302 The Evil and Folly of Coveloufi2 f . SERA/. their affections. One is wholly devoted to XI. fenfual gratifications; another, indeed, mak- eth the heaping up wealth the main bufinefs of life ; and fome are entirely governed by reftlefs ambition and a loft of power; ftill however this is a point upon which we mutt allow ourfelves to reafon, for to be blindly led by the mere impulfe of the inclination which happeneth to be uppermoft without examining it, is a conduct in which we can never be juftified to our own minds, nor con-. fequently enjoy a lafting and folid fatisfaction; becauie reafon and confcience, if they have no other (hare in our councils, will at leaft give us a continual uneafinefs in following the courfe which they do not approve. But may it not be taken for granted, fnce none of us will pretend to difpute it; and to prove it would be too large an undertaking for my prefent defign, that the principal cha- raders of the human life being, that it is ra- tional and moral, the proper ends of it are filch as thefe characters direct ; to improve the fuperior powers of nature, and carry them to their juft meafure of perfecion, to enlarge the underftanding, and We reafon aright, bringing the appetites in fubjection to it, to cultivate the benevolent and devout affe Lions, and thus by preferving an inward harmon y
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