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

Doct. One of the Lessons which Grace teacheth us, is Sobriety. Here, ⟨p. 65⟩1. I shall show you what Sobriety is in the General. 2. I shall open the particular Branches of it.

Doct. One of the Lessons which Grace teacheth us, is Sobriety. Here, ⟨p. 65⟩1. I shall shew you what Sobriety is in the General. 2. I shall open the particular Branches of it.

First; I shall show what Sobriety is in the General: Sobriety is the Moderation of our Affections in the Pursuit and Use of all earthly things.

First; I shall shew what Sobriety is in the General: Sobriety is the Moderation of our Affections in the Pursuit and Vse of all earthly things.

To explain the Description [It is the Moderation.] Grace doth not take away the Affection, but governs it: It bridles the Excess, and then reduceth the Affection it self to a just Stint and Temper. Now the Rule according to which this Moderation must be made, must be either the Word; or where the Word interposeth not, then spiritual Prudence and Conveniency is to be a Judg. How the Word judgeth, I shall show in the Branches; but in matter of Conveniency, what is most convenient for our selves, that we be not brought under the Power of any Creature, spiritual Prudence must be the Rule; 1 Cor. 6.12. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the Power of any. A Christian is to see, while he makes Use of one part of his Liberty, that he doth not forfeit and lose another, yea, the better part. As Men go to Law for Trifles, and spend a real and solid Estate; so by an intemperate Use of Christian Liberty, we forfeit that which is the best part, Freedom from Lusts, and from the Bondage of Sin. As for Instance; a promiscuous Use of Meats and Drinks, is a part of Christian Liberty; but Freedom from Lusts is another part: and therefore while a Man useth this Liberty in the Creature, and hereby brings himself in Bondage to his Lusts, or is enslaved to such a Creature, how inconvenient soever the Use of it be, he cannot leave it; he disappoints the main End of Christ's Blood, and forfeits the fairest part of that Liberty Christ hath purchased for him. God hath given us a large Liberty in Christ; let us not go too far, lest we forfeit the spiritual part of it: therefore it is a part of Sobriety, if it be likely to prove a Snare, to moderate and bridle the Affections. Yea, in another Case, which concerneth others, that may be lawful to one, which is not lawful to another: if the thing affected be lawful, yet if it be likely to give Offence, or to procure a Blot upon our selves, it is a part of Sobriety to moderate our selves, and abstain from it. In such a Case we owe so much to one another's Weakness, and to our own Credit, which should be preferred before the Satisfaction of any Appetite whatsoever;