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The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion
The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion; the true methods of making all men happy in this world, and in the world to come Seasonably discoursed, and earnestly pressed upon this licentious age. By J.F. a sincere lover of his native country, and the souls of men.The reasonableness of personal reformation, and the necessity of conversion; the true methods of making all men happy in this world, and in the world to come Seasonably discoursed, and earnestly pressed upon this licentious age. By J.F. a sincere lover of his native countrey, and the souls of men.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1691
THE REASONABLENESS OF Personal Reformation, › Chapter 1 › Section 1
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SECT. I.
Reason exalts Man above all earthly Beings: 'Tis his Dignity and Privilege that God hath furnished him with Abilities of Mind to recollect, animadvert, compare, infer, ponder and judge his own Actions. Hereby he becomes not only capable of Moral Government by Humane Laws, which no Creature beside him is; but also of Spiritual Government by Divine Laws; and the blessed Fruitions of God in Glory, which no other Species of Creatures (Angels only excepted) have a subjective capacity for.
REason exalts Man above all earthly Beings: 'Tis his Dignity and Priviledge that God hath furnished him with Abilities of Mind to recollect, animadvert, compare, infer, ponder and judge his own Actions. Hereby he becomes not only capable of Moral Government by Humane Laws, which no Creature beside him is; but also of Spiritual Government by Divine Laws; and the blessed Frutions of God in Glory, which no other Species of Creatures (Angels only excepted) have a subjective capacity for.
Right Reason by the Law of Nature (as an •ome-born Judge) arbitrates and determines all things within its proper Province, which Province ⟨p. 2⟩is extended far and wide. All Action Natural, Moral and Civil are weighed at thi• Beam and Standard: None are exempted but ma• ters of supernatural Revelation; and yet eve• these are not wholly and in every respect exempt from Right Reason. For though there be some Mysteries in Religion above the sphere and flight of Reason, yet nothing can be found in Religion that is unreasonable.