One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

2. Here is the true delight. Spiritual delight in spiritual objects, far exceedeth all the joy that we can take in worldly things. The pleasures of the mind are far more pure and defecate than those of the body, so that if a man would have pleasures, let him look after the chiefest of the kind. He spoke like a beast rather than like a man, that said, Eat, drink, and be merry, thou hast goods laid up for many years, Luk. 12. 19. That is the most that worldly things can afford us, a little bodily cheer. Psal. 17. 14. Thou hast filled their bellies with hid treasures; there is the poor happiness of a rich Worldling. He may have a belly full, and fare at a better rate than others do. Hab. 1. 16. Their portion is made fat, and their meat plenteous. When men have troubled themselves and the world to make themselves great, it is but for a little belly-cheer, which may be wanted as well as enjoyed; a modest temperance and mean fare, yieldeth more pleasure. But what is this to the delights of the mind? A Sensualist is a fool that runneth to such dreggy and carnal delights. Noble and sublime thoughts breed a greater pleasure. What pleasure do some take in finding out a Philosophical Verity! the man rejoiceth; the senses are only tickled in the other. Of all pleasures of the mind, those of the spiritual life are the highest; for then our natural faculties are quickened and heightened by the spirit. The reasonable nature hath a greater joy than the sensitive; and the spiritual divine nature hath more than the mere rational. There is not only an higher object, the Love of God; but an higher cause, the Spirit of God, who elevateth the faculty to an higher manner of sense and perception. Therefore both the good and evil of the spiritual life is greater than the good and evil of the rational. The evil of the spiritual is greatest, a wounded spirit who can bear! And the good of the spiritual life is greatest, Joy unspeakable and glorious. The higher the life, the greater the feeling; groans not uttered; peace passing all understanding; though it maketh no loud noise, yet it disuseth a solid contentment throughout the soul. All this is spoken, because the way of Gods Testimonies is looked upon as a dark and gloomy course by carnal men; yet it is the life of the blessed God himself, Eph. 4. 18