Why should God create man with a rational, spiritual soul, and thereby capacitate him for so noble a service as the pleasing and praising himself, if he had not intended him for this purpose Brutish Principles would have been sufficient to have fitted him for brutish practises: If God had made him to eat and drink and sleep, and wallow in the mire of carnal contentments, the soul of a beast might have served his turn. It is impossible that such an intelligent workman should infuse into our flesh Angelical spirits in vain, and not appoint us to some honourable work answerable to the excellency of our Natures and beings. Some of the wiser Heathen have gathered from the tendency of mans countenance towards heaven, that he is more noble, and born to higher things, then like a moving carcass to be buried alive in the earth. Those who to help the weak eyes of Nature, have the spectacles of Scripture, cannot but see more into Mans excellency and his Makers end. It is written in such broad letters in the Word, That God formed man for this purpose, namely, to show forth his praise, that he who runs may read it. But alas, alas, what is become of man? well may God call to him, Adam where art thou? Man where art thou? he who ere while, like a star, keeping a loft in the firmament of Heaven did glitter and shine most brightly, to the amazement of all his beholders, now declining from that pitch, and falling to the earth, as a comet doth vanish and disappear. He who was the worlds Lord, is now its slave and Vassal; He who was the Master of Wisdom, is now sent to school to the very beasts, to learn of them understanding; He who was unspeakably blessed in his love to, delight in, and communion with the fountain of his being, is now miserably ⟨image 14⟩cursed in his contrariety to, and deviation from the Ocean of his happiness. Ah this image of Heaven is become the visor of Hell! though this princely Creature was made to be company for his Maker, to stand as an Angel always in his presence, and attend his noble pleasure; yet look how like a pitiful Laquey he runs sneaking after the drossy world and dreggy flesh, as his Lords. Though Religion were first in Gods intention, yet its last in mans execution. Things without reason honour God in their stations, They obey his will. Creatures without sense do him service;
Why should God create man with a rational, spiritual soul, and thereby capacitate him for so noble a service as the pleasing and praising himself, if he had not intended him for this purpose Bruitish Principles would have been sufficient to have fitted him for brutish practises: If God had made him to eat and drink and sleep, and wallow in the mire of carnal contentments, the soul of a beast might have served his turn. It is impossible that such an intelligent workman should infuse into our flesh Angelical spirits in vain, and not appoint us to some honorable work answerable to the excellency of our Natures and beings. Some of the wiser Heathen have gathered from the tendency of mans countenance towards heaven, that he is more noble, and born to higher things, then like a moving carkass to be buried alive in the earth. Those who to help the weak eyes of Nature, have the spectacles of Scripture, cannot but see more into Mans excellency and his Makers end. It is written in such broad letters in the Word, That God formed man for this purpose, namely, to shew forth his praise, that he who runs may read it. But alas, alas, what is become of man? well may God call to him, Adam where art thou? Man where art thou? he who ere while, like a star, keeping a loft in the firmament of Heaven did glitter and shine most brightly, to the amazement of all his beholders, now declining from that pitch, and falling to the earth, as a commet doth vanish and disappear. He who was the worlds Lord, is now its slave and Vassal; He who was the Master of Wisdom, is now sent to school to the very beasts, to learn of them understanding; He who was unspeakably blessed in his love to, delight in, and communion with the fountain of his being, is now miserably ⟨image 14⟩cursed in his contrariety to, and deviation from the Ocean of his happiness. Ah this image of Heaven is become the vizard of Hell! though this princely Creature was made to be company for his Maker, to stand as an Angel always in his presence, and attend his noble pleasure; yet look how like a pitiful Laquey he runs sneaking after the drossie world and dreggie flesh, as his Lords. Though Religion were first in Gods intention, yet its last in mans execution. Things without reason honor God in their stations, They obey his will. Creatures without sense do him service;
