A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

(2) We are to observe here, that John discoursing of worldly goods, as the fuel of our Lust, expresseth the things themselves by the lust in us. He saith not Pleasures, Riches, Honours, though these be the things he means; but the Lust of these things; because the poison and evil of these things comes not from the things themselves, but from our lusts, that run into, and live upon them, as our last end and choicest good. And in this sense, saith John, they are not of the Father, but of the World. i. e. God never made or appointed these inferior goods to be our last end, chiefest Good, or matter of fruition and satisfaction; no, it is the Lusts of worldly men that have put this Crown upon the Heads of Pleasures, profits, preferments, &c. Hence it naturally follows that all love to these lower goods, for themselves, as our Last end and chiefest Good, is but Concupiscence or inordinate Lust. For indeed what is Lust, but desire to, or fruition of the Creature for it self? (3) We are to consider likewise the Distribution, which John here makes, of all that is in the world, into the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the eyes, and the pride of Life. This, as they say, is the worldly man's Trinity which he doth so much Idolize and Adore.^(a) Philo the Jew, who was greatly versed as well in the Grecian as Judaic learning, makes all evil to consist, in rhe Lust of Pleasures, Riches, or Glory, which seems to answer to John's Distribution here. For by the Lust of the flesh is usually understood Pleasures, By the Lust of the Eyes, Riches; and by the Pride of Life, Vain Glory, or Honours. We shall treat concisely of each, as the Fuel of Worldly Love.

(2) We are to observe here, that John discoursing of worldly goods, as the fuel of our Lust, expresseth the things themselves by the lust in us. He saith not Pleasures, Riches, Honours, though these be the things he means; but the Lust of these things; because the poison and evil of these things comes not from the things themselves, but from our lusts, that run into, and live upon them, as our last end and choicest good. And in this sense, saith John, they are not of the Father, but of the World. i. e. God never made or appointed these inferiour goods to be our last end, chiefest Good, or matter of fruition and satisfaction; no, it is the Lusts of worldly men that have put this Crown upon the Heads of Pleasures, profits, preferments, &c. Hence it naturally follows that all love to these lower goods, for themselves, as our Last end and chiefest Good, is but Concupiscence or inordinate Lust. For indeed what is Lust, but desire to, or fruition of the Creature for it self? (3) We are to consider likewise the Distribution, which John here makes, of all that is in the world, into the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the eyes, and the pride of Life. This, as they say, is the worldly man's Trinity which he doth so much Idolize and Adore.