A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…

II. IT is Man's CHIEF End, which is here enquired after. The Question takes it for granted, that a Man may have Diverse Ends, which he proposeth to himself in his action; and that not only practically, through mistake, but lawfully and regularly. There are various Designs, and diversities of Operations which Man is appointed to: and hence there are divers Arts and Sciences, which he hath to guide him therein, and every Art hath its distinct End. But we are here given to understand, that Divinity or Religion hath its peculiar Glory and Preference, in that its business is to treat of Man's Chief End. That a Man may and must have Divers Ends in his Operations, appears for Two Reasons.

II. IT is Man's CHIEF End, which is here enquired after. The Question takes it for granted, that a Man may have Diverse Ends, which he proposeth to himself in his action; and that not only practically, through mistake, but lawfully and regularly. There are various Designs, and diversities of Operations which Man is appointed to: and hence there are divers Arts and Sciences, which he hath to guide him therein, and every Art hath its distinct End. But we are here given to understand, that Divinity or Religion hath its peculiar Glory and Preference, in that its business is to treat of Man's Cheif End. That a Man may and must have Divers Ends in his Operations, appears for Two Reasons.

1. Because there is many times a Subordination of Means: It is so in every Art: there being a great many Steps to be taken in the Way to that End, which is firstly and principally aimed at: Yea, Nature it self follows such an order ⟨p. 3⟩Hos. 2.21, 22. A man doth one thing for another, and that for another; and so till he rests in something, beyond which he hath no respect: which Subordination produceth manifold Ends; because that for which another thing is done, bears the respect of an End unto that which was done for it. Thus a Carpenter cuts one piece of Timber for a Groundsel, another for a Post, &c. though all be for the House. 2. BECAUSE a Man bears Divers Capacities or Relations, to which he is to refer his relative Actions, and to aim at the Discharge of them. A Man may be a Member of a Civil or Ecclesiastical Society; and he is as such, to seek the Good and Prosperity of that Society; and what he doth, as such a Member, ought to look that way. He may have the care of a Family upon him, to provide for, and discharge many Offices to; and hence must make that his End in many things which he doth: To this purpose is that of the Apostle,