air; but God hath given Man an Understanding, by which, he knowing God, may worship him, by which also he may see into and foresee the causes of things, and likewise rightly apply known means, either to prevent or remedy evils, and to bring about that which is good. Again, as God hath bestowed that wonderful blessing of Reason upon Man, above Beasts and Fowls, which makes him capable of higher instructions and fruitions, than either of them; so God hath provided higher and better means for the instruction of Man, than he hath for the instruction of Beasts. He teacheth us more. For,