Many myriads of such spirits, of no higher (original) excellency then thy own, are now in the presence of the Highest Majesty; are prying into the eternal glory, contemplating the perfections of the Divine Nature, beholding the• unveiled face of God, which transfuses upon them its own satisfying likeness. Thou art not so low-born, but thou mightest attain this state also. That Sovereign Lord, and Author of all things, calls thee to it; his goodness invites thee, his authority enjoins thee, to turn thy thoughts, and designs this way. Fear not to be thought immodest or presumptuous; *'tis but a dutiful ambition; an obedient aspiring. Thou art under a Law to be thus happy; nor doth it bind thee to any natural impossibility; it designs instruction to thee, not delusion; guidance, not mockery. When thou art required to apply, and turn thy Soul to this blessedness; 'tis not the same thing, as if thou wert bidden to remove a Mountain, ⟨p. 196⟩to pluck down a Star, or create a World. Thou art here, put upon nothing but what is agreeable to the primeval nature of man; and though it be to a vast height, thou must ascend; 'tis by so easy, and familiar Methods, by so apt Gradations, that thou wilt be sensible of no violence done to thy nature, in all thy way. Do but make some trials with thy self; thou wilt soon find, nothing is thy hindrance, •ut an unwilling heart. Try however (which will suffice to let thee discern thy own capacity, and will be a likely means to make thee willing) how far thou canst understand, and trace the way (complying with it, at least as reasonable) that leads to this blessedness. Retire a little into thy self; forget a while thy relation to this sensible world. Summon in thy self•reflecting and considering powers. Thou wilt presently perceive thou art not already happy, thou art in some part unsatisfied; and thence will easily understand, in as much as thou art not happy in thy self, that it must be something, as yet, without thee, must make thee so; and nothing can make thee happy, but what is, in that respect, better then thy self; or hath some perfection in it, which thou findest wanting to thy self. A little further discourse or reasoning with thy self, will easily persuade thee, thou hast something better about thee, then that luggage of flesh thou goest with to and fro; for thou well knowest, that *is not capable of reason, and discourse;
Many myriads of such spirits, of no higher (original) excellency then thy own, are now in the presence of the Highest Majesty; are prying into the eternal glory, contemplating the perfections of the Divine Nature, beholding the• unvailed face of God, which transfuses upon them its own satisfying likeness. Thou art not so low-born, but thou might'st attain this state also. That Soveraign Lord, and Authour of all things, calls thee to it; his goodness invites thee, his authority enjoyns thee, to turn thy thoughts, and designs this way. Fear not to be thought immodest or presumptuous; *'tis but a dutiful ambition; an obedient aspiring. Thou art under a Law to be thus happy; nor doth it bind thee to any natural impossibility; it designs instruction to thee, not delusion; guidance, not mockery. When thou art required to apply, and turn thy Soul to this blessedness; 'tis not the same thing, as if thou wert bidden to remove a Mountain, ⟨p. 196⟩to pluck down a Star, or create a World. Thou art here, put upon nothing but what is agreeable to the primaeval nature of man; and though it be to a vast heighth, thou must ascend; 'tis by so easie, and familiar Methods, by so apt Gradations, that thou wilt be sensible of no violence done to thy nature, in all thy way. Do but make some trials with thy self; thou wilt soon find, nothing is thy hindrance, •ut an unwilling heart. Try however (which will suffice to let thee discern thy own capacity, and will be a likely means to make thee willing) how far thou canst understand, and trace the way (complying with it, at least as reasonable) that leads to this blessedness. Retire a little into thy self; forget a while thy relation to this sensible world. Summon in thy self•reflecting and considering powers. Thou wilt presently perceive thou art not already happy, thou art in some part unsatisfied; and thence will easily understand, in as much as thou art not happy in thy self, that it must be something, as yet, without thee, must make thee so; and nothing can make thee happy, but what is, in that respect, better then thy self; or hath some perfection in it, which thou findest wanting to thy self. A little further discourse or reasoning with thy self, will easily perswade thee, thou hast something better about thee, then that luggage of flesh thou goest with to and fro; for thou well knowest, that *is not capable of reason, and discourse;
- *Hic Deos aeq•a•, illò tendit, originis suâ memor. Nemo, impro è eò co•atur ascendere unde desc•nderat—soc•i eis sumus & memb•a, &c. Sen Ep. 92.
- *[Greek or Hebrew]. Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 3.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Plotin. Ennead. 4. lib. 3.
