The four last things viz. death, judgment, heaven, hell, practically considered and applied in…

To this I answer;

'Tis true, the humane Nature in this depraved State, only relishes such Objects as pleasantly insinuate with the Carnal Senses, and 'tis bitter as Death to bind up the Affections from them. But Grace gives a new divine Nature to the Soul, and makes it easy to abstain from fleshly Lusts. To make this more clear by a sensible Instance: Suppose a diseased Person, whose Stomach is oppressed with corrupt Humours, and his Throat and Mouth so heated with Choler and continual Thirst, that he thinks it impossible, though for his Life, to abstain from immoderate Drinking. If a Physician by some powerful Medicine cleanses the Stomach, and tempers the internal Heat, he then can easily restrain himself from ⟨p. 479⟩Excess. Thus a Carnal Man that is full of false Estimations, and irregular Desires, while there are Pleasures without, and Passions unsubdued within, though his Salvation depends on it, thinks it impossible to restrain the exorbitant Appetites of Flesh and Blood. The Gentiles thought it strange Christians did not run with them to the same excess of Riot. But divine Grace so clarifies and enlightens the Mind, so purifies and elevates the Affections, that 'tis not only possible but easy to abstain from unlawful Pleasures. St. Austin before his Conversion was astonished, that many in the vigour of Youth, and in a frail World lived Chastely; and reflecting upon himself, was encouraged by this Thought, that which such and such observe, why shall it be impossible to me to observe? and upon serious trial, by the prosperous influence of Heaven, was a Conqueror over all carnal Temptations. Nay after his holy Change,¹ the withholding his Heart from vicious Delights, was inexpressibly more sweet than his former enjoying of them. And are there not many visible examples of holy heavenly Christians, to whom grosser sensual ⟨p. 480⟩Pleasures are unsavoury and contemptible? You may as well tell the number of the Stars, as of those who have practised Religion in its strictness and purity, and by their enlightened Conversations directed us in the way to Heaven. And are their Bodies taken from the Vein of a Rock, and not composed of Flesh and Blood as well as others? Are their Passions, like Solomon's brazen Sea, unmoveable by any Winds of Temptations? Are they entirely exempted from the impression of Objects, and the lower Affections?