First, in their Quality. The things of the World, according to the judgment of God himself, who is only Wise and Good, and has the highest Authority to decide in the case, are but fallacious appearances of Happiness, mere Vanity. And certainly the Creator knows the true worth of all things, and would not disparage his own Works, but would undeceive Men that are apt to judge and choose by the Eye of Sense. The Apostle tells us, that an Idol is nothing in the World; although the matter of it may be of Gold, or Marble, or Wood, yet it has no divine Perfection which the Idolater attributes to it. So all worldly things, in which Men place their chief Care and Confidence and Joy, though they have some degrees of Goodness, and are a transient relief to us in our passage to Eternity, yet they are nothing as to perfect Felicity. 'Tis merely Opinion and Conceit that makes them so valued and pleasing, ⟨p. 209⟩like a rich Dye to a slight Stuff from whence its price arises. Reason is either obscured, or not obeyed, when the World is the Object of our Choice. Now what are these appearances of Beauty and Pleasure compared with a Blessedness that is truly infinite? Carnal Joy smiles in the Countenance, flatters the Fancy, touches the Sense, but cannot fill the Heart, but the Favour of God satisfies the Soul. Thou hast put Gladness into my Heart, more than when their Corn and Wine increased. Carnal Joy in its highest elevation in the time of the Harvest and Vintage, is incomparably less than Spiritual Joy that springs from the Light of God's Countenance. The World cannot fill the narrow capacity of our Senses, but divine Joys exceed our most enlarged comprehensive Faculties. The Eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the Ear with hearing; but the Peace of God passes all Understanding. The Things of the World are of a limited Goodness, Wisdom is not Strength, nor Learning Riches, nor Beauty Fruitfulness: But God is a Universal Good, in whom are all attractives to raise and satisfy our Desires. If Men did consider, they would distinguish ⟨p. 210⟩and despise in comparison all that is named Felicity here, with the Favour of God. To seek for satisfaction in the Creature and forsake him, is as if one desirous to see the Light should withdraw from the presence of the Sun, to borrow it from a weak Ray reflected by some obscure matter.
First, in their Quality. The things of the World, according to the judgment of God himself, who is only Wise and Good, and has the highest Authority to decide in the case, are but fallacious appearances of Happiness, meer Vanity. And certainly the Creator knows the true worth of all things, and would not disparage his own Works, but would undeceive Men that are apt to judge and choose by the Eye of Sense. The Apostle tells us, that an Idol is nothing in the World; although the matter of it may be of Gold, or Marble, or Wood, yet it has no divine Perfection which the Idolater attributes to it. So all worldly things, in which Men place their chief Care and Confidence and Joy, though they have some degrees of Goodness, and are a transient relief to us in our passage to Eternity, yet they are nothing as to perfect Felicity. 'Tis meerly Opinion and Conceit that makes them so valued and pleasing, ⟨p. 209⟩like a rich Dye to a slight Stuff from whence its price arises. Reason is either obscur'd, or not obeyed, when the World is the Object of our Choice. Now what are these appearances of Beauty and Pleasure compar'd with a Blessedness that is truly infinite? Carnal Joy smiles in the Countenance, flatters the Fancy, touches the Sense, but cannot fill the Heart, but the Favour of God satisfies the Soul. Thou hast put Gladness into my Heart, more than when their Corn and Wine increased. Carnal Joy in its highest elevation in the time of the Harvest and Vintage, is incomparably less than Spiritual Joy that springs from the Light of God's Countenance. The World cannot fill the narrow capacity of our Senses, but divine Joys exceed our most inlarged comprehensive Faculties. The Eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the Ear with hearing; but the Peace of God passes all Vnderstanding. The Things of the World are of a limited Goodness, Wisdom is not Strength, nor Learning Riches, nor Beauty Fruitfulness: But God is a Universal Good, in whom are all attractives to raise and satisfy our Desires. If Men did consider, they would distinguish ⟨p. 210⟩and despise in comparison all that is named Felicity here, with the Favour of God. To seek for satisfaction in the Creature and forsake him, is as if one desirous to see the Light should withdraw from the presence of the Sun, to borrow it from a weak Ray reflected by some obscure matter.
