Bates - BT775 B274 1675

58 0e tummyattic Vbitte Ittfri13tttto, --Chap. . undeceives the Eye; yet he will embrace his Error. 1 piNj Man is ina voluntary Dream, which reprefentsto him the World as his Happinefs, and when he isawakened, . he dreams again, choofing to be deceiv'd with delight rather than to difcover the truthwithout it. This is fet IItá. 57, so. forth by the Prophet, Thou art wearied in thegreatnefs of thy way, yet faidefl thou not there 3s no hope that is, Thou art tired in the chafe of fatisfa&ion from one thing to another:, yet thou wouldfr not give over, but frill purfuefr thofe fhadows which cannever be brought nearer to thee. And the true reafon of it is, that in . the humane Nature there is an intenfe and continual de- fire of Pleafure, without which Life itfelf hath no fa- tisfaCtion. For Life confifring in the operations of the Soul, either the external of theSenfes, or the internal of the Mind, 'tis fweetned by thole delights which are fuitable to them. So that if all pleafant operations ceafe, without poffibility of returning, Death is more defirable than Life. And in the corrupt frate there is fo ftriCt an alliance between the Flefh and Spirit, that there is but one appetite between them, and that is of the Flefh. All the Defigns and Endeavours of the carnal Man areby fit means to obtain fatisfa&tion to his senfes r as if the Contentment of the Flefh and the Happinefs of the Soul were the fame thing; or as if the Soul were to die with the Body, and with both, all Hopes and Fears, all Joys and Sorrows were at an end. The Flefb is now grown abfolute, and hath acquir'd a perfeér Empire, and taken a full poflèfl'ton of all the Faculties.. Rom. 8,. 7, 8. For this reafon the Apoflle tells us, They that are in the Flefh cannot pleafe God. And the carnal will is enmity againf God, 'tis not fubjeí , neither can it be. 'Tis infnar'd in the cords of Concupifcence, and cannot re- cover., it felf from its foolifh bondage. But that doth not

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