A44666:787
The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /
The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 / by John Howe ...The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 / by John Howe ...
printed by Sarah Griffin for Samuel Thomson, 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Watch and arm thy self against the too forcible strokes and impressions of sensible objects Let not the favour of such low vile things corrupt the palate of thy soul. A sensual earthly mind, and heart, cannot taste. heavenly delights. They that are after the flesh do savour the things of the Flesh, they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Labour to be ⟨p. 469⟩throughly mortified towards this world,1 and the present state of things.2 Look upon this scheme & pageant as passing away, keep natural appetites under restraint (the world and the lusts of it pass away together) sensuality is an impure thing. Heavenly refined joy cannot live amidst so much filth. Yea, and if thou give thy flesh liberty too far in things that are (in specie;) lawful; it will soon get advantage to domineer, and keep thy soul in a depressing servitude. Abridge it then, and cut it short; That thy mind may be enlarged, and at liberty; may not be thronged, and prepossessed with carnal imaginations and affections. Let thy soul (if thou wilt take this instruction from a Heathen) look with a constant erect mind into the undefiled light,3 neither darkened,4 nor born down towards the Earth; but stopping its Ears, and turning its Eyes, and all other Senses back upon it self; and quite abolishing out of it self, all Earthly Sighs, and Groans, and Pleasures, and Glories, and Honours, and disgrace; and having forsaken all these; choose for the Guides of its way, true Reason, and strong Love, the one whereof will show it the way, the other make it easy, and pleasant.
4. Watch and arm thy self against the too forcible strokes and impressions of sensible objects Let not the favor of such low vile things corrupt the pallate of thy soul. A sensual earthly mind, and heart, cannot tast. heavenly delights. They that are after the flesh do savor the things of the Flesh, they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Labor to be ⟨p. 469⟩