342 Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book. of Jo B. Verf. ó we are to confider the lick man abhorring dainty meare,under the hideings of Gods face, or in feares about his 1pirituall Rate ; as appeares by that which followéth,lf therebe a meffenger withhim, an interpreter,o'eeofa thoufand, toPhew unto man his uprghtneffe, or to fet him right in his fpirituall Bate, &c. The Fick man for want of that as well as for want of health, can tafle no fweetnefs in the rarefl dainties. Hence note. tAfenfe o('divine difpleafsore, or the hideing of divine favour from the :ogle, renders all outward comforts comfortleffe to us. If a man have never fomuch health, yet the, appearances of di- vine 8ifpleafure will make him Fick of his moil pleafant things. Carnali men can eat and drink,and live upon pleafures, yea upon thé pleafures offin, and goe on merrily with them a while, be- caufe theyknow not the meaning of the difpleafure of God, not doe they know what the favour of God meaneth; they under- (land not what they want, yea they flatter themfelves that they have enough, and are well enough, though they have nothing, and are nothing, that is of any worth. But if God once awaken them our of this dreame, and (hew them their turfed condition, all will be gall and wormwood to their tafle, or as gravel:'between their teeth. As the fenfe of divine favour makes bitter things :weer, and forrowfull things comfortable to us, the foule herbsof afflieTtion dainties to us;So not onlycommon but dainty meat, all thecates and viands of this world will be not only ta(llefs but bit- ter tous when God frownes uponus. An earne(t in the love and favour of God is the good of all good things. For the dole ofall, take thefe two. Counfells, upon the occafi- onof thefe words. Fir(l, Receive your bred and dainty meate with prayer and ehankef iving ; you mayquickly elfe come toabhorre your bread, yea and your dainties. The word and prayer both fan6lifte and fweeten all creature-enjoyments. Secondly , Take heed of abufing your meate ; ye may quickly be brought to a loathing ofit. When they who have given them- felves up to Luxury and intemperance lye upon their fick-beds and find their flomacke turned from all their dainties, it will be moll grievous to them to confider how they have abufed their dainties.
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