282 RUIN AND RECOVERY, &C. fbr him to make a fallible creature, and capable of some defect, though he was originallyperfect. And since he is a,God of infi- nite wisdom, he thought it very becominghis character to manió fest this infinitely various wisdom in the formation of a vast variety of ranks of being's, some of which should have higher and nobler intellectual powers, and shouldbe further out of the reach of temptation and mistake, and others of them of lower or meaner intellectual powers, and more within the danger of mis- take and temptation. Now this carries no injustice with it, pro- vided that every rank of beings has a sufficient power to guard against its dangers of mistaking, and against the assaults of the temptations to which it might be exposed. 2. Nor was it unjust in God to unite an animal body to this rational mind ; for by this union there is a rich variety of new powers arising in that creature, such as sense, appetite, passion, together with all the sensible qualities of colours, sounds, tastes, smells, &c. and the government of animal engines by a mind, all which manifest the various and astonishing riches of divine wisdom in the contriving of such a wondrous creature as man. And if it should be objected, That the mind or spirit is exposed to some temptations by reason of this union with animal nature, let it be remembered, that the innocent spirit or rational princi- ple was formed in a state of power and dominion over all the appetites and passions that arise from flesh and blood ; and had abundant capacity to resist all these temptations, while reason maintained its superior post in which it was created, and it did govern sense, appetite and passion. And besides, if there are some supposed inconveniences attending a spirit united to an animal body, so there are many certain advantages arising from it in the innocent state. The spirit is hereby made capable of tasting all the pleasures of sense, and of the more boundless power of imagination, and making use of the additional powers or organs of the animal, viz. eyes, ears, tongue, hands, &c. and all the vigorous efforts of the better passions, for the dis- charge of its duty, for the honour of its God, for the benefit of its fellow-creatures, and for the happiness of itself. 3. There could be no injustice in appointing such a creature to propagate its own kind by marriage, and to furnish it with all proper powers for that purpose i For if man continued in inno- cence, he would then enjoy all the innocent pleasures of nume- rous society, and some of those too springing from himself in every age, together with all the tender and endeared sentiments and delights of sobs and daughters, and as Milton expresses it, " Relations dear, and all the charities Of father, son and brother," which would greatly add to the happiness of his earthly state.
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