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

2. Since the blessed God himself §2is to be considered as the principal Agent and Designer in this enquiry [Why hast thou made all men in vain?] It is with modest and humble reverence to be considered, what end worthy of that infinitely perfect Being, he may be supposed to have propounded to Himself, in forming such a Creature of so improvable a nature, and furnished with so noble faculties ⟨p. 48⟩and powers, for so transient and temporary a state. And how well it will consist with the most obvious and unquestionable notions we can have of an absolutely perfect Being, and the Attributes which he most peculiarly challenges and appropriates to himself (so as not only to own, but to glory in them) that he should give being not to some few only, but to the whole species of humane Creatures, and therein communicate to them a nature capable of knowing, of loving, and enjoying himself in a blessed eternity, with a design to continue them only for some short space on earth, in a low imperfect state, wherein they shall be liable to sink still lower to the vilest debasement of their natures, And yet, not for their transgression herein (for 'tis the mortality of man not by sin, but by Creation, or the design of the Creator only, that is now supposed) but for his mere pleasure to bereave them of being, and reduce them all again to nothing?

2. Since the blessed God himself §2is to be considered as the principal Agent and Designer in this enquiry [Why hast thou made all men in vain?] It is with modest and humble reverence to be considered, what end worthy of that infinitely perfect Beeing, he may be supposed to have propounded to Himself, in forming such a Creature of so improvable a nature, and furnished with so noble faculties ⟨p. 48⟩and powers, for so transient and temporary a state. And how well it will consist with the most obvious and unquestionable notions we can have of an absolutely perfect Being, and the Attributes which he most peculiarly challenges and appropriates to himself (so as not only to own, but to glory in them) that he should give beeing not to some few only, but to the whole species of humane Creatures, and therein communicate to them a nature capable of knowing, of loving, and enjoying himself in a blessed eternity, with a design to continue them only for some short space on earth, in a low imperfect state, wherein they shall be liable to sink still lower to the vilest debasement of their natures, And yet, not for their transgression herein (for 'tis the mortality of man not by sin, but by Creation, or the design of the Creator only, that is now supposed) but for his meer pleasure to bereave them of being, and reduce them all again to nothing?