Use 1. A ground of strong exhortation to both old men and young, Love not the World, nor the lusts of it; for there is no proportion betwixt the World and a Child of God, what proportion betwixt transitory and everlasting things? fading and permanent? these are bodily and carnal, your hearts are spiritual and heavenly, therefore it is for you to look out for other things that will ab de; nay, why do you spend your strength for that which will not profit? all will not help your souls; why should a man swear, and toil for that, which when he hath he may loose his own soul? he may get credit in the World, and yet may be base in Gods eyes, it is that which will not satisfy the soul, the immortal soul will not be contented with transitory fading things, these are but as dreams, they dream of abundance, but their souls are all this while empty and starving, and if these be so transitory, why do we feed on meats that are so unsuitable to our souls? if we have once made the World our Element, if we be lifted up out of the World to heavenly and Spiritual things, we are like a Fish out of the water, we faint and gasp, and are weary, and must return to our mud again, we have no comfort at all, is not this a woeful disproportion? Nay further, seeing all the things of this World are vanity, and folly, even lawful pleasures, I said of mirth it is madness and folly, Eccl. 2.2. why therefore let us be exhorted to wean our affection from them, walk among them as snares, take heed you be not trapped by them; all the Blessings of this life are but Curses, if you use them for themselves, and then they weaken your spirits, and corrupt your hearts, therefore love not the World, nor the things of the World, for these all fade away; there is a disproportion betwixt the cursed things of this World, and spiritual Blessings; indeed they are not Curses, if you receive them as coming from God, and use them to him, otherwise, if you set your hearts on them, and use them for themselves, they will prove a curse to you.
Ʋse 1. A ground of strong exhortation to both old men and young, Love not the World, nor the lusts of it; for there is no proportion betwixt the World and a Child of God, what proportion betwixt transitory and everlasting things? fading and permanent? these are bodily and carnal, your hearts are spirituall and heavenly, therefore it is for you to look out for other things that will ab de; nay, why doe you spend your strength for that which will not profit? all will not help your souls; why should a man swear, and toyle for that, which when he hath he may loose his own soul? he may get credit in the World, and yet may be base in Gods eyes, it is that which will not satisfie the soul, the immortall soul will not be contented with transitory fading things, these are but as dreams, they dream of abundance, but their souls are all this while empty and starving, and if these be so transitory, why doe we feed on meats that are so unsuitable to our souls? if we have once made the World our Element, if we be lifted up out of the World to heavenly and Spirituall things, we are like a Fish out of the water, we faint and gasp, and are weary, and must return to our mud again, we have no comfort at all, is not this a woful disproportion? Nay further, seeing all the things of this World are vanity, and folly, even lawfull pleasures, I said of mirth it is madnesse and folly, Eccl. 2.2. why therefore let us be exhorted to wean our affection from them, walke among them as snares, take heed you be not trapt by them; all the Blessings of this life are but Curses, if you use them for themselves, and then they weaken your spirits, and corrupt your hearts, therefore love not the World, nor the things of the World, for these all fade away; there is a disproportion betwixt the cursed things of this World, and spirituall Blessings; indeed they are not Curses, if you receive them as coming from God, and use them to him, otherwise, if you set your hearts on them, and use them for themselves, they will prove a curse to you.
