Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

(2.) This Testimony of Scripture, Carnal Men esteem a notorious Paradox: they can taste no Pleasures but what are steeped in Sense. Take away the Enticings and Blandishments of the Carnal Appetites, they understand no other Pleasure: which is such a Deceit, as if a sick Person who feels no Pleasure but in the soft and easy Intermissions of his Disease, should conclude if he were entirely freed from it, he should be deprived of all Pleasure. Whereas the Pleasure of Health is far more desirable and constant. The Angels are absolutely ⟨p. 320⟩exempt from the Desires of our carnal Faculties, and without carnal Fruitions, but are ever blessed and joyful in the direct Possession of what is good, not in the relief from Evils either natural or accidental, as Hunger and Thirst, or Sickness and Pain.

(2.) This Testimony of Scripture, Carnal Men esteem a notorious Paradox: they can taste no Pleasures but what are steep'd in Sense. Take away the Enticings and Blandishments of the Carnal Appetites, they understand no other Pleasure: which is such a Deceit, as if a sick Person who feels no Pleasure but in the soft and easy Intermissions of his Disease, should conclude if he were entirely freed from it, he should be deprived of all Pleasure. Whereas the Pleasure of Health is far more desirable and constant. The Angels are absolutely ⟨p. 320⟩exempt from the Desires of our carnal Faculties, and without carnal Fruitions, but are ever blessed and joyful in the direct Possession of what is good, not in the relief from Evils either natural or accidental, as Hunger and Thirst, or Sickness and Pain.

Pleasure results from the suitableness between the perceptive Faculties and the Objects that affect them: if there be no harmonious Proportion, there will be no Music, no Delight. Now 'tis true, while Flesh is the prevailing Ingredient in a Man, he only relishes the Satisfactions of the Senses: he cannot enjoy God, he cannot delight in doing his Will, no more than a Swine can in clean Pasture, whose natural Property strongly inclines it to wallow in the Mire. But when the Soul is clarified and purged by the great