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

Secondly; Let me now deal with these Lusts in particular, Pride, Sensuality, and Covetousness, these are immediate Issues of corrupt Nature; the Apostle calls them, Lusts of the Flesh, Lusts of the Eye, and Pride of Life.

1st. Sensuality, or the Lust of the Flesh. Let me begin there, because we live first by Sense, before we live by Reason. These Lusts are deeply rooted in the Heart of Man. Other Sins defile a part; Covetousness and Pride defile the Soul, but sensual Lusts defile Soul and Body too; they leave Guilt upon the Soul, and Dishonour upon the Body. By Gluttony and Drunkenness, the Body, which is God's Temple, is only made a Strainer for Meats and Drinks to pass through; and by Adultery, it is made the Sink and Channel of Lust. In short, (that you may know what these Lusts of the Flesh are) Sensuality is an inordinate desire of soft and delicate Living; an intemperate use of Pleasures, of what kind or sort soever; an undue liberty of Diet, Sports, and other Appurtenances of Life. There is allowed a due care of the Body, to keep it serviceable; and there is allowed a Delight in the Creature: for he that created Water for our Necessity, created Wine for our Comfort. The Body must not be used too hardly, that it may be serviceable to the Purposes of Grace.

But then, what is this inordinate Desire, this intemperate Use, this undue Liberty? How shall we trace and find out the Sin? Different Natures and Tempers make Rules uncertain; but the two general Bounds which God hath set to our Liberty in this kind, are the Health of our Body, and the Welfare of the Soul: But when bodily Health is overturned, and the Soul clogged and perverted, then your Lusts have carried you too far.