Certain sermons, first preached, and after published at several times, by M. Thomas Gataker…Certaine sermons, first preached, and after published at severall times, by M. Thomas Gataker…

First,^d it purgeth the heart of him that hath it: and so bringeth with it a sanctified use of the creature. For unless the vessel be seasoned, it tainteth all that cometh into it; and how can ought taste well then, that cometh out of it? So^f unless a mans heart be seasoned with grace, it polluteth and defileth all that a man dealeth with.^g Unto the pure, saith the Apostle, all things are pure, but unto the impure and the unbelieving all things are impure, because their minds and consciences are defiled. Since the worldly man then doth but moil and soil and defile himself with his wealth, doth but taint and pollute it, and himself in the use of it, no marvel, if he find no comfort or contentment at all in it. Nothing is pure to them, saith the^e ⟨p. 159⟩Apostle, because their heart is impure. ^hAs a foul stomach, stuffed with Choler, turneth all into Choler, even the finest and daintiest meats soonest of any, by means whereof no good nourishment can accrue to the body by them, nor it grow to any good plight and health: So a foul heart turneth all into spiritual Choler, a bitter humour and unsavoury, that impaireth and hindereth the health and welfare of the soul as much, yea much more than that material choler doth the health and welfare of the body. Whereas Godliness sanctifying and cleansing the heart, and purging out that corruption that before tainted and polluted it, and so made all uncomfortable, because noisome and hurtful, unto us, restoreth unto usⁱ a pure and sanctified use of the creature, and enableth us to such spiritual nourishment and wholesome juice even out of temporal blessings; which the soul beginneth now to find sweet comfort and true contentment in, because it useth them as it ought.

First,