Preached Auguit 17. 1662. 79 delights of the flefh, i Pet. 2. Ir. As &angers and Pilgrims abilaine from flefhly lujis which war againfi the foul. The more you indulge there flefhly lufts, the more you hearten and ftrengthen the great E- nemy of your fouls, and starve the better part ; but you are as Run- ners in a Race: by this Metaphor the duty is more bound upon you, much more should you beat down the body, and keep it in fubje&i- on ; the Apoftle hath a notable word, 'Car. 9.27. I4,eep under my body, and bring it in fubje?ion, &c. I beat down my body ; you mat either keep under pleafures, or pleafiies will keep you under ; for aman is foon brought under the power, dominion, and tyranny of evil Cuftoms, and tome brutifh pleafiire, by indulging the lulls of the flefh, r Cor. 6. 12. Be but alittle addi&ed to any one thing, and you are brought under the power of it : The flefh waxes wanton and imperious, and a flavery growsupon you by degrees : The more you cocker carnal affe6tions, the more they encreafe upon you; and therefore you muff hold the reins hard,exercife a:powerful reftraing. Solomon in his Fenitentials, gives us an account of his own folly," and how fearfully he was corrupted this way, Eccl. 2. 20. Whatfoever mine eyes defined, Ikept notfrom them, Iwithheldnot my heart from any joy, &c. This was that which brought him to filch a lawlefs exceffe, andat length to fall offfrorn God. When we give nature the full fwing, and ufe pleafure with too free a licenfe, the heart is infenfibly cor- capted, and the neceffities of life turned intoDifeafes, and all that you do, 'cis but in c-q-ipliance with your Nits ; your eating and drinking is but a mea,.- :Tering and drink-offering to lulls and carnal appetite. I remember Solomon faith, Prov. 29. 21. He that delicately bringeth up hisfervant from a child, (hall have hint became his Sonat length. i. e. allow a fervant too much liberty, and he will no more know his condition, but grow contemptuous, bold, and troublefome ; fo it is here : We are all the worfe for licenfe ; na- tural defires, unlefs they feel fetters and prudent reftraints. a grow unrully and exceffive : And therefore it is good to abate the liberty of the flefh, that the bodie may be a fervant and not a mailer; when. you deny your felves in nothing, but fatisfy every vain appetite, a cuftorne grows upon the foul, and Inteoperance proves a Trade and an habituated difiemper, fo that you cannot when you would, upon prudent and pious refpeEts refrain and command your deices; and therefore 'tis good fometimes to thwart and vex the flefh, as David poured out the water of Beth/en that he longed for, 2 Sam. 23. 17. not to deny our felves in what we affeec and covet ; luft grows in- to a wanton, and bold, and imperious, and fo prefcribes upon us, andwe are brought under thepower of thefe things, D 2 2. The
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