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

Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good Report; if there be any Virtue, and if there be any Praise, think of these things. And again, 1 Cor. 8.13. Wherefore if Meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no Meat while the World standeth, lest I make my Brother to offend. Rather wholly abstain from this Liberty than give Offence. So that this Moderation is a reducing the Affections to the Limits of the Word, and the Rules of Conveniency and Charity.

Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good Report; if there be any Vertue, and if there be any Praise, think of these things. And again, 1 Cor. 8.13. Wherefore if Meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no Meat while the World standeth, lest I make my Brother to offend. Rather wholly abstain from this Liberty than give Offence. So that this Moderation is a reducing the Affections to the Limits of the Word, and the Rules of Conveniency and Charity.

Of the Affections] I mean such as are accompanied with Pleasure in the Exercise; these are under the Command of Sobriety. There is a Moderation of our Passions that belongeth to Fortitude and Patience, as Sorrow and Anger, the Moderation of these belongeth to other Graces. But now such Affections as are accompanied with Pleasure in the Exercise, as Delight and Desire; Desire in the Pursuit, and Delight in the Use of worldly things; these belong to Sobriety. It is indeed a Question, which is worst, not to bridle Anger, or not to restrain Pleasures? Anger is unruly and violent, but Lusts work both ways; [Greek or Hebrew], James 1.14. Every Man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own Lust, and enticed. The most generous Natures are subject to Anger, and the basest to Pleasures. Anger is stirred up by Reason, though it runneth away without Deliberation; but Lust prescribeth to Reason: there is more of Plot and Counsel in Lust than in Anger. Reason sooner cleareth up, when the Storm of Passion is over, and then Men repent; but in Lust and Pleasure there is a long Bondage: So that not to restrain Lust, or those Affections that carry us out to corporal Delights, seemeth worst. But then again it may be inquired, which is harder, to endure Griefs, or renounce Pleasures? I shall answer, To renounce Pleasures; and Sobriety is more put to it than Fortitude. Many that have born Griefs with a stubborn Mind, yet have yielded to their own carnal Affectio, s Sampson that broke so many Cords and Bands, yet could not break