8. When, therefore, you are guilty of any _folly_ or _extravagance_, or indulge any _vain_ temper, don’t consider it as a small matter; but consider it as it is, acting _contrary_ to your _nature_; and then you will see that there is nothing _small_ that is _unreasonable_, because all unreasonable ways are contrary to the nature of all rational beings. The infirmities of human life make such _food_ and _raiment_ necessary for us as _angels_ do not want; but it is no more allowable for us to turn these necessities into _follies_, and indulge ourselves in the luxury of _food_, or the vanities of _dress_, than it is allowable for _angels_ to act below the dignity of their proper state. For a reasonable life, is as much the duty of all _men_, as it is the duty of all _angels_. These are not _speculative_ flights, but plain and _undeniable laws_, that are founded in the _nature_ of rational beings, who, as such, are obliged to live by reason, and glorify God by a continual right use of their several talents. So that tho’ men are not _angels_; yet they may know by what rules men are to act, by considering the state of angels. Our blessed Saviour has plainly turned our thoughts this way, by making this petition, _Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven_. A plain proof, that the obedience of _men_ is to imitate the obedience of _angels_; and that rational beings on earth are to live unto God, as rational beings in heaven live unto him. 9. When, therefore, you would represent to your mind how Christians ought to live unto God, and by what degrees of wisdom and holiness they ought to use the things of this life, you must not look at the world; but you must look up to the society of angels, and think what wisdom and holiness is fit to prepare you for such a state of glory. You must look to all the _highest precepts_ of the gospel; you must examine yourself by the _Spirit_ of Christ; you must think how _departed souls_ would live, if they were again to act the short part of human life; and what degrees of wisdom and holiness you will wish for when you are leaving the world. 10. And as Christianity consecrates all _states_ and _employments_ to God, as it requires us to aspire after universal obedience, doing and using every thing as the servants of God; so are we more especially obliged to observe this exactness in the use of our _estates_ and _fortunes_. The reason is plain, if we only consider, that our _estate_ is as much the gift of God, as our _eyes_, or our _hands_, and is no more to be buried, or thrown away at pleasure, than we are to pull out our eyes, or throw away our limbs. But besides this consideration, there are several other important reasons why we should be exact in the use of our estates.