CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Thirdly, There is required a sanctified and heavenly frame of heart. For such as a man is, such is his joy. The voluptuous man rejoiceth in his pleasures, the intellectual man doth so rejoice in his studies, and finding out of truth, that some have forgot their time of food, yea have not attended to their lives, so great hath their joy been in such contemplations. Thus the people of God, being made new creatures, and made partakers of a Divine Nature, they now become to love and delight in those Objects, which once they hated and abhorred; They find all the Consolations from the creatures contemptible in respect of God, concerning whom they say with David, The Lord is my portion, and whom have I in Heaven, but thee, and in earth, in comparison of thee? The old Rule is▪ Simile gaudet simile; The heavenly heart delights in heavenly Objects. Heaven it self, and all the Glory of it, do not, or cannot affect a wicked man, no more then fine flowers or pearls do a Swine: So that this duty of rejoicing in God, is altogether impossible to an ignorant carnal man, they can no more in their souls thus be raised up to God then in their bodies they can fly in the air. As our vile earthly bodies must be made spiritual and immortal, ere they can be filled full of agility, and be enabled to meet the Lord in the air: So these souls of ours must be renewed and sanctified, ere they can take any delight in that which is good.

Thirdly, There is required a sanctified and heavenly frame of heart. For such as a man is, such is his joy. The voluptuous man rejoyceth in his pleasures, the intellectuall man doth so rejoyce in his studies, and finding out of truth, that some have forgot their time of food, yea have not attended to their lives, so great hath their joy been in such contemplations. Thus the people of God, being made new creatures, and made partakers of a Divine Nature, they now become to love and delight in those Objects, which once they hated and abhorred; They finde all the Consolations from the creatures contemptible in respect of God, concerning whom they say with David, The Lord is my portion, and whom have I in Heaven, but thee, and in earth, in comparison of thee? The old Rule is▪ Simile gaudet simili; The heavenly heart delights in heavenly Objects. Heaven it self, and all the Glory of it, do not, or cannot affect a wicked man, no more then fine flowers or pearles do a Swine: So that this duty of rejoycing in God, is altogether impossible to an ignorant carnall man, they can no more in their souls thus be raised up to God then in their bodies they can flie in the air. As our vile earthly bodies must be made spirituall and immortall, ere they can be filled full of agility, and be enabled to meet the Lord in the air: So these souls of ours must be renewed and sanctified, ere they can take any delight in that which is good.