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

And one would think nothing should be more obvious, or more readily occur to the mind of a man, than to contemplate himself, and taking notice there is such a Creature in the world, furnished with such abilities and powers, to consider, What was I ⟨p. 89⟩made for? What am I to pitch upon as my proper End? Nor any thing appear more horrid to him, than to cross the very Ends of his Creation.

And one would think nothing should be more obvious, or more readily occurr to the mind of a man, than to contemplate himself, and taking notice there is such a Creature in the world, furnished with such abilities and powers, to consider, What was I ⟨p. 89⟩made for? What am I to pitch upon as my proper End? Nor any thing appear more horrid to him, than to cross the very Ends of his Creation.

2. It may also be improved to the directing of our Practice. For which purpose we may hence take this general Rule, That it be such as becomes the expectation of a future state. For what else is left us, since in our present state we behold nothing but vanity?

2. It may also be improv'd to the directing of our Practice. For which purpose we may hence take this general Rule, That it be such as becomes the expectation of a future state. For what else is left us, since in our present state we behold nothing but vanity?

We see thus stands our case, that we must measure our selves by one of these apprehensions; Either [we are made in vain]; or [we are made for a future state]. And can we endure to live according to the former? As if we were impertinences in the Creation, and had no proper business in it? What ingenuous persons would not blush to be always in the posture of an useless hang-by? to be still hanging on, where he hath nothing to do? that if he be asked, Sir, what's your business here? he hath nothing to say?