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

2. His power of determining ⟨p. 26⟩himself, of choosing and refusing, according as things are estimated, and do appear to him. Where also it is evident how far the objects which this faculty is sometimes exercised about, do transcend the reach of all sensible nature; as well as the peculiar nobleness and excellency is remarkable of the faculty it self.

2. His power of determining ⟨p. 26⟩himself, of chusing and refusing, according as things are estimated, and do appear to him. Where also it is evident how far the objects which this faculty is sometimes exercised about, do transcend the reach of all sensible nature; as well as the peculiar nobleness and excellency is remarkable of the faculty it self.

It hath, often for its object, things of the highest nature, purely spiritual and divine; Virtue, Religion, God himself. So as that these (the faculty being repaired only by sanctifying grace; not now first put into the nature of man) are chosen by some, and, where it is not so, refused ('tis true) by the most, but not by a mere not-willing of them (as mere brutal appetite also doth not-will them, which no way reaches the notion of a refusal) but by rejecting them, with a positive aversion, and dislike, wherein there is great iniquity and sin: which could not be but in a nature capable of the opposite temper.

It hath, often for its object, things of the highest nature, purely spiritual and divine; Vertue, Religion, God himself. So as that these (the faculty being repair'd only by sanctifying grace; not now first put into the nature of man) are chosen by some, and, where it is not so, refused ('tis true) by the most, but not by a meer not-willing of them (as meer brutal appetite also doth not-will them, which no way reaches the notion of a refusal) but by rejecting them, with a positive aversion, and dislike, wherein there is great iniquity and sin: which could not be but in a nature capable of the opposite temper.