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A61221 Of happiness wherein it is fully and particularly manifested that the great happiness of this life consisteth in the fear of God and keeping his commandments in opposition to the pleasures of sin or the pretended conveniency of disobdience / by Richard Stafford. Stafford, Richard, 1663-1703. 1689 (1689) Wing S5128; ESTC R29533 599,907 686

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Lord Jer. 17. 5. He gives even unto them all that they have and can do thy self more good then all the Men of the World. Though this is as it were hidden for Tryal whether they will draw off from him and others would run unto them Indeed the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink Rom. 14. 17. but things as will better satisfie then they do now For you eat and drink and hunger and thirst again But if you would seek after that in the mean time you would be quieted with the hopes and Faith thereof till you come actually to sit down at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. A Supper to which all the Dainties of the World are as stinking Carrion It doth infinitely exceed both in Delight and Continuance all the most pleasant things here What would you not do at present if you could get such an Estate as some of thy rich Neighbours have you would think nothing too hard many a Sleepless Night and laborious Day you would suffer with all your Heart if you might attain it But thou seest no way or possibility if thou wouldst never so much desire to do it Well be contented nevertheless and assure thy self that if thou art not slothful but come unto him who will meet thee in the way of Righteousness and then follow hard after him thou shalt undoubtedly come to Heaven when the Great Ones if wicked and disobedient shall be thrust down with Shame and Confusion Or if they fear God do thou endeavour to exceed them in Graces and Well-doing and so be more had in Honour by him who rewards every Man according to his work not so Luke 16. 10. much for what Rank and Degree he was in the World. If thou dost obey the Lord thou wouldst with Patience and Quietness of Spirit endure whatever low Condition thou art in and be rather the more thankful because thereby quickned and stirred up to a Godly Life Sometimes to hunger Prompts to strive the more earnestly to come to that place where you shall be filled You have the less Temptation to take up a Rest here but should more seek after that which is to come It is an hard Case indeed never to do any thing but to take Pains to be like the Ox or Ass to live to no other end but that of Labour but it is not so with you for God hath provided better things if you would accept them He hath ordained a Rest and a Promise is left us of entring Heb. 2. 8. 3. into it And we are Commanded to fear least any of us should come short of it Some we read of Who could not enter in because of unbelief And this same is an hindrance to Men now adays for what makes them who do nothing but toil and yet are unmindful of this true Rest unless it is because they do not believe any such thing But if Men are unbelievers whilst they live they shall not be so when they die for there will succeed a certain fearful Expectation of Judgment and Condemnation The unbelievers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Saith the same Divine Witness I heard a voice from Heaven Saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Rev. 14. 13. All do not so but only those who die in the Lord. That Saying so common in the mouth of Country People When such an one is dead he is happy because freed from the Pains and Miseries of Life is false when applyed to all indifferently good and bad for this Blessing belongs only to those who have led a Godly Life By Death we fall into the hands of the living God and then he may deal with us as seemeth good in his sight however being a God of Truth he will do so with all of us as is declared in his Word which is Truth And therefore it will be so with us according as we order our Conversation in this present World by the words written in that Book Seeing the Case is thus it must be the more excellent way to fit our selves accordingly We often provide for those things which never happen and if they should are but of small moment Shall we not much more prepare against that which will certainly come and is of greater Concern to every one of us then any thing now in the World is All our Care now is to keep Life for the present and shall no Care be had to live for ever We can never do too much to preserve Health and keep of sullen Death as long as we can And shall not we do the same to escape the second Death that wretched Condition in which Men shall seek for Death and it shall flee from them With all our Pains we cannot hold of temporal Death and yet we would we may by the Grace of God preserve our selves from eternal Death and there we will not Oh strange madness O unspeakable Folly O ye Sons of Men who hath bewitched you to Act so Preposterously Death in it self is not more grievous then Pain or Sickness now is nay not so much for as in Health we fall asleep when we do not perceive it so then those violent Pangs destroy the Sence and Feeling but that which comes to the wicked after renders it exceeding terrible and that should be most dreaded which would not be in vain because it would make us flee from the