since_o mental_a and_o bodily_a pain_n be_v not_o so_o far_o evil_a but_o that_o in_o some_o circumstance_n they_o may_v become_v eligible_a which_o yet_o they_o can_v not_o be_v without_o assume_v the_o nature_n of_o good_a and_o therefore_o they_o be_v not_o pure_a and_o absolute_a evil_n and_o further_o though_o it_o be_v easy_a in_o our_o contemplation_n and_o retirement_n to_o distinguish_v between_o great_a and_o lesser_a evil_n to_o compare_v and_o weigh_v they_o together_o and_o to_o allot_v to_o each_o its_o due_a proportion_n of_o choice_n or_o aversion_n yet_o since_o good_a and_o evil_n do_v frequent_o present_v themselves_o to_o our_o mind_n in_o common_a conversation_n and_o business_n when_o we_o have_v neither_o time_n nor_o appetite_n to_o abstract_n and_o consider_v but_o be_v determine_v by_o this_o short_a and_o obvious_a sillogism_n evil_a be_v not_o eligible_a but_o such_o a_o thing_n be_v evil_a therefore_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v choose_v whereas_o perhaps_o 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argue_v rom._n 3._o 8._o there_o be_v a_o certain_a peculiarity_n of_o evil_a in_o sin_n which_o though_o you_o will_v not_o allow_v it_o the_o only_a evil_n yet_o at_o least_o render_v it_o a_o evil_a paramount_n to_o all_o other_o evil_n and_o exclude_v it_o from_o the_o least_o degree_n of_o eligibility_n for_o though_o pain_n and_o grief_n put_v the_o soul_n into_o uneasy_a circumstance_n yet_o they_o do_v withdraw_v she_o from_o her_o true_a good_a they_o rather_o excite_v she_o more_o strong_o to_o cleave_v to_o he_o and_o that_o trouble_v which_o sensible_a thing_n occasion_n and_o which_o she_o feel_v through_o the_o disorder_n of_o her_o own_o thought_n stir_v she_o up_o to_o fix_v more_o firm_o on_o he_o who_o comfort_n in_o this_o case_n be_v she_o only_o refreshment_n whereas_o sin_n quite_o alienates_v the_o soul_n from_o her_o only_a true_a good_a and_o thereby_o deprive_v she_o of_o the_o sole_a prop_n she_o have_v to_o rest_v on_o and_o consequent_o put_v she_o in_o 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discourse_n as_o serve_v to_o lay_v its_o foundation_n deep_a and_o raise_v its_o superstructure_n high_a such_o as_o bring_v it_o fuel_n by_o rational_a motive_n and_o fan_v its_o flame_n by_o devout_a and_o relish_v expression_n do_v the_o work_n of_o religion_n all_o at_o once_o for_o be_v this_o divine_a principle_n but_o once_o firm_o root_v in_o our_o heart_n and_o suffer_v to_o display_v itself_o in_o all_o its_o necessary_a effect_n and_o consequence_n it_o will_v supercede_v all_o other_o instruction_n and_o be_v instead_o of_o a_o thousand_o monitor_n the_o love_n of_o god_n be_v both_o the_o best_a preservative_n against_o evil_n in_o its_o great_a latitude_n and_o the_o strong_a impellent_fw-fr to_o good_a it_o be_v the_o best_a antidote_n against_o sin_n in_o that_o it_o disarm_v temptation_n of_o all_o their_o force_n they_o can_v fasten_v upon_o the_o soul_n that_o entire_o love_v its_o maker_n he_o who_o believe_v god_n to_o be_v his_o only_a good_a if_o he_o attend_v at_o all_o to_o that_o conviction_n can_v never_o wilful_o sin_n against_o he_o for_o sin_n be_v a_o disconformity_n to_o god_n a_o willing_a something_o contrary_a to_o his_o nature_n and_o will_n it_o be_v not_o possible_a for_o a_o man_n to_o choose_v that_o which_o he_o believe_v to_o be_v contrary_a to_o his_o only_a good_a and_o which_o will_v therefore_o