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

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.

And it is apparent this faculty hath the privilege of determining it self; so as to be exempt from the necessitating influence of any thing foreign to it. Upon the supposal whereof, the managery of all humane affairs, all Treaties between man and man, to induce a consent to this or that; The whole frame of government, all Legislation and distribution of public Justice do depend. For take away this supposition, and these will presently appear most absurd, and unjust. With what solemnity are applications and addresses made to the Will of man upon all occasions? How is it courted and solicited and sued unto? But how absurd were it so to treat the other Creatures, that act by a necessity of Nature in all they do? to make supplications to the Wind, or propound articles to a Brute? And how unjust, to determine and inflict severe penalties for unavoidable and necessitated actions and omissions?