A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

I may not only say, that the Good of other things is small in comparison of this, but that it is nothing at all, but as it is related unto this. This is that good that makes all things else good that are good. As they come from God, and reveal God to us, and lead us up to God, and are means to this eternal life, so they are good; but otherwise there is no goodness in them.

And therefore, seeing that Goodness is naturally the object of mans will, one would think you should quickly be resolved of your choice. Sensual good, is but a nominal good, if it reach not higher. All that you hunt after so eagerly in the world, is nothing but real vanity and vexation, a shadow of good, a picture of profit, a dream of d•••ght, which one frown of God will turn into astonishing horror and despair. Like a tender flower that is nipped with one frosty night, or withered with one scorching day; but it is only this one thing, that is the solid, substantial, and enduring good. The pleasure of the flesh is a good that is common to men with brutes; They can eat, and drink, and play, and satisfy their lusts, and master one another as well as you. But it is the spiritual good that is proper to a reasonable creature. The pleasure of the flesh may melt you into foolish mirth, and make you like drunken men, that are gallant fellows in their own eyes, while sober men are ashamed of them, or pity them, or they become a laughing-stock to others. But it is this One thing only which is that Good which wisdom it self will justify. A man that is tickled may laugh more then he that is possessed of a Kingdom, or hath the desires of his heart; but he is not therefore to be accounted ⟨p. 60⟩the happier man, nor will any wise man so account him. Oh Sirs, one would think, that to men that have read and heard what we have done, and have had that experience which we have had, these things should be plain and past all question; and that spiritual, heavenly, everlasting things should be confessed by us all to be that good part that should possess all the fervent Desires of the soul.

And therefore, seeing that Goodness is naturally the object of mans will, one would think you should quickly be resolved of your choice. Sensual good, is but a nominal good, if it reach not higher. All that you hunt after so eagerly in the world, is nothing but real vanity and vexation, a shadow of good, a picture of profit, a dream of dght, which one frown of God will turn into astonishing horrour and despair. Like a tender flowre that is nipt with one frosty night, or withered with one scorching day; but it is only this one thing, that is the solid, substantial, and enduring good. The pleasure of the flesh is a good that is common to men with brutes; They can eat, and drink, and play, and satisfie their lusts, and master one another as well as you. But it is the spiritual good that is proper to a reasonable creature. The pleasure of the flesh may melt you into foolish mirth, and make you like drunken men, that are gallant fellows in their own eyes, while sober men are ashamed of them, or pitty them, or they become a laughing-stock to others. But it is this One thing only which is that Good which wisdom it self will justifie. A man that is tickled may laugh more then he that is possessed of a Kingdom, or hath the desires of his heart; but he is not therefore to be accounted