-- The Gofpel a Law of Liberty. 25 higher capacities and made him for nobler S ER M ends, has given him fuitable liberty, a power II. of purfuing thofe ends by the light of his larger underflanding, of comparing a great variety of motives to adlion, and making a choice upon the comparifon. Every one feels him - felf poffefs'd of this privilege and rejoices in it ; without it we cannot well conceive how we fhould have any tafle for happinefs ; this, at leaf}, is certain, that the higheff, and the greateft variety of our enjoyments fpring from our adding voluntarily. But it is in its own nature capable of being abufed ; a liberty of doing right, is, in us at leaf}, accompanied with a liberty of doing wrong ; and if we may freely purfue our own happinefs, we may alfo freely make ourfelves unhappy, which indeed is the cafe of very many ; not that they have any fuch expre.fs intention, for it's impoflible any intelligent being fhould not defire its own good, but thro' miflake, and inadvertency, and corrupt prejudices, they are led into wrong meafures. Nay, very often fo it is, that thro' a fupine indolence, negledling to ufe and to improve thofe powers which ought to diredi the exercife of their liberty, and giving up themfelves habitually to be concluded by the lower fpring of adlion in human nature, by appetites and pafions, men lofe in a great meafure,
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