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

I Have proved beyond all reasonable contradiction that Holiness is the Safe, the Honest, the Profitable and the Honourable state and course: But my hardest task is yet to be done; and that is, to prove it the most Pleasant way. And the difficulty of this is not at all from the matter, but from the persons with whom I have to do. For nothing is Pleasant unto men, but what is suitable to their natures, and apprehended by them to be for their good, or in it self more excellent then their good. That is Pleasant to one man that is loathsome to another. As the food and converse is delightful to a beast, that is loathsome and as •ad as death to man: So one mans Pleasure is another's Pain. Even about the common matters of this life, variety of complexions, educations, customs, dispositions, doth cause a variety of affections; the difference between the sanctified and unsanctified, the spiritual and the carnal mind, doth cause a greater contrariety. If therefore the error of wicked minds, or the distemper of your souls, do make the Best things seem the worst, and the sweetest things to seem most Bitter, this is no confutation of my Argument, that proves the way of Godliness most Pleasant. If I would prove that wine is pleasanter then Vinegar, or Bread then dirt or ashes, I mean not to appeal to the appetites of the sick; It is the sound and healthful that must be judges. If a man will suffer his mind to be possessed with prejudice and base thoughts of God himself, no wonder if he cannot love him, nor take any delight in him▪

I Have proved beyond all reasonable contradiction that Holiness is the Safe, the Honest, the Profitable and the Honourable state and course: But my hardest task is yet to be done; and that is, to prove it the most Pleasant way. And the difficulty of this is not at all from the matter, but from the persons with whom I have to do. For nothing is Pleasant unto men, but what is sutable to their natures, and apprehended by them to be for their good, or in it self more excellent then their good. That is Pleasant to one man that is loathsom to another. As the food and converse is delightful to a beast, that is loathsom and as •ad as death to man: So one mans Pleasure is anothers Pain. Even about the common matters of this life, variety of complexions, educations, customs, dispositions, doth cause a variety of affections; the difference between the sanctified and unsanctified, the spiritual and the carnal mind, doth cause a greater contrariety. If therefore the errour of wicked minds, or the distemper of your souls, do make the Best things seem the worst, and the sweetest things to seem most Bitter, this is no confutation of my Argument, that proves the way of Godliness most Pleasant. If I would prove that wine is pleasanter then Vinegar, or Bread then dirt or ashes, I mean not to appeal to the appetites of the sick; It is the sound and healthful that must be judges. If a man will suffer his mind to be possessed with prejudice and base thoughts of God himself, no wonder if he cannot love him, nor take any delight in him