62 Of Natural, Moral, and Civil Liberty. S E R M. foul, nor filleth it with forboding fears ; a IIh perfe± harmony within is preferved ; all the parts of his inward frame, all its powers and affections, the fuperior and fubordinate, hold the rank which was appointed for them, and the beautiful eeconomy of nature is regularly carried on to anfwer the end of rational happinefs which its gracious Author originally defigned it for. It appeareth from this confederation, that liberty hath a neceffary connection with vir- tue, and confequently is of the greateft im- portance to the principal ends of our being; for virtue is our higheft perfection and chief good. The leaft refletion will fatisfy us, that there can be no virtue without free choice ; and it is as evident that the laws of the human conftitution direct the proper exercife of liberty to the choice of virtue. And as by the kind appointment of our bountiful Maker, the regular ufe of every power in our nature bath pleafure annexed to it, fo hath liberty ; a certain noble en- joyment arifeth in the mind from the free- dom of its virtuous elections, efpecially when confcious, as it is in this imperfect pro - bationary ftate of contrary tendencies, which, pofiefïing a juft and rational felf- dominion, it hath conquered ; and the more this felf- govern!
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