But let us hasten to an end,1 and consider, in the last place, what success we shall be sure to meet with, in this fight, if we arm our selves with a constant resolution to continue fighting, and never, for any fear, or any cause to give over.2 First, we shall lose nothing at all, that is worth having. A man may enjoy ⟨p. 123⟩all lawful contents, profits and pleasures, and whatsoever is truly needful to the comfort and welfare of his body, mind and state; though he follow Gods direction, and mortify these members that are upon the earth: and nothing shall we get by following, feeding, and nourishing them, but that which for the present is idle, vain, needless, superfluous, and might better be spared then had; and for the time to come also, will prove mischievous and baneful. A man may see well enough without that eye, that Christ bids him pull out, and cast from him; he may well enough walk, and live, and perform all actions of life for his benefit, without that foot and hand, which our Lord doth bid us to cut off, and fling from us. If it seem to bring blindness, lameness and maimedness, it is but a conceited and imaginary lameness, blindness, and maimedness, that appeareth so to us, and is not; as he that is borne a monster with six fingers, might very well cut off one, and yet still have a perfect hand, and better for use, then that that had such superfluity of members. Adam and Eve might have filled their bellies in Paradise, though they had never come near to the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; God had provided them store of fruit to please their eye and taste, and feed their bodies, though they had utterly forborne that forbidden fruit. So doth the Lord allow to the sons of Adam, sufficient store, and variety of lawful and warrantable things to enjoy; so that we may have ⟨p. 124⟩as much good, as our souls can wish, though we cast from us all sinful lusts, and refuse to follow the inclinations of them. The inordinate affections of our soul, are like the unnatural desires of the stomach, when it longeth for things that are sour, and naught, and unwholesome, as it were for raw flesh, unripe fruit, or things far worse then these. There is wholesome and necessary food enough in he world, though a man should never eat dirt and coals, as some have longed after.
BVt let vs hasten to an end,1 and consider, in the last place, what successe we shall bee sure to meete with, in this fight, if wee arme our selues with a constant resolution to continue fighting, and neuer, for any feare, or any cause to giue ouer.2 First, we shall lose nothing at all, that is worth hauing. A man may enioy ⟨p. 123⟩all lawfull conents, profits and pleasures, and whatsoeuer is truly needfull to the comfort and welfare of his body, mind and state; though he follow Gods direction, and mortifie these members that are vpon the earth: and nothing shall we get by following, feeding, and nourishing them, but that which for the present is idle, vaine, needlesse, superfluous, and might better be spared then had; and for the time to come also, will prooue mischieuous and banefull. A man may see well enough without that eye, that Christ bids him pull out, and cast from him; he may well enough walke, and liue, and performe all actions of life for his benefit, without that foote and hand, which our Lord doth bid vs to cut off, and fling from vs. If it seeme to bring blindnesse, lamenesse and maimednesse, it is but a conceited and imaginarie lamenesse, blindnes, and maimednesse, that appeareth so to vs, and is not; as he that is borne a monster with sixe fingers, might very well cut off one, and yet still haue a perfect hand, and better for vse, then that that had such superfluitie of members. Adam and Euah might haue filled their bellies in Paradise, though they had neuer come neere to the tree of Knowledge of Good and Euill; God had prouided them store of fruit to please their eye and taste, and feed their bodies, though they had vtterly forborne that forbidden fruit. So doth the Lord allow to the sonnes of Adam, sufficient store, and varietie of lawfull and warrantable things to enioy; so that wee may haue ⟨p. 124⟩as much good, as our soules can wish, though we cast from vs all sinfull lusts, and refuse to follow the inclinations of them. The inordinate affections of our soule, are like the vnnaturall desires of the stomake, when it longeth for things that are sowre, and naught, and vnwholesome, as it were for raw flesh, vnripe fruite, or things farre worse then these. There is wholesome and necessary food enough in he world, though a man should neuer eate dirt and coles, as some haue longed after.
- 1Fourthly, from the certainty of good success.Fourthly, from the certaintie of good successe.
- 2We shall lose nothing by mortifying the flesh.
