And among how few is the sin of flesh-pleasing sensuality mortified? abundance take no notice of it, because it is hid, and can be daily exercised in a less disgraceful way. If they be rich, they can enjoy that which is their own; and they can cleanlily do as Dives did, Luke 16. and take their good things here. Having enough laid up for many years, they think they may take their case, and eat, drink, and be merry, without rebuke, Luke 12.19, 10. They that are the most zealous in strict opinions, and modes of Worship, can live as Sodom did, in pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness, and use meat for their lusts, and make provision for the flesh, to satisfy those lusts, and yet never seem to themselves, nor those about them to offend; much less to do any thing that is grossly evil, Ezek 16.49. Psal. 78.18, 30. Rom. 13 13, 14. They drink not till they are drunk, they eat not more in quantity than others; they labour as far as need compels them; and this they think is very tolerable. And because the Papists have turned the just subduing of the flesh, into hurtful austerities, or formal mockeries, therefore they are the more hardened in their flesh pleasing way. They take but that which they love, and that which is their own, and then they think that the fault is not great: and what Christ meant by Dives his being clothed in purple and silk, and faring sumptuously every day, they never truly understood: Nor yet what he meaneth by the poor in spirit, Matth. 5.3. which is not (at least only or chiefly) a sense of the want of grace, but a spirit suited to a life of poverty, contrary to the love of money, and of fullness, and luxury, and pride: When we are content with necessaries, and eat and drink for health more than for pleasure, or for that pleasure only which doth conduce to health: and when we will be at no needless superfluous cost upon the […], but •h•se ⟨p. 407⟩the cheapest food and raiment which is sufficient to our lawful ends; and use not our appetites, and sense, and fantasy to such delight and satisfaction as either increaseth lust, or corrupteth the mind, and hindereth it from spiritual duties and delights, by hurtful delectation or diversion: nor bestow that upon our selves, which the poor about us need to supply their great necessities. This is to be poor in spirit;
And among how few is the sin of flesh-pleasing sensuality mortified? abundance take no notice of it, because it is hid, and can be daily exercised in a less disgraceful way. If they be rich, they can enjoy that which is their own; and they can cleanlily do as Dives did, Luke 16. and take their good things here. Having enough laid up for many years, they think they may take their case, and eat, drink, and be merry, without rebuke, Luke 12.19, 10. They that are the most zealous in strict opinions, and modes of Worship, can live as Sodom did, in pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness, and use meat for their lusts, and make provision for the flesh, to satisfie those lusts, and yet never seem to themselves, nor those about them to offend; much less to do any thing that is grosly evil, Ez•k 16.49. Psal. 78.18, 30. Rom. 13 13, 14. They drink not till they are drunk, they eat not more in quantity than others; they labour as far as need compels them; and this they think is very tollerable. And because the Papists have turned the just subduing of the flesh, into hurtful austerities, or formal mockeries, therefore they are the more hardened in their flesh pleasing way. They take but that which they love, and that which is their own, and then they think that the fault is not great: and what Christ meant by Dives his being cloathed in purple and silk, and faring sumptuously every day, they never truly understood: Nor yet what he meaneth by the poor in spirit, Matth. 5.3. which is not (at least only or chiefly) a sense of the want of grace, but a spirit suited to a life of poverty, contrary to the love of money, and of fulness, and luxury, and pride: When we are content with necessaries, and eat and drink for health more than for pleasure, or for that pleasure only which doth conduce to health: and when we will be at no needless superfluous cost upon the 〈…〉, but •h•se ⟨p. 407⟩the cheapest food and rayment which is sufficient to our lawful ends; and use not our appetites, and sense, and fantasie to such delight and satisfaction as either increaseth lust, or corrupteth the mind, and hindereth it from spiritual duties and delights, by hurtful delectation or diversion: nor bestow that upon our selves, which the poor about us need to supply their great necessities. This is to be poor in spirit;
