84 ATREATiSfi 



Thele groundes being thus lay ed, let us examine, whether our 

 fouie doth in this life arrive to the end fhe was ordained for , or 

 no: and if (he do not then it muft follow of necetfity, that our 

 body WiS made but for apaflage, by which our foule fhould be 

 ferried over into that ftate, where flie is to auaine unto that end 

 for which her nature is framed and fitted : the great skill, and 

 artifice ofnaturc/hewing and a/Turing us that fhe never faileth 

 of comparing her end,even in her meaneft workes: and therefore 

 without doubt wonld not breake her courfe in her greateft , 

 whereof ?<* is abfblutely the head and ehiefe., among all thofc 

 that we are acquainted with Nov.,whattheendif 3 unto which 

 our foule doth ayme,is evident; fince the perfection of every 

 thing, i s the end for which it is made , the perfection then, and 

 end of the foule b'ing evidence , and (he being capable ofinfinit 

 tvidecc;\&. us inquire, whether in this life flic may compafic it 

 or no To determine this question, let us compare infinite rv/ 

 ^wc-^tothat evidence, which the greatett and mort knowing 

 man that ever Jivedjhath acquired by the worke of nature alones 

 or to the evidence, which by aime we may imagine is poflfiblc 

 ever to happen unto any one man to arrive unto: and balancing 

 them well together let us judge whether all that any man can 

 know herejs not in refpec~l of what a mans fbule is capable oto 

 be filled as nothing , and defervech not the name of evict e nce 3 

 nor to-be accounted of that narur. : and if our fenrence do con- 

 clude upon thi5,let us acknowledge that our fbule arriveth not 

 to her perfection } nor enjoyeth her endjn this world, and there, 

 fore, muft have infaillibly an other haHitation in the next world, 

 ttntowhich nature^dorh intense R Experience teacheth us that 

 we can not fully comprehend any one of natures workes: and 

 thofe Philofophers , who in a difciplinable way fearch intona. 

 ture, (and therefore are called Xlathematiciansjafter they have 

 writren large voliirnes of Ibme very (lender fubjfdjdo ever find, 

 that rhey have lefcuntouckedanendleffe abifle of know ledge, for 

 wiiomibever n^.all pic afe to build upon cheir foundations ana that 

 they can never arrive neere faying all that maybe faid ofthat 

 fubj eel Chough they have faid never fo much ofir We may not 

 t hen make difficulty to beJeeve,th2t the wifert and learnedcft 

 men in the worid,havereafon to profefTe with the father of Phi- 

 ioibphers.thar indeed they know nothing, Antf if fo,ho\v /arare 



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