312 The Evil and Folly of Co evetoufnefs. SE R M. pronounceth all to be vanity and vexation of XI. fpirit. To Phew that life, that is, as we are -v-,.r now confidering it, the enjoyment of life, doth not confift in thefe gratifications, nor confequently in riches whereby they are ac- quired, we may obferve, firft, that there are far more effential and important pleafures which the human nature is capable of, even in it's prefent ftate, namely, thofe of religion and virtue, in comparifon of which the other may be juftly reckoned what Solomon calleth them, Vanity; I fay, the pleafures which accompany and arife from religious virtue are far more ef. fential, for they are infeparable from the mind while its natural powets and capacities remain ; they depend upon itfelf, not upon any thing which is external and accidental: No man, whatever his condition be, can without inter- ruption entertain himfelf with fine fights, de- lightful founds, or any thing of a like nature ; an indifpofition of body or of mind, or an im- pediment from outward circumftances may happen which may put it wholly out of his power : But as there is a vaftly fuperior delight in the contemplation of beautiful moral cha- raders and a &ions, and more eîpecially in a confcioufnefs of virtuous' difpofitions in the mind itfelf, this is liable to no interruption ; whenever we turn our thoughts towards it, 3 it
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