A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Well then, let us beware of sensuality, other things defile a part, as ceveto•sness the soul, but sensual lusts defile the soul and body to▪ they leave guilt upon the soul, and dishonour upon the body, while 'tis made a strainer for meats and drinks, and a channel for lusts to run in; other lusts seem to gratify the ambition of man, and to exalt him, but these debase him, and turn him out among the beasts: to renounce pleasures is the first thing you must do if you mean to do any thing in Religion, otherwise you lye open to every temptation, Pro 25. 18. The water of the Sanctuary could not heal the miry places, Ezek. 47. 11 which is usually applied to sensual hearts; pleasures bring a brawn, and a deadness upon the conscience, and a cloud upon the understanding: Daniel that had the high visions of God, lived by pulse: John Baptist that had the most eminent Gospel dispensation, Mat. 11. fed upon locusts and ⟨p. 501⟩wild honey; among the Heathens he was counted the most accomplished man ^*that spent more oil in the Lamp² then wine in the bottle: certainly, the baser a man is, the more he affects carnal delights, Eccles. 7. 4. The heart of a so•l is in the house of mirth, that which wise men prefer, is better then that which fools make choice of; pleasures are the choice of fools, wise men know them to be baits and snares; that if they be not watched they soon put us out of frame, and unfit us for communion with God, Eccles. 2. 2. Once more, this sort of sins enslaveth, and by custom, gaineth upon the heart more then others do, and bringeth us under a power which we cannot easily break, 1 Cor. 6. 12