A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

2. There are other Desires that are natural and necessary for the preservation of Mankind, as to eat and drink lawfully, to provide for our Families and Posterity. Here Men do ordinarily sin by Excess, by desiring these things otherwise than they should, and more than they should, and not for the Causes that they should. Now these ⟨p. 44⟩natural and necessary Desires are not to be extinguished, but governed, and to be kept under the Coercion of Prudence and Honesty; Honesty must restrain them, that they may not exceed their Bounds, and so degenerate, lest a Desire be turned into a Lust, and its vehemency withdraw the Heart from God. As we know natural Heat from Unnatural, it is so temperately dispersed, that the Constitution of Nature is not disturbed or oppressed by it; but unnatural Heats oppress Nature: So Desires, as long as they do not disturb the Soul, they are not hurtful; but when they exceed their Bounds, they are to be under the Coercion of Reason. 1 Cor. 6.12. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the Power of any. He that will do all that he may, will do more than he should. It is good to keep at a distance from the Power of Sin, not always to walk on the Brink, lest we become Slaves to Lust.

Secondly; Take one Distinction more of these Lusts. It is intimated by the Apostle, 1 John 2.16. All that is in the World, the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life; This is the Sum and Contents of the corrupt World. Let us see the meaning, and then make some Observations on the Place; All that is in the World.

Secondly; Take one Distinction more of these Lusts. It is intimated by the Apostle, 1 Iohn 2.16. All that is in the World, the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life; This is the Sum and Contents of the corrupt World. Let us see the meaning, and then make some Observations on the Place; All that is in the World.