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

1. The baser a Man is, the more he affects carnal Delights, and is addicted this way; Eccles. 7.4. The Heart of the Wise is in the House of Mourning; but the Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth. That which wise Men prefer, certainly is better than that which Fools make choice of. Now this is the choice of Fools; wise Men know there is more to be gained by grave Exercises, and by Spectacles of Sorrow, than in the places of carnal rejoicing: They know there is nothing to be seen or heard there, but Snares or Baits; little Wisdom to be gained, and little improvement of Grace and Reason to be made.

1. The baser a Man is, the more he affects carnal Delights, and is addicted this way; Eccles. 7.4. The Heart of the Wise is in the House of Mourning; but the Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth. That which wise Men prefer, certainly is better than that which Fools make choice of. Now this is the choice of Fools; wise Men know there is more to be gained by grave Exercises, and by Spectacles of Sorrow, than in the places of carnal rejoycing: They know there is nothing to be seen or heard there, but Snares or Baits; little Wisdom to be gained, and little improvement of Grace and Reason to be made.

2. All carnal Pleasures are mixed with Grief, and leave a Sting and Bitterness in the Issue. You never came away from your Sports with such a merry Heart as you do from the Throne of Grace. If Men would but consider their Experiences after Duty, and after Recreation, there's a Calm and Serenity in the Conscience after the saddest Duties when they are ended. Who ever repented of his Repentance? they yield some cheering and reviving to the Soul: As it is said of Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.18. That she went away, and did eat, and her Countenance was no more sad. Prayer gives Ease, as the opening of a Vein in a Fever. If all come not away alike cheerful from the Throne of Grace, and this be not a general Rule, yet it is no Addition to their Grief, that they have been with God; rather it is some lessening of their Trouble. As the pouring out of a Complaint into a Friend's Bosom, though it do not help, it is some Ease to the Mind: So though God do not come in with a high Tide of Comfort to the Soul, yet it is some Ease we have been with God, and presented the case to his Pity; there is some spiritual Mirth and Delight kindled, at least some lessening of Grief. But now (not to speak of wicked Men, when they come from their Pleasures) even the Children of God to whom all things are pure; yet because of the tenderness of their Hearts, there is always some Remorse after their Pleasures: And therefore Solomon propounds it as a general Rule,