The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

Therefore as this might many other ways be evinced to be true, so it evidently appears to be the proper issue of the present truth; and is plainly proved by it. But alas! it needs a great deal more to be pressed than proved. O that it were but as much considered, as it is known. The experience of almost 6000. years hath (one would think sufficiently) testified the incompetency of every worldly thing to make men happy, that the present pleasing of our senses, and the gratification of our animal part is not blessedness▪ that men are still left unsatisfied notwithstanding. But the practice and course of the world is such, as if this were some late, and rare experiment: which (for curiosity) every one must be trying over again. Every age renews the inquiry after an earthly felicity; the design is entailed (as the Spanish designs are said to be) and reinforced with as great a confidence, and vigour from age to age, as if none had been baffled, or defeated in it before; or that it were very likely to take at last. Had this been the alone folly of the first age, it had admitted some excuse, but that the world should still be cheated by the same so oft-defeated impostures, presents us with a sad prospect, of the deplorable state of mankind.¹ This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve, &c. The wearied wits and wasted estates, laid out upon the Philosophers stone, afford but a faint defective representation of this case. What Chemistry can extract heaven ⟨p. 192⟩out of a clod of clay? What art can make blessedness spring and grow out of this cold earth? If all created nature be vexed and tortured never so long, who can expect this Elixir? Yet after so many frustrated attempts so much time, and strength, and labour lost, men are still as eagerly and vainly busy as ever. Are perpetually tossed by unsatisfied desires; labouring in the •ire, wearying themselves for very vanity, distracted by the uncertain (and often contrary) motions of a ravenous appetite, and a blind mind; that would be happy, and knows not how. With what sounding bowels, with what compassionate tears, should the state of mankind be lamented, by all that understand the worth of a soul?

Therefore as this might many other wayes be evinced to be true, so it evidently appears to be the proper issue of the present truth; and is plainly proved by it. But alas! it needs a great deal more to be pressed than proved. O that it were but as much considered, as it is known. The experience of almost 6000. years hath (one would think sufficiently) testified the incompetency of every worldly thing to make men happy, that the present pleasing of our senses, and the gratification of our animal part is not blessedness that men are still left unsatisfied notwithstanding. But the practice and course of the world is such, as if this were some late, and rare experiment: which (for curiosity) every one must be trying over again. Every age renews the inquiry after an earthly felicity; the design is intail'd (as the Spanish designs are said to be) and reinforc'd with as great a confidence, and vigor from age to age, as if none had been baffled, or defeated in it before; or that it were very likely to take at last. Had this been the alone folly of the first age, it had admitted some excuse, but that the world should still be cheated by the same so oft-defeated impostures, presents us with a sad prospect, of the deplorable state of mankind.