Indeed it taketh the brutish appetite and flesh, to be an unfit Judge of what is truly good and desirable for us: And it forbiddeth much which the Flesh doth crave: Because either it tendeth to the wrong of others, or the breach of order ⟨p. 238⟩in the World;1 or to the corrupting of mans mind, and diverting it from things sublime and spiritual, or putting it out of relish with that which is our true felicity, or the way thereto. It is only on such accounts, and in such cases as these, that Christ forbiddeth us the pleasures of the flesh: And so will Parents restrain the appetites of their Children, and Physicians of their Patients, and every wise man will restrain his own,2 when present sensual pleasure tendeth to greater future pain. The satisfying delights of man can be no where but in the love of God, and in a heavenly life, and in the foresight of endless joys, and in the knowledge and means which lead to these: And the unwholesome luscious pleasures of the Flesh, do greatly tend to draw down the mind,3 and corrupt the affections, and dull our desires and endeavours towards these higher things: And therefore our Saviour doth strictlyer here diet us, than is pleasing to diseased Souls. But he loveth not our sorrows or pains, nor envieth us any desirable pleasure: He came not to torment us, but to save us from torment: If he forbid us any delight, it is because he would have us have better and more, which that would keep us from. If he teach us to deny our Honour with men, it is but that we may have Honour with God and Angels. If he call us from our present wealth and profit,4 it is but to secure our Everlasting Riches, and prevent our loss. All his Precepts are wholly fitted to our own good; though our good be not the highest ultimate end, but the Glory and Pleasure of our Maker.
Indeed it taketh the bruitish appetite and flesh, to be an unfit Judge of what is truly good and desireable for us: And it forbiddeth much which the Flesh doth crave: Because either it tendeth to the wrong of others, or the breach of order ⟨p. 238⟩in the World;1 or to the corrupting of mans minde, and diverting it from things sublime and spiritual, or putting it out of relish with that which is our true felicity, or the way thereto. It is only on such accounts, and in such cases as these, that Christ forbiddeth us the pleasures of the flesh: And so will Parents restrain the appetites of their Children, and Physicians of their Patients, and every wise man will restrain his own,2 when present sensual pleasure tendeth to greater future pain. The satisfying delights of man can be no where but in the love of God, and in a heavenly life, and in the foresight of endless joyes, and in the knowledge and means which lead to these: And the unwholsom luscious pleasures of the Flesh, do greatly tend to draw down the minde,3 and corrupt the affections, and dull our desires and endeavours towards these higher things: And therefore our Saviour doth strictlyer here dyet us, than is pleasing to diseased Souls. But he loveth not our sorrows or pains, nor envyeth us any desireable pleasure: He came not to torment us, but to save us from torment: If he forbid us any delight, it is because he would have us have better and more, which that would keep us from. If he teach us to deny our Honour with men, it is but that we may have Honour with God and Angels. If he call us from our present wealth and profit,4 it is but to secure our Everlasting Riches, and prevent our loss. All his Precepts are wholly fitted to our own good; though our good be not the highest ultimate end, but the Glory and Pleasure of our Maker.
- 1Delectatio •rdit & praeteriit, vulneravit & transiit, mise•um fecit & abiit, infoelicem reddidit, & reliquit, Ambros.
- 2Qui pro modica delecta•ione dat illud, pro quo Christus •e tradidit, stultum Christum reputat mercatorem. August.
- 3Centum decies centum annos demus deliciis? Quaenam erit ex his ad aeternitatem compensatio? Chrysost. de •epar •aps.
- 4Ipse est Christianus qui & in domo sua peregrinum se esse cognoscit. Patria nostra sursum est: ibi hospites non erimus. August. in Psal. 32.
