The fading of the flesh and flourishing of faith, or, One cast for eternity…

2. As God is able to free from all evil, so to fill the soul with all good, ¹therefore is its happiness. That which beatifieth the reasonable creature, must undertake the removal of what is destructive, and the restoring to him whatsoever may be perfective. Weak nature must be supported, and empty nature must be supplied. Now the whole creation cannot be mans happiness, because it is unable both to defend him from evil, and to delight him with good. The comfort which ariseth from creatures is like the juice of some plums, which doth fill with wind, but yields no nourishment. He that sits at the worlds table, when it is most largely spread, and fairly furnished, and feedeth most heartily on its fare, is as one that dreameth he eats, and when he awakes lo he is hungry. The best noise of earthly Musicians can make but an empty sound, which may a little please the senses, but not in the least satisfy the soul. The world hath but small choice, and therefore makes us but small cheer; for as sick and squeazie stomachs, we are presently ⟨p. 113⟩cloyed even with that which we called so earnestly for. Hence it was, that those who esteemed their happiness to consist in pleasing their brutish part, did so vehemently desire new carnal delights. Nero had his officer that was stilled Arbiter Neronanae libidinis An inventer of new pleasures. ²Suetonius observeth the same of Tiberius, and Cicero of Xerxes for these men like children were quickly weary;³ of that for which they were but now so unquiet. And the reason is given us, by the Moralist, because error is infinite.

2. As God is able to free from all evil, so to fill the soul with all good, ¹therefore is its happiness. That which beatifieth the reasonable creature, must undertake the removal of what is destructive, and the restoring to him whatsoever may be perfective. Weak nature must be supported, and empty nature must be supplyed. Now the whole creation cannot be mans happiness, because it is unable both to defend him from evil, and to delight him with good. The comfort which ariseth from creatures is like the juice of some plums, which doth fill with wind, but yields no nourishment. He that sits at the worlds table, when it is most largely spread, and fairly furnished, and feedeth most heartily on its fare, is as one that dreameth he eats, and when he awakes loe he is hungry. The best noise of earthly Musicians can make but an empty sound, which may a little please the senses, but not in the least satisfie the soul. The world hath but small choice, and therefore makes us but small chear; for as sick and squeazie stomacks, we are presently