consequent_o deprive_v he_o of_o it_o and_o it_o be_v nothing_o else_o but_o the_o false_a appearance_n of_o some_o seem_a good_a that_o incline_v a_o man_n to_o choose_v amiss_o he_o who_o consider_v god_n as_o his_o only_a good_a and_o love_v he_o with_o a_o entireness_n of_o affection_n have_v shut_v up_o all_o the_o avenue_n of_o his_o soul_n from_o that_o siren_n apparent_a good_a and_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o be_v bewitch_v by_o it_o indeed_o if_o we_o allow_v the_o creature_n to_o be_v in_o any_o degree_n our_o good_a it_o be_v hard_a to_o keep_v ourselves_o from_o desire_v it_o and_o if_o we_o permit_v desire_n we_o 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pure_o and_o entire_o from_o ourselves_o the_o former_a part_n of_o this_o i_o absolute_o allow_v and_o contend_v for_o concern_v the_o latter_a i_o distinguish_v when_o you_o say_v that_o all_o our_o evil_n be_v pure_o and_o entire_o from_o ourselves_o if_o you_o mean_v of_o moral_a evil_n i_o grant_v it_o but_o if_o you_o mean_v of_o natural_a evil_n than_o i_o must_v distinguish_v again_o upon_o the_o word_n from_o ourselves_o which_o may_v signify_v either_o a_o physical_a or_o moral_a or_o if_o you_o will_v a_o efficient_a or_o a_o meritorious_a causality_n we_o be_v certain_o the_o meritorious_a cause_n of_o all_o our_o natural_a evil_n as_o bring_v they_o upon_o we_o by_o our_o sin_n but_o that_o we_o be_v the_o efficient_a cause_n of_o any_o of_o they_o i_o deny_v as_o all_o our_o good_a be_v whole_o from_o god_n so_o in_o this_o sense_n be_v also_o our_o evil_n we_o have_v not_o the_o power_n to_o modify_v our_o own_o soul_n and_o can_v no_o more_o raise_v the_o sensation_n 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distinct_a from_o it_o yet_o it_o may_v occasional_o and_o consequential_o and_o so_o may_v come_v within_o the_o enclosure_n of_o those_o thing_n that_o do_v we_o good_a you_o think_v fit_a to_o confine_v my_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n pleasure_n to_o such_o only_a as_o be_v true_o agreeable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o man_n by_o which_o i_o suppose_v you_o mean_v those_o pleasure_n which_o be_v call_v rational_a and_o intellectual_a to_o this_o i_o reply_v that_o it_o seem_v to_o i_o very_o evident_a and_o i_o think_v i_o have_v elsewhere_o make_v it_o so_o that_o god_n be_v the_o true_a cause_n of_o all_o the_o pleasure_n that_o be_v resent_v by_o man._n but_o you_o say_v you_o know_v not_o how_o it_o can_v consist_v with_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o most_o holy_a god_n that_o he_o shall_v be_v the_o author_n of_o those_o please_a sensation_n which_o wicked_a man_n feel_v in_o what_o we_o call_v sinful_a pleasure_n but_o it_o be_v your_o mistake_n to_o suppose_v that_o sensual_a pleasure_n as_o such_o be_v evil_a or_o that_o there_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n as_o a_o sinful_a pleasure_n proper_o speak_v as_o sin_n can_v be_v formal_o pleasant_a so_o neither_o can_v pleasure_n be_v formal_o sinful_a all_o pleasure_n in_o itself_o be_v simple_o good_a as_o be_v a_o real_a modification_n of_o the_o soul_n it_o be_v the_o circumstantiate_a of_o it_o that_o be_v the_o evil._n and_o of_o this_o god_n be_v not_o the_o cause_n but_o the_o sinner_n who_o rather_o than_o forego_v such_o a_o agreeable_a sensation_n will_v enjoy_v it_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n and_o