A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

2 When we covet meats and drinks beyond the measure of our estate, when we lust above our means, Prov. 23.20, 21. when by costly meat and drink he weakens his estate, Prov. 21.17. if a man be given to costly fare he shall surely come to poverty.

3 A man may exceed, when he exceeds the measure of due order, when they compel men to eat and drink more than willingly they would.

3 A man may exceed, when he exceeds the measure of due order, when they compell men to eat and drink more than willingly they would.

4 When we exceed the bounds of reason, when we so eat and drink that we forget our business, and reason is quite disturbed, as Lot was so drunk that he defiled his Daughters, Gen. 19.33, 35. and Noah was so far drunk that he could not cover his nakedness; in Lot, his reason was wholly taken away, in Noah partly; and now whether reason be disturbed in part, or in whole, it is a lust of the flesh.

4 When we exceed the bounds of reason, when we so eat and drink that we forget our businesse, and reason is quite disturbed, as Lot was so drunk that he defiled his Daughters, Gen. 19.33, 35. and Noah was so far drunk that he could not cover his nakednesse; in Lot, his reason was wholly taken away, in Noah partly; and now whether reason be disturbed in part, or in whole, it is a lust of the flesh.

3. If we be carried to meat and drink with no other end but to eat, and drink, and satisfy our appetite, this is a lust of the flesh, a satisfying of the flesh, and looking no further than to serve the body, this is oft the failing of many that abhor Gluttony and Drunkenness, yet ask them why they eat and drink, it is only to satisfy their appetite, this is only to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, Col. 2. ult. 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God; therefore not only to please Nature, but to make you fit for Gods service, either in your general or particular callings. Let this be the last end of all your meat and drink, to glorify God, to make you more cheerful and strong about the business God calls you to, not that it is a sin to satisfy the appetite, for God hath not made the appetite frustrate, and it is of God to be hungry and thirsty, and we may cheer our bodies, but we must not terminate all this in eating and drinking, for then it is a lust of the flesh, Gen. 27.3, 4. Go and take thy Bow, and take some Venison, and make me savoury meat, such as my soul loveth, What, did he only look to please his appetite? no, but that I may eat and bless thee, that being refreshed by thy provision, I may be ⟨p. 126⟩strengthened to bless thee, a lively Pattern for all Christians so to eat savoury meat, as that we may be fitted for prophecy if God call, fit to pray if God call, fit to hear, fit for any duty God shall call us to, and not to make us more dull and heavy.

3. If we be carried to meat and drink with no other end but to eat, and drink, and satisfie our appetite, this is a lust of the flesh, a satisfying of the flesh, and looking no further than to serve the body, this is oft the failing of many that abhor Gluttony and Drunkennesse, yet ask them why they eat and drink, it is onely to satisfie their appetite, this is onely to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, Col. 2. ult. 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drinke, doe all to the glory of God; therefore not onely to please Nature, but to make you fit for Gods service, either in your generall or particular callings. Let this be the last end of all your meat and drink, to glorifie God, to make you more chearfull and strong about the businesse God calls you to, not that it is a sin to satisfie the appetite, for God hath not made the appetite frustrate, and it is of God to be hungry and thirsty, and we may chear our bodies, but we must not terminate all this in eating and drinking, for then it is a lust of the flesh,

Thus we see intemperance is a lust of the flesh, and wherein it consists.

Next to that follows incontinency, which is an affection to women, which is inordinate, Mat. 5.28. and that is a lust to be avoided of all; And this lust expresses it self in three kinds.

Next to that follows incontinency, which is an affection to women, which is inordinate, Mat. 5.28. and that is a lust to be avoided of all; And this lust expresses it selfe in three kinds.

1 When it is carried to a wrong object, 2 When it exceeds measure, 3 When it aims not at a right end.

1 When it is carried to a wrong object, 2 When it exceeds measure, 3 When it aimes not at a right end.

For the first, Sometimes the heart is carried to beastly unnatural lusts against nature and order, as with beasts, Lev. 18. secondly, If it be carried to kindred, as when Ammon defiled his Sister Tamer; and this lust lies in carrying it self to a wrong object; thirdly, When it is carried in women to men, or men to women before consent of Parents, though it may be a fit match, yet it must be with consent of Parents, though the Angel prospered Abraham's Servant in his way, yet he durst not ask Rebekah's good-will before he asked the good-will of her Parents.

For the first, Sometimes the heart is carried to beastly unnaturall lusts against nature and order, as with beasts, Lev. 18. secondly, If it be carried to kindred, as when Ammon defiled his Sister Tamer; and this lust lies in carrying it selfe to a wrong object; thirdly, When it is carried in women to men, or men to women before consent of Parents, though it may be a fit match, yet it must be with consent of Parents, though the Angell prospered Abrahams Servant in his way, yet he durst not ask Rebeccahs good-will before he asked the good-will of her Parents.

2 It is a lustful affection in conjugal affection, when it exceeds measure, as when for it he omits his duty to God, or denies his profession; sometimes a man hath a good affection to Religion, but the love of his wife carries him away, Luke 14.26. a man may be so transported to his wife, that he dare not be forward in Religion, lest he displease his wife; and so the wife, least she displease her husband: and this is an inordinate love, when it exceeds measure.

