QueJfions,andCafes'ofCgufc ence about fe ions,&c. Chap.6 uet . How areunmortified Paons to be fubdaree .z I i Anf,.n. To bridle unlawful pleafures its good to accuftome our felves to ab- I Bain from lawful : He fhall not fall in things unlawful, that warily reflrains himfelf fomtimes in things lawful. As if a man be given to drunkenneffe, he (hall the eafilier overcome it, if he ab(lain from ftrongdrinkwhen he might ufe ir. If a man be prone to pride, itsbell for himnot togo fofine as he might do. He that takes his liberty inall things that are lawful, will quicklybe aflave to his hafts. Hence I (or: 6 12. 411 things are lawful, boa all things are not expe- dient, &c. II. Fly the occafions which may incenfe. the Paflìons whereunto we areencli- ned : Occafions andopportunities oft make thieves : The Nazarites to pre- vent drunkenneffemutt drink no Wine , nor eat Grapes or Raifins, left thereby they fhould be tempted to drink Wine, Numb.6.r.&c. III. Whena vehement and rebellious motion affaults us, when we arc almoft yielding content to it, thenwe íhouldturne the force ofour foul with our ut- moit endeavour to the contrary good : For as mWarre, the valianteftfouldiers ) are bell tried in the a reateft encounters; So in the moll vehement pall ons,the refoluteit minder arè bell proved. This ennobled fofephs chaflity : Jobs pati- ence : Abrahams faith, &c. IV. Refill Paffions at the beginning l'rincipiisobf1a, &c. Cure the wound whilc(l itsgreen : Take Phyfick beforethe difeafe be rooted. As hethat will be rid of an ill gueli, the worfer that he entertaines him, the fooner he will be gone. To mortifie paffions we muff chaften the body : For he that pampers his body, feedshis enemy ; and he that feeds it with dainties, will finde it rebelli- ous, r Cor.9. 27. I keepunder my body, and bring it into fubjelli'n, &c. He that would quell his paffions whileft he pampers his body, is like himwho would quench afire by adding more fewel to it. VI. Wemu(ì arm our felves with a refolute VVill, and endeavour to attain to this perfe& Government of a mans felf : from whence will follow a diligent exercife of mortification : and fuch a manwill be daily importunatewith God by prayer for grace, to overcome his rebellious nature, and refittentations,. &c. For whichend we fhould confider, that the pleafure.which our Paffions yield isfhort, wherefore its better for us tocroffe them a while, and fowinne a Crown of glory, -then to pleafe them for a moment, and tobe condemned to Hellfor ever. Whenpaffions are moil vehement, humble thyfelf with fhame andforrow before God ; leek for fuccour from .Heaven : flie under thewings ofChrift : beat at Mercies Gate by the Prayer of Faith, and crave Grace to overcome them. Open thy fores to this goodSamaritane, and he will pourewine and oyle intothem : and fo thy paffions will melt, and fall away as clouds before the Sun. By fcrious Meditationof the Death and RefurrebiionofChrifti we moil work our hearts into the fimilitudeof him, that hisvenues may be flatnped upon our fouls. The healing vertue of Chrifts death applied to our hearts will heal our affeó&ions, andconform them to their fir(} integrity. Queft. Howmay ajfefiions be divided? Anfw. Into twokindes. Firft, force embrace their Obje6t, az= Lòve, Joy, Delire, &c. Secondly, others fhun and decline them, as Hatred, Fear, &c. . Que ... wherein confifis the fanâtifaed exert ¡fe of thofe affe liens that embrace, orprofeeute their Objet?. Anfw. In this, that they move to all goodfoundly,, orderly, in fit feafoD, and conftantly at thecommand of a lively and well-rooted faith. V. VII. I.
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