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

The truth is, the incongruity in the present case is only to be solved by redress; by earnest strivings with God, and our own souls, till we find our selves recovered into a right mind; into the constitution and composure whereof a generous fortitude hath a necessary ingrediency; that usually upon lower motives refuses no change of Climate, and will carry a man into unknown Countries, and through greatest hazards in the pursuit of honourable enterprises, of a much inferior kind.

The truth is, the incongruity in the present case is only to be solved by redress; by earnest strivings with God, and our own souls, till we find our selves recovered into a right mind; into the constitution and composure whereof a generous fortitude hath a necessary ingrediency; that usually upon lower motives refuses no change of Climate, and will carry a man into unknown Countreys, and through greatest hazards in the pursuit of honourable enterprizes, of a much inferior kind.

It is reckoned a brave and manly thing to be in the temper of one's mind a Citizen of the World ⟨p. 153⟩meaning it of this lower one). But why not rather of the Universe? And 'tis accounted mean and base that one should be so confined by his fear or sloth to that spot of ground where he was born, as not upon just inducement to look abroad, and go for warrantable and worthy purposes (yea, if it were only honest self-advantage) as far as the utmost ends of the earth. But dare we not venture a little farther? These are too narrow bounds for a truly great spirit. Any thing that is tinctured with earth, or favours of mortality, we should reckon too mean for us; and not regret it, that Heaven and Immortality are not to be attained but by dying; so should the love of our own souls, and the desire of a perpetual state of life, triumph over the fear of death.

It is reckon'd a brave and manly thing to be in the temper of one's mind a Citizen of the World ⟨p. 153⟩