Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

But how are the ways of wisdom the ways of ⟨p. 183⟩¹pleasantness? It appears otherwise, for the ways of godliness do abridge men of abundance of pleasure and delight in many things in the world; What is so great an enemy to the pleasures of men and women as Religion? It causeth them to be cut short of abundance of delightful things that others rejoice in.

But how are the ways of wisdom the ways of ⟨p. 183⟩¹pleasantness? It appears otherwise, for the ways of godliness do abridge men of abundance of pleasure and delight in many things in the world; What is so great an enemy to the pleasures of men and women as Religion? It causeth them to be cut short of abundance of delightful things that others rejoyce in.

1. 1Quest. 1.

To that I answer, first, Suppose it were so: you ¹heard in the commendation, that the pleasantness of the ways of godliness was exceeding great, that it hath that excellency in it, to make up whatsoever pleasure it wants: Though it should cut you short of abundance of pleasure, if it shall put a principle that shall enable you to stand in no need of that pleasure it cuts you short of, what have you lost? As suppose ²a man that is weak, and hath little blood or spirits in him, and is chill, and cold, and puts on many clothes to keep himself warm; if these clothes should be all taken away, save only his inward garment, if there could be put into him spirits, and blood and marrow, and that which should make him not to be sensible of the want of his clothes, it is a great deal better; What man that is weak and sickly, and is fain to have abundance of clothes to keep him warm, would not be willing to part with his clothes, if he might have spirits and blood put into him, not to feel the want of those clothes? So, why is it that your hearts are set upon the delight of the creature? because you want a principle within to satisfy your souls withal, and therefore you are fain to seek the clothing of the creature, and to keep your selves warm with the clothing of the creature; but if Religion take away those things, and give you a