Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.4

Of Natural, Moral, and Civil Liberty, 75 which are the belt purpofes, having an in- S E R Nr. feparable conne&ion with virtue and our III. higheft happinefs ; there is another branch of liberty which belongeth to us as ratio- nal beings, though not of equal moment with the former, yet very con fiderable, as being of immediate neceffity and importance to the purpofes of our prefent flate. Tho' the moral capacity of the human nature is its principal glory, which doth not Thine out here in its greateft luflre, nor can arrive at its full perfelion, its brighteft appearance and flufhed improvements, being referved to another Rage, where approaching nearer to the great original, and feeing him as he is, it (hall be formed to a more compleat re, femblance of his reltitude and goodnefs; yet man, confidered even as a rational and focial creature in this world, holdeth a rank of great eminence ; he is the chief inhabi- tant of the earth, with vifible marks of fu- periority over other animals ; he aEleth in a larger fphere, hath nobler enjoyments, and in all refpedts is a more illuftrious monu- ment of his creator's wifdom and bounty; Nov, for acing the part which becometh us in this lower capacity, in the purfuit of thefe inferior interefls, which every man findeth himfelf engaged by the inftinds of his

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