232 Of the proper Improvement S F a M. profeffions, with a laborious external devo. X. tion ; and he (hews that none of all thefe come up to what our nature determines us ultimately to purfue, that is folid and laft-. ing happinefs, which indeed is to be defpaired of under the fun, that is, from all temporal and earthly enjoyments. What then ? fhall we abandon altogether the hope of any good, at leaft, while we are in this world ? fhall we give up ourfelves to an utter defpondency, as Solomom tells us in this book, chapter ii. 20. He caufed his heart to defpair of any good from his labour? No certainly ; there is a real and folid good which human nature is capable of even now, though but in its infancy of being ; and by a due improvement of the prefent opportu- nities, it is prepared for a greater, even a complete felicity hereafter. The fum of this is to fear God and keep his Commandments, which our author fays, is the all of man, the whole of his intereft and of his duty ; and it is not comprehended in the things under the fun, which he calls vanity. Not only fo, there are fume fentiments, a certain temper of mind and behaviour, even with refpet to thefe fublunary things, -which pre - Vents inconveniencies, temptations, and in- quietude
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=