66 Cbriftiati Religion proved by Reafon. ~ troub:es. Who can difputefelicity with that perfon who is upon certain grounds perChap· 2. [waded that notbh~gj/MII feparate him from the Love of God? Nay that the worfi evils he ~ fuffers promote hiS fuprcamhappinels. For the allliCtions that befal a Chrifitan upon the account of Religion, render him more dear to God : And thofe that are the effell:s of his Sins, if humbly fi1bmirred to, and improved for holy ends, confirm his Faith in the Divine Mercy. The Gofpet is that Paradifc wherein the Tree of Life is, wbofe leaves are fOr the hea ling the Nations. 4· Chriflian Relig ion promiies for the reward of Obedience a Blelfednefs mofi becoming the glorious goodncf' of God to befiow, and the reafonable Crea ture to defire; that is, the perfdtion and fatisfaCtionof his moO: noble Faculties, .in the Clear vifion and fu ll mjoymrnt of God himfelf in a perfell: eterna l fiate. The Hea thens wretched ly mtfiook in thei r opinions about the ]aft end of Man. There is a fecret in((ind: in the humane nature towards a fel icity fuitable to rhe more excellent and divine part, bur fiiHed under darknefs and concupifcence, that is become a fecond nature. R.ea fon is milled by Senfe after the fickle appearances, the decoitful vanifhing colours_ of Good. And th1s is acerta in indkarion that Man is falkn from the degree ?f his Onginal PerfeCtion. For_ if it had bc<.n never corrupted, he flwuld enjoy wttll afiurance_ true an<l comple~t happmefs: l f he had been 3\ways corrupted, there would_ be no gllmmeri n~ l detl o~ Cll_l happi.ne ~s above_ wh~t this prefe~t World affords, no ire ma- ~~~J~:':;~Ji/~~rneJ,h~n~se~!~~~Jt~h~~ ~~ ~[~r}o~nt~;ine1;ai~ t~1 1~n~~~j~~:J v:~~;f~~ The Phi'ofophers tbcmfelves .are exrrean:Iy divided_, a~d mirlaken in this main point. TLis was indeed the Marlcr-pwce for whJCh all their PhJ!ofophy was defign'd, and their pretences to make this difcovery gave them replltation. From all parts fame came ro Atbeus, as the Univufal Mart, to be furnifhed with ftlicity. From hence fprung the var iety of Sells a~1ong thrm: By this Livery they were difiinguifh't. For Philofophy being the rule of L1 fe, IS fpec1fied by the end to whJCh 1t leads. From hencearofe thetrOmrp contentions, every Sea: being concern'd to defend their Pal/adi111J1. And as the Wa fps tly 1 about with noife, and Oing thofe who provoke them, and make combs like Bees, but without Wax or Honey: Thus the Philofopl1ers were fuJJ of Glorious Prefumptions, were vehement againft Diffimters, and had the appearances Or \Vifdom, but affo rded no certain light to di reCI: the Mind, no Heavenly motives to allure the Will. They were not competent nor fincere fearchers after true Happinefs. For, 1. The Darknefs wherein all Men are born, involved them, and without fupernatural Light could not be difpell "d. 2. They wue ambitious of fuperiori ty: Every great Spirit was defirous to raife a Sect, to aCt the pa rt of a King in the Scene of Famo. Now by propound ing a new Objcll: as the blelfednefs of Man, t l: ey had the reputation of Sovereign Maflers. 3· They drew a PiCture of Happinefs e''ery one according to their diffi.·rent conceptions and deGres. Epiatr11< fet up the pl eafure of Senft·, as the chief Objell:. And that ReafOn might be fl ex ible to his inclinatiom, that his 1\ofes might .have no Prickles, ro ' p·tvent any melancholly reflell:ions. afi-~r carnal Enjoyments , he demed rhe Divine Providence, and the FmureState. T1s f.:1 1d by fame in his f:.tvom, that he intended a calm and peaceful Temper of Mind, a Fe licity refin"d from the dregs of Senfuality. For th is they alledge Epic11n11 himfelf d epr~cia ti~g Carnal Plealures, and exto ling Vertue as the great compofer of theSou!. Bnt m vam they wa{b this volnpruous Swi ne : For, 1. ThofL: SentencesOfa more noble and g<:'nerous 11rain, might, as fla ihcs of Lightning from a b~ack C!oud, break forth of his Confcicnce in the midi\ of the darknefs that cover' cl ir, ye::r f~nfe mighL be his predominant Principle. 2. He was a crafty Spirit, and made Ule of fame beautiful exprefiions to lelfen the ho~ ror that his DoCtrine, nakedly propofed, would caufe in fober Perfons. Sometimes he fpeaks with a grave Air as a Philo.opher, That true Happinefs conGfis in the Pl eafures of the Mind . At other times, That there is no folid Happinefs bur what might be tafled and enjoyed by the Se 11 fes. He was a Poli tician, and would not fcandalize the ftvere, nor alienate the dilfolme fi·om him. 11 T.t!lj obferves that the fecrets of h is &hool, the pernicious lelfonsof fen fuali ty were not communicated to all : But thofe who had intimate converfation with him, had a free indu lgenccfortheir lufis. . Arijlotle places Happinefs in all the Perfell:ions of the Body and Mind, with the confluence of all Externa l things as necelfarylngred ienrs of it. But th is only refpeas Man m the pn-fem fbte in rbe World : And were his Opinion tme, yet his defcnption would caufe D efpair of obta ining that Happinefs. For how could any fingle Perfon expeLt an intire Union of all fuch perfell:wns in himfelf as are not to be found in all Mm together? The
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