A29686:358
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock ..., 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Seventhly, To keep down the body, and to bring it into §7subjection to the soul, 1 Cor. 9.27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. By spiritual exercises the Apostle d d subdue his flesh to the obedience and discipline of the spirit; in former times they had several exercises, as wrestling, and running for the prize. Now, such as were slow, pursy, unwieldy, and lazy, were cashiered; they would not admit such to be of their society or company, who wrestled and run for the prize: Them that were admitted to those exercises, kept their bodies at an under, and did not pamper their bodies with dainties and delicates. To these the Apostle alludes, of idleness there comes no goodness; when the spirit is not acting in that which is good, that the flesh may be kept under, the flesh will take an advantage to be very active in those things that are evil, that the spirit may be kept under; the flesh is like an unruly beast, which through rest, idleness, and high feeding, grows wild and masterless. Now, the only way to tame this beast, is to work him hard; so the way of ways to keep the body under, is to keep up the soul as much as may be, in the full exercise of holiness and obedience; such as have most pampered their bodies,1 have been the greatest enemies to their own souls; and how many are there this day, that pamper their bodies, but starve their souls? that adorn their bodies, but defiles their soul? that trick and trim up their bodies with gold, and silver, and silks, whilst their souls are naked of all grace, holiness and goodness? like the Laodiceans of old. The body it self, if you set too high a price upon it, will make a cheap soul; a man may be as happy in Russet, as in Tissue; and he is certainly an unhappy man, whose outside is his best side; our bodies are but dirt handsomely tempered, and artificially formed; we derive our pedigree from the dust, and are a kin to clay; and therefore we need not scruple the keeping of it under by holy ⟨p. 158⟩exercises, and by all ways of Gospel-obedience, &c.
Seventhly, To keep down the body, and to bring it into §7