in_o such_o circumstance_n as_o be_v not_o for_o his_o own_o or_o for_o the_o common_a good_a and_o therefore_o unlawful_a but_o concern_v this_o matter_n you_o may_v further_o satisfy_v yourself_o out_o of_o the_o letter_n between_o dr._n more_o and_o i_o and_o by_o read_v the_o first_o and_o second_o illustration_n m._n malebranch_n make_v upon_o his_o de_fw-fr la_fw-fr recharche_n de_fw-fr la_fw-fr verity_n where_o he_o show_v you_o that_o god_n do_v all_o that_o be_v real_a in_o the_o motion_n of_o the_o mind_n and_o in_o the_o determination_n of_o those_o motion_n without_o be_v the_o author_n of_o sin_n there_o be_v two_o other_o passage_n in_o your_o letter_n which_o i_o know_v not_o how_o to_o assent_v to_o till_o i_o better_o comprehend_v they_o one_o be_v that_o mental_a pain_n be_v the_o same_o with_o sin_n the_o other_o be_v that_o sin_n be_v the_o only_a true_a evil_n of_o man._n i_o can_v stay_v long_o upon_o these_o but_o as_o to_o the_o first_o beside_o that_o sin_n be_v a_o act_n and_o pain_v a_o passion_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o that_o pain_n be_v a_o real_a modification_n of_o our_o spirit_n whereas_o sin_n in_o its_o formality_n be_v not_o any_o thing_n positive_a but_o a_o mere_a privation_n i_o say_v beside_o this_o if_o mental_a pain_n be_v the_o same_o with_o sin_n how_o shall_v we_o distinguish_v sin_n from_o the_o punishment_n of_o it_o and_o how_o shall_v a_o man_n repent_v for_o his_o sin_n for_o if_o mental_a pain_n be_v the_o same_o with_o sin_n then_o to_o be_v sorry_a for_o one_o sin_n will_v be_v to_o commit_v another_o then_o as_o to_o the_o other_o part_v that_o sin_n be_v the_o only_a evil_n of_o man_n i_o grant_v it_o be_v the_o great_a but_o i_o can_v think_v it_o the_o only_a one_o for_o beside_o that_o mental_a pain_n be_v as_o i_o have_v show_v a_o evil_a distinct_a from_o it_o there_o be_v also_o a_o thing_n call_v bodily_a pain_n which_o i_o have_v also_o show_v to_o be_v a_o evil._n now_o madam_n as_o to_o what_o you_o request_v of_o i_o in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o your_o letter_n if_o you_o think_v that_o distinction_n of_o i_o of_o seek_v creature_n for_o our_o good_a but_o not_o love_v they_o as_o our_o good_a too_o nice_a i_o further_o illustrate_v it_o thus_o you_o be_v to_o distinguish_v between_o the_o movement_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o those_o of_o the_o body_n the_o movement_n of_o the_o soul_n ought_v not_o to_o tend_v but_o towards_o he_o who_o only_o be_v above_o she_o and_o only_o able_a to_o act_v in_o she_o but_o the_o movement_n of_o the_o body_n may_v be_v determine_v by_o those_o object_n which_o environ_v it_o and_o so_o by_o those_o movement_n we_o may_v unite_v ourselves_o to_o those_o thing_n which_o be_v the_o natural_a or_o occasional_a cause_n of_o our_o pleasure_n thus_o because_o we_o find_v pleasure_n from_o the_o fire_n this_o be_v warrant_n enough_o to_o approach_v it_o by_o a_o bodily_a movement_n but_o we_o must_v not_o therefore_o love_v it_o for_o love_n be_v a_o movement_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o that_o we_o be_v to_o reserve_v for_o he_o who_o be_v the_o true_a cause_n of_o that_o pleasure_n which_o we_o resent_v by_o occasion_n of_o the_o fire_n who_o as_o i_o have_v prove_v be_v no_o other_o than_o god._n by_o which_o you_o may_v plain_o perceive_v what_o it_o be_v i_o mean_v by_o say_v that_o creature_n may_v be_v seek_v for_o