Religion & morality > Human nature in its fourfold state

The Explication of the Text. j q
die two preceding verfes, Solomon reprefsnts liimfelf
as in quefl. ot good at fs in the world : hut the ilTue of
it was, lie could find no fatisfying iffue in his fearch
after it; though it was not for want of pains ; for he
counted one by one to find out the account. Behold
this have l found, i faith the Preacher'—to wit, that
(as the tame word is read in our text,) yet nsy foul
feckcthi hut I find not. He could make no fatisfying
difeovery of it, which might ftay his inquiry. He
found good men very rare, one as it were among a
i thoufand ; good women more rare, not one good among
Ids thoufand wives and concubines, 2 Kings xi. 3.
■|But could that fatisfy the grand query, WhereJhutl
«iL'iJdom be found? No, it could not ; (and if the expe-
; nence of others in this point, run counter to 'Solomon’s
|as ’tis no refieOion on his difeerning, it can as little de¬
cade the queftion ; which will remain undetermined till
lithe la ft day.) But, amidft all this uncertainty, there is
rone point found ouc, and fixed : This have l found. Ye
iimay depend upon it ns a moft certain truth, and be fully
Satisfied in it: La, this; fix your eyes upon it, as a
matter worthy of moft deep and lerlous regard ; to
;\vit, that man s nature is now depiaved, but that dep¬
ravation was not from God, for he made man tiprijht-;
ut for themfelves, they have fought out many invent¬
ions.
Doctrj-ne, God made man altogether righteous.
'PT^HIS is that ftate of innocence in which God fet
- _8_ man down in the world. ’Tis deferibed in the
jlioly feriptures, with a running pen, in conftparifon of
ll-he following (fates ; for it was of no continuance, but
rafted as a flying ftiadow, by man’s abufing the freedom
af his own will. I flrall,
First, Inquire into the righteoufnefs cf this ftate
Therein man was created.
Secondly, Lay before you fome of the happy con
omitants, and confeciuents thereof.
Lastly, Apply the whole.
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