to The Life oJG.QD and original, having God for its author, and being wrought in the' fouls of n1en by the power of his Holy Spirit; but alfo in regard of its nature, religion being a re– femblance of the divine p.erfecrions, the i1nage of the Almighty fhining in the foul ofman: nay it is a real participation of his nature; it is a beam of the eternal light, a drop of that infinite ocean of goodnefs, and they who are endued with it, may be faid to have God dwelli1zg in their fouls, and Chrifl .(on11ed within them. Before I dcfcend to a more particular confiderat~on of the divine life wherein true religion cloth confifr, it will perhaps - be fit to fpeak a little of that What thena1 · ·Il'f' I · h turallife is. natura or antma 1 e w 11c pre- _,.. vails in-thofe who are frrangers to the other. And by this I underfland nothing elfe, but our inclination and pro– penfion towards thofe things which are pleafing and acceptable to nature; or [elf– love ifiuing forth and fpreading itfelf into as n1any branches as men have feveral ap– petites and inclinations. The root and foundation of the animal life I reckon to be fenje, taking it largely, as it is oppofed unto faith, and importeth our . perception and fenfation of things that are either grate– ful or troublefome to us. Now, thefe animal .
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