And then the Third way of a Godly mans learning how to be full is this; He doth learn how to have comfort in his estate, by mortifying of his affections to his estate; and by moderating of his spirit in the joy that he hath in his estate, he comes to receive the greater joy in what he hath given to him. This you will say is a riddle, for a man to have greater joy in outward things, by moderating of his joy, and to have a greater fullness in his abundance, by keeping himself within bounds. This is the way of a godly man, the more he keeps himself within bounds, the more comfort he hath in his abundance; and the more he can mortify his affections to the comforts of the world, the more comfort hath he in these comforts of the world. Now because this may seem to be a great riddle and mystery (for so it is) I will give you one Scripture that will make it out fully; and it is in Phil. 4. 4, 5. Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Here the Apostle puts people to rejoice, to rejoice in the Lord; that is, not only in spiritual things, but rejoice in all Gods blessings in a spiritual way. Now the men of the world, when they are put upon it to rejoice, and again to rejoice, they think they know nor how to rejoice but by letting out their hearts without any bounds; they know not how to keep any bounds. But mark the words that follow, Let your moderation be known unto all men. As if the Apostle should say, And would you rejoice indeed truly and graciously and fully, I exhort you to rejoice, and again to rejoice. Well then. This is pleasing to the heart of a man, we will give our selves liberty to rejoice, we will enlarge our selves ⟨p. 56⟩in our joy. I but, saith the Apostle, Let your moderation be known to all men though: So that in that he adds this exhortation, Let your moderation be known to all men, it's apparent that he means the joy in outward things as well as in spiritual things: Let your moderation be known to all, so that he doth not envy your rejoicing in your estate. You may rejoice in the comforts of this world that God hath given you. But would you have true joy, that that should glad your hearts indeed, let your moderation be known to all men, and do so bound your selves in your joy, and let your hearts be so mortified to the world, as that you may rejoice in God, even while you rejoice in the outward blessings that God hath given to you.
And then the Third way of a Godly mans learning how to be full is this; He doth learn how to have comfort in his estate, by mortifying of his affections to his estate; and by moderating of his spirit in the joy that he hath in his estate, he comes to receive the greater joy in what he hath given to him. This you will say is a riddle, for a man to have greater joy in outward things, by moderating of his joy, and to have a greater fulness in his abundance, by keeping himself within bounds. This is the way of a godly man, the more he keeps himself within bounds, the more comfort he hath in his abundance; and the more he can mortifie his affections to the comforts of the world, the more comfort hath he in these comforts of the world. Now because this may seem to be a great riddle and mystery (for so it is) I will give you one Scripture that will make it out fully; and it is in Phil. 4. 4, 5. Rejoyce in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoyce. Here the Apostle puts people to rejoyce, to rejoyce in the Lord; that is, not onely in spiritual things, but rejoyce in all Gods blessings in a spiritual way. Now the men of the world, when they are put upon it to rejoyce, and again to rejoyce, they think they know nor how to reioyce but by letting out their hearts without any bounds; they know not how to keep any bounds. But mark the words that follow, Let your moderation be known unto all men. As if the Apostle should say, And would you rejoyce indeed truly and graciously and fully, I exhort you to rejoyce, and again to rejoyce. Well then. This is pleasing to the heart of a man, we will give our selves liberty to rejoyce, we will enlarge our selves ⟨p. 56⟩in our joy. I but, saith the Apostle, Let your moderation be known to all men though: So that in that he adds this exhortation, Let your moderation be known to all men, it's apparent that he means the joy in outward things as well as in spiritual things: Let your moderation be known to all, so that he doth not envy your rejoycing in your estate. You may rejoyce in the comforts of this world that God hath given you. But would you have true joy, that that should glad your hearts indeed, let your moderation be known to all men, and do so bound your selves in your joy, and let your hearts be so mortified to the world, as that you may rejoyce in God, even while you rejoyce in the outward blessings that God hath given to you.