our_o good_a but_o not_o love_v as_o our_o good_n but_o after_o all_o i_o must_v needs_o acknowledge_v that_o this_o as_o all_o our_o other_o duty_n be_v more_o intelligible_a than_o practicable_a though_o to_o render_v it_o so_o i_o know_v no_o other_o way_n than_o by_o long_a and_o constant_a meditation_n to_o free_v our_o mind_n of_o that_o early_a prejudice_n that_o sensible_a object_n do_v act_n upon_o our_o spirit_n and_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o our_o sensation_n careful_o to_o distinguish_v between_o a_o efficient_a cause_n strict_o so_o call_v and_o a_o occasion_n to_o attribute_v to_o god_n and_o the_o creature_n their_o proper_a part_n in_o the_o production_n of_o our_o pleasure_n to_o bring_v ourselves_o to_o a_o clear_a perception_n and_o habitual_a remembrance_n of_o this_o grand_a truth_n the_o foundation_n of_o all_o morality_n that_o god_n only_o be_v the_o true_a cause_n of_o all_o our_o good_a which_o when_o full_o convince_v of_o we_o shall_v no_o long_o question_n whether_o he_o ought_v to_o be_v the_o only_a object_n of_o our_o love_n i_o be_o madam_n with_o great_a respect_n your_o humble_a servant_n j._n norris_n bemerton_n nou._n 13._o 1693._o if_o you_o be_v satisfy_v thus_o far_o i_o will_v desire_v you_o to_o go_v on_o to_o communicate_v what_o other_o thought_n you_o have_v concern_v the_o love_n of_o god_n for_o it_o be_v a_o subject_a i_o like_v and_o will_v willing_o pursue_v to_o the_o utmost_a letter_n v._o to_o mr._n norris_n sir_n so_o candid_a and_o condiscend_v a_o treatment_n of_o a_o stranger_n a_o woman_n and_o so_o inconsiderable_a a_o one_o as_o myself_o show_v you_o to_o be_v as_o much_o above_o the_o generality_n of_o the_o world_n in_o your_o practice_n as_o you_o be_v in_o your_o theory_n and_o
speculation_n hitherto_o i_o have_v court_v truth_n with_o a_o kind_n of_o romantic_a passion_n in_o spite_n of_o all_o difficulty_n and_o discouragement_n for_o knowledge_n be_v think_v so_o unnecessary_a a_o accomplishment_n for_o a_o woman_n that_o few_o will_v give_v themselves_o the_o trouble_n to_o assist_v they_o in_o the_o attainment_n of_o it_o not_o consider_v that_o the_o meliorate_n of_o one_o single_a soul_n be_v a_o employment_n more_o worthy_a of_o a_o wife_n man_n than_o most_o of_o those_o thing_n to_o which_o custom_n appropriate_v the_o name_n of_o business_n and_o affair_n but_o now_o since_o you_o have_v so_o generous_o put_v into_o my_o hand_n a_o opportunity_n of_o obtain_v what_o i_o so_o greedy_o long_a after_o that_o i_o may_v make_v the_o best_a improvement_n of_o so_o great_a a_o advantage_n i_o give_v up_o myself_o entire_o to_o your_o conduct_n so_o far_o as_o be_v consistent_a with_o a_o rational_a not_o blind_a obedience_n bring_v a_o free_a and_o 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innocence_n so_o it_o make_v the_o best_a provision_n for_o our_o pleasure_n the_o soul_n of_o man_n may_v as_o well_o cease_v to_o be_v as_o cease_v to_o love_v something_o or_o other_o it_o must_v desire_v but_o so_o long_o as_o it_o move_v towards_o the_o creature_n it_o may_v amuse_v its_o crave_n but_o can_v never_o satisfy_v they_o how_o often_o will_v the_o object_n of_o our_o love_n be_v want_v how_o often_o will_v the_o object_n of_o our_o love_n be_v want_v how_o often_o will_v they_o be_v unkind_a and_o suppose_v they_o as_o present_v and_o as_o kind_a as_o we_o can_v wish_v they_o shall_v we_o not_o be_v as_o sick_a of_o