Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

2. Carnal Diversions are another Cause of slighting God's Hand. The Pleasures and Cares of the World, as they render Men inapprehensive ¹of Judgments to come, so regardless of those that are present. Some when ever they feel the Smart of a Cross, use all the Arts of Oblivion to lose the Sense of it. The Affliction instead of a leading them to Repentance, leads them to vain Conversations, to Comedies and other sinful Delights, to drive away Sorrow. Others, although they do not venture upon forbidden things to relieve their Melancholy, yet when God by sharp and sensible Admonitions calls upon them, they have ⟨p. 143⟩presently recourse to Temporal Comforts, which although lawful and innocent in themselves, yet are as unproper at that time, as the taking of a Cordial when a Vomit begins to work: for whereas Chastisements are sent to awaken and affect us, by considering our Sins in their bitter Fruits, this unseasonable Application of sensual Comforts wholly defeats God's Design. For nothing so much hinders serious Consideration as a voluptuous indulging the Senses in things pleasing; like Opiate Medicines, they stupefy the Conscience, and benumb the Heart. 'Tis Solomon's Expression, I said of Laughter, It is mad: for as Distraction breaks the Connection of the Thoughts, so Mirth shuffles our most serious Thoughts into disorder, and causes Men to pass over their Troubles without Reflection and Remorse.²

2. Carnal Diversions are another Cause of slighting God's Hand. The Pleasures and Cares of the World, as they render Men inapprehensive ¹of Judgments to come, so regardless of those that are present. Some when ever they feel the Smart of a Cross, use all the Arts of Oblivion to lose the Sense of it. The Affliction instead of a leading them to Repentance, leads them to vain Conversations, to Comedies and other sinful Delights, to drive away Sorrow. Others, altho they do not venture upon forbidden things to relieve their Melancholy, yet when God by sharp and sensible Admonitions calls upon them, they have ⟨p. 143⟩