The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

Upon the whole, therefore, it seems most repugnant to these great Attributes of the Divine Being, to have made man only for this present state. That to think so, were to conceive unworthily of him, as if he had acted much beneath himself, and done a vain thing in making such a Creature, no end being attainable by it, which we can suppose either his Wisdom or Goodness to aim at.

If any would imagine to themselves an expedient, by supposing an eternal succession of humane generations, upon whom the Wisdom and Goodness of God might have a perpetual exercise in the government and sustentation of them for their appointed times: This would be far from satisfying, as to either; but would rather increase the difficulty. For there would be the same temptation upon all the Individuals, to contemn ⟨p. 70⟩or regret the Government of their Maker.

If any would imagine to themselves an expedient, by supposing an eternal succession of humane generations, upon whom the Wisdom and Goodness of God might have a perpetual exercise in the government and sustentation of them for their appointed times: This would be far from satisfying, as to either; but would rather encrease the difficulty. For there would be the same temptation upon all the Individuals, to contemn ⟨p. 70⟩or regret the Government of their Maker.

So that he should hereby even eternize his own reproach; and should always, in every succession, have still the same craving appetites returning, and expectations never to be satisfied; which were as repugnant to all he hath discovered to us of his nature, as any thing we can suppose.