our_o fruition_n as_o we_o be_v of_o our_o desire_n for_o what_o be_v there_o in_o the_o creature_n but_o emptiness_n vanity_n and_o vexation_n but_o the_o object_n of_o divine_a love_n be_v always_o essential_o present_a nothing_o can_v hide_v he_o from_o we_o but_o our_o own_o neglect_n if_o we_o do_v but_o fix_v the_o eye_n of_o our_o understanding_n 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can_v not_o hurt_v we_o final_o to_o what_o height_n of_o piety_n will_v not_o this_o divine_a principle_n elevate_v the_o amorous_a soul_n for_o what_o can_v be_v too_o difficult_a to_o do_v to_o acquire_v a_o more_o perfect_a enjoyment_n of_o what_o we_o love_v what_o can_v be_v too_o hard_a to_o suffer_v for_o the_o sake_n of_o that_o object_n that_o have_v win_v our_o heart_n it_o be_v nothing_o else_o that_o cramp_n our_o endeavour_n and_o slacken_v our_o industry_n after_o one_o of_o the_o bright_a crown_n of_o glory_n but_o the_o divide_v our_o love_n between_o god_n and_o mammon_n if_o a_o foolish_a ill-grounded_a passion_n can_v many_o time_n excite_v the_o soul_n in_o which_o it_o dwell_v to_o do_v thing_n beyond_o itself_o if_o the_o love_n of_o dirty_a clay_n or_o popular_a breath_n can_v reconcile_v we_o to_o fatigue_n and_o distress_n and_o many_o thing_n very_o uneasy_a to_o our_o animal_n nature_n shall_v not_o the_o most_o rational_a and_o become_a love_n that_o love_n which_o be_v the_o end_n and_o perfection_n of_o our_o being_n which_o be_v secure_v from_o disappointment_n jealousy_n and_o all_o that_o long_a train_n of_o pain_n and_o grief_n which_o attend_v desire_n when_o it_o move_v towards_o the_o creature_n set_v we_o above_o all_o difficulty_n render_v our_o obedience_n regular_a constant_a and_o vigorous_a refine_v and_o sublimate_v our_o nature_n and_o make_v we_o become_v angel_n even_o whilst_o we_o dwell_v on_o earth_n in_o the_o last_o place_n for_o the_o proposal_n i_o be_o to_o make_v when_o you_o think_v we_o have_v sufficient_o examine_v the_o subject_a we_o be_v upon_o i_o desire_v the_o favour_n of_o you_o to_o furnish_v i_o with_o such_o a_o system_fw-la of_o principle_n as_o i_o may_v rely_v on_o and_o to_o give_v i_o such_o rule_n as_o you_o judge_v most_o convenient_a to_o initiate_v a_o raw_a disciple_n in_o the_o study_n of_o philosophy_n least_o for_o want_n of_o lay_v a_o good_a foundation_n i_o give_v you_o too_o much_o trouble_v by_o draw_v conclusion_n from_o false_a premise_n and_o make_v use_n of_o improper_a term_n i_o have_v no_o more_o to_o add_v but_o my_o repeat_v thanks_o for_o that_o great_a condescension_n you_o continue_v to_o show_v to_o worthy_a sir_n your_o most_o oblige_a and_o humble_a servant_n december_n 12._o 1693._o letter_n vi_o mr._n norris_n answer_n madam_n it_o deserve_v neither_o your_o thanks_o nor_o your_o admiration_n that_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o be_v particular_o civil_a to_o a_o person_n of_o your_o extraordinary_a worth_n and_o accomplishment_n which_o indeed_o appear_v so_o great_a and_o so_o beyond_o what_o i_o ever_o yet_o find_v or_o can_v imagine_v as_o at_o the_o same_o time_n to_o command_v and_o lessen_v the_o high_a respect_n and_o deference_n that_o can_v be_v show_v to_o you_o your_o hypothesis_n as_o you_o now_o explain_v and_o rectify_v it_o run_v clear_a and_o unperplext_v and_o have_v nothing_o in_o it_o but_o what_o equitable_o understand_v 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