2 It is a lustfull affection in conjugall affection, when it exceeds measure, as when for it he omits his duty to God, or denies his profession; sometimes a man hath a good affection to Religion, but the love of his wife carries him away, Luke 14.26. a man may be so transported to his wife, that he dare not be forward in Religion, lest he displease his wife; and so the wife, least she displease her husband: and this is an inordinate love, when it exceeds measure.

3 It is a lust of the flesh, when they are so transported with affection, that they look at no higher end than marriage it self, to have conjugal affection, 1 Cor. 7.29. the meaning is, let such as have wives look at them not for their own ends, but to be better fitted for Gods service, and bring them nearer to God, and then we so have wives, as if we had them not; every man is to look at his wife, as a Talent sent from God; and therefore he must look to restore it better by twofold at least, that I may say, Lord here is the wife thou gavest me, and I am the more wise, and humble, and gracious; and so Children and Servants, when we affect them only to do our business, and look at no higher end but our selves, this is a lust of the flesh, when in any thing we enjoy, we look no higher but to please our selves therein.

3 It is a lust of the flesh, when they are so transported with affection, that they look at no higher end than marriage it selfe, to have conjugall affection, 1 Cor. 7.29. the meaning is, let such as have wives look at them not for their own ends, but to be better fitted for Gods service, and bring them nearer to God, and then we so have wives, as if we had them not; every man is to look at his wife, as a Talent sent from God; and therefore he must look to restore it better by twofold at least, that I may say, Lord here is the wife thou gavest me, and I am the more wise, and humble, and gracious; and so Children and Servants, when we affect them onely to doe our businesse, and look at no higher end but our selves, this is a lust of the flesh, when in any thing we enjoy, we look no higher but to please our selves therein.

4 There is a lust of the flesh, which is a lust of pastime or pleasure inordinately, and this God threatens with poverty, Prov. 21.17.

There is a threefold lust in pastime, 1 When we are set on unlawful Objects, unlawful Games, 2 In excessive Manner, 3 To a wrong end.

1 Our pastimes are unlawful in respect of the Object, if we make a pastime of every thing, of such things as should be matters of devotion, and sorrow, and humiliation, we may not jest in Scripture phrase, neither may we make shows and pageants of Scripture stories, as of Christ, or other holy men, this is unlawful, to make pastime of holy things; when Moses drew near to God, and God called to him, I am the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Exod. 3.5. God bid him put of his shoes, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground; when men come into the presence of God, you should put off your shoes, that is, your unclean affections; if we come near to God, we must not come with common ordinary affections, we must not come with our old shoes; so cards and dice, we may not make a pastime of them, if they be lots, it is an ordinance of God, and therefore not to be made a pastime of.

1 Our pastimes are unlawfull in respect of the Object, if we make a pastime of every thing, of such things as should be matters of devotion, and sorrow, and humiliation, we may not jest in Scripture phrase, neither may we make shews and pageants of Scripture stories, as of Christ, or other holy men, this is unlawfull, to make pastime of holy things; when Moses drew near to God, and God called to him, I am the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Exod. 3.5. God bid him put of his shooes, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground; when men come into the presence of God, you should put off your shooes, that is, your unclean affections; if we come near to God, we must not come with common ordinary affections, we must not come with our old shooes; so cards and dice, we may not make a pastime of them, if they be lots, it is an ordinance of God, and therefore not to be made a pastime of.

Obj. There are some religious lots, some civill, some indifferent, if we should deal with divine lots, we should use more devotion, but the other a man may take more liberty in.

Ans. I say all lots are religious, whether they be about holy things, as ⟨p. 127⟩choosing Apostles; or civill, as casting lots about division of lands, or any other thing to determine a controversy, or the like, as they cast lots on Christs Garments; for it is not the object that makes a thing lawful or unlawful, as whether we swear in Religious or Civill matters, or Lusory; because whatsoever we swear about, we call God to be a witness; so in all kind of lottery, whatsoever it be about, we appeal to God, who is disposer of all things, Prov. 16.33. for man being but causa per accidens of the event of the lot, there must be some cause per se, and that is God; so that whatsoever it be about, though matters of pastime or lusory, it is a religious ordinance, because it appeals to divine providence, and therefore to be avoided.

Ans. I say all lots are religious, whether they be about holy things, as ⟨p. 127⟩choosing Apostles; or civill, as casting lots about division of lands, or any other thing to determine a controversy, or the like, as they cast lots on Christs Garments; for it is not the object that makes a thing lawfull or unlawfull, as whether we swear in Religious or Civill matters, or Lusory; because whatsoever we swear about, we call God to be a witnesse; so in all kinde of lottery, whatsever it be about, we appeal to God, who is disposer of all things, Prov. 16.33. for man being but causa per accidens of the event of the lot, there must be some cause per se, and that is God; so that whatsoever it be about, though matters of pastime or lusory, it is a religious ordinance, because it appeals to divine providence, and therefore to be avoided.