Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

And although many men may think this to be a mystery, and scarce to be believed; yet those who are truly godly, find this by experience. I appeal to you, when have you had the greatest comfort and joy in your estates and comings in, but at that time when you have found your hearts mortified to the world, and that you could keep your selves in bounds. If a man goes abroad, and among company, if he can keep his appetite in bounds and eat moderately, he hath more comfort in his meat and drink than another man hath that eats excessively. A man that eats and drinks moderately, he preserves his health, and by preserving his health he hath more sweetness in his meat and drink in a constant way, than those that eat and drink immoderately; and when a man hath been abroad among company, and let out his heart profusely in way of laughter and merriment, and all upon the merry pin; why in the midst of this laughter his heart is even sad, and when he comes home, he comes home with a dead spirit. He is like Nabal, you know that when he ⟨p. 57⟩was feasting, his heart was merry; but as soon as his drunkenness was gone from him, his heart died like a stone. Many Company-keepers that give liberty to themselves in jollity and mirth, why the next day their hearts are even as dead as a stone; and there's a great deal of guilt upon their spirits, and their consciences fly in their faces; so that they have not so much joy in their spirits as those that can keep within bounds. Those that can go in a sober way and meet with their neighbours, and rejoice one with another; they when they come home, can bless God for this their refreshing that they have had; and the next morning their hearts are in a sweet and joyful frame. The more we keep our selves in bounds in the use of the Creature, the more comfort have we in the use of the Creature. That's the third way of a gracious hearts learning how to abound. He learns how to enjoy the world, by mortifying his heart to it, and by keeping himself within bounds in the use of the Creature.

And although many men may think this to be a mystery, and scarce to be believed; yet those who are truly godly, find this by experience. I appeal to you, when have you had the greatest comfort and joy in your estates and comings in, but at that time when you have found your hearts mortified to the world, and that you could keep your selves in bounds. If a man goes abroad, and among company, if he can keep his appetite in bounds and eat moderately, he hath more comfort in his meat and drink than another man hath that eats excessively. A man that eats and drinks moderately, he preserves his health, and by preserving his health he hath more sweetness in his meat and drink in a constant way, than those that eat and drink immoderately; and when a man hath been abroad among company, and let out his heart profusely in way of laughter and merriment, and all upon the merry pin; why in the midst of this laughter his heart is even sad, and when he comes home, he comes home with a dead spirit. He is like Nabal, you know that when he