^98 Tl)eWisDoM of GOD Part IL i 



we commkj being contrary to its Nature, is a 



teal Stripe, yea, a mortal Wound to the Soul j 



and we fliall find it to be fo, if our Confciences 



be once awaken'd to feel the Sting and Smart of 



it. We are induftrious enough to preferve our 



Bodies from Slavery and Thraldom, but we make 



nothing of fuffering our Souls to be Slaves and 



Drudges to our Lufts, and to live in the vileft 



Bondage to the moft degenerate of Creatures, the 



Devil. We are thrifty and provident enough, 



not to part with any thing that may be fervice- 



able to our Bodies under a good Confideration, 



and we fo efteem them as that we will part with 



all we have for the Life of them ; but we make 



little Account of what is moft beneficial to our 



Souls, the Means of Grace and Salvation, the 



Word of God, and Duties of his Worfhip and 



Service ; nay, we can be content to fell our Souls 



themfelves for a Trifle, for a thing of nothing, 



yea, for what is worfe than nothing, the fatisfy- 



ing of an inordinate and unreafonable Appetite 



or Paffion. We highly efteem and ftand much 



upon our Nobility, our Birth and Breeding, tho' 



we derive nothing from our Anceftors but our 



Bodies and corporeal Qualities ; and it is ufeful 



fo far to value and improve this Advantage, as to 



provoke us to imitate the good Examples of our 



Progenitors, not to degenerate from them, nor 



to do any thing unworthy of our Breeding ; and 



yet the divine Original of our Souls, which are 



Beams from the Father of Light, and the imme- 



I diate 



