3$ z In what things mu.s we rife Moderation, Set 6, fenfrtive obje&smake fuch impreffiions upon our 1 gination when abfent, and our paffiions when prefect; that if Grace and Reafon mo- derate not our judgement of them, our whole man becomes it flamed therewith, and violently carried out towards them,by an exctiffive ad- miration of their feeming excellency, love to them for the fame, and delire after them , for their apprehended fwablenefs, hope to obtain them feeming poífìble, ufi:rg means for obtaining them, and delight- ing and glorying in them. Therefore our Saviour prefcribes wifely, that our beams may not be in them,the light of our minds being fingle, Math. 6. 22, 23. When Achan (7ofh.7. 2 t.) judged the Babylonifh garment goodly. and the filver and gold, then he quickly coveted and took.them. Let thy Moderation therefore begin here, and confider the ch.:rae:ter Solomon upon good experience dives them, that they are all to us in this degenerate flare vanity ofvanities, yea, vexation Of Spirit. 2. Moderate thy will and afef lions, int4eirlove ,defires,hopes,afterthe getting or k eping thefe things; according to the ends for which God allow them thee in part icular , &withfubordin.iti_onto his pleafure providence in the event. We mull value, love, ddiire, God and Chrifl, and hope in them, abfolutely and for themfelves; and Grace abfolutely, but for the injoyment of them (and confequently for our own h °appinef;) bet fo mull we not thefe things ; but only conditionally, as God in his All - wife- difpofing providence fees meet CO difpenfe to us, (he having fo only promi fed them,) and for thofe ends and fo far forth as they are conveni -nt for us, according to Agars delire, Prov. 3 o. 8. Which con- veniency.is to be meafured by the elate the Providence of God bath fee us in, and the circumflances wherein we are. As fo much health, flrength, refrefhmenr, comfortablenefs in our lives, as God fees good for us and may render us ferviceable to him ; fo much food, raiment, profit, pleafure as he pleafeth to beffow, and fo far forth as convenient for us, according, to our prefect condition, for our health and other ends now mentioned to which they refer; but neither thefe nor any o- ther good things of this life abfolutely,or for themfelves; fo as to make them our end and happinefs,or to be fuel for our lulls, muff we either love delire or hope for. It is not thus defiring the Iawfuli pleafures, profits, honours of this life, u hich St ?Jon fpeaks of i Ephef c.2 v.16. but the immoderacy of the defiring them which he calls luft,'and faith is of the World ; as well he may, feting this is the Trinity that it gene- rally worfhipeth more than the bleffed Trinity of Heaven.- Is it not the cry vf many,nay raoft, who will Jhew. its anpgood ? but of how few, Lord
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