wrath to come Would we take as great heed least we die after Death as now we do to save our selves from Death then Death should have no Dominion over us it shall not bring Evil but Good unto us The sting of Death is sin but Command is given to pluck that out Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have Transgressed and make you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel for I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dieth saith the Lord God. Wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 31 32. Here you are taught and also enjoyned how though you die you may live again Look a little further then this present Life It is of few days and full of trouble Who would place his Confidence in that which is uneasie and must an end Time hasteneth away Death is coming on Every Man must at length close with it He must either lye down in Peace which is the Portion of the righteous or dye as the wicked do in Horrour and Anguish of mind or in a stupid Condition as is the Case of most However some admire this sort of Death for they say he dies li●● a Lamb yet there is no Peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 21. Such a Death is like a drunken Mans falling down a steep Rock his Sottishness hath cast him
through some Inconveniencies in the mean while upon prospect of that Why may not another do the same in hope of Heaven If one is supported by a Father Friend Husband God reveals himself to be such to every one that feareth him and doth likewise uphold When the Sorrow is for things pertaining to him cannot he Comfort or Deliver When from the World cannot he furnish with higher Considerations Doth he who is in pursuit of a great Advantage mind the loss of a Farthing God who gives Breath and Food doth also give Relief to the Soul. As the Body goes on contentedly from day to day by the strength of Meat and Raiment Cannot also she Immortal part of us be a little quieted from time to time in its Hunger and Thirst after Happiness till it is perfected in the due time and place The Scriptures speak much of Comfort Joy and Peace in the inward Man which they know and perceive who make that the rule of their Actions and have it fulfilled in them Let others do the same and they will be likewise Partakers of the Joy and Consolation The unbelieving and natural Man Laughs at all this Will words which are but wind blow away Pain and Grief It sticks faster then so The Physitian gives visible Remedies to heaI Diseases the Lawyer shews a way to get out of encumbrances of Estate the Bountiful gives Money to relieve the Poor and Distressed And indeed for worldly Vexations and Trouble Wise Sayings may do something But for the Man whose Trade is only in words who takes care of the Soul which we see not and of another World which we know not What will this Babler say he moveth his Lips but he doth nothing It will not be much besides the present purpose to describe how Of Words much force and Efficacy is in Words and then to shew that they will effectually asswage Grief Words are Thoughts expressed which arise from and are the workings of the mind Set them aside you must renounce the very Soul and Reason and confequently Unman him What do Words signifie So you may ask of Wisdom Understanding and all those noble Faculties within which are discovered by them Take away these Man is a lump of Clay just enlivened but withall vile and weak A dumb breathing Statue without use or excellency More need not be said to lay open the Absurdity and Monstrousness of this All will grant there is need of some Speech or Language and there is more in it then a Voice only for it is significative of Things as what is commonly seen heard or talked of Things are visible and invisible past present and future Now Words convey and make all these known making invisible to be as it were visible to us past and future present by the description it gives of them Herein appears the excellency and reality of Words that they represent those things which do not appear as if they did appear Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead The VVord is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the VVord of Faith which we Preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. That speaks of God himself of whom are all things That declares unto us the astonishing Works of Creation The Motion of the Stars and the Springs of the Deep Which comprehend in one Sentence the Compass of the World and all that is therein This we see done with our Eyes in Ink and Paper we hear it with our Ears in a light and aiery sound Of what we are further convinced without by the Eye of Sence But there is one step higher which leads to further Knowledge and applies it to our selves shewing how we are concerned The Word of Faith Which is that Revelation God hath made to Mankind in Scripture The Truth whereof relies upon Divine Testimony Miracles Signs Infallible Proofs The certainty whereof may be somewhat seen from the very Nature and Connexion of things Here are WORDS indeed they are called GREAT WORDS Dan. 7. 11. and may be seen in the foregoing verses And not only there but throughout the whole Scripture Lo these are parts of his VVays but how little a Portion is heard of him Job 26. 14. This is only of what he doth to the Inhabitants of the Earth and that is but as a Point to the whole World. This is part of Gods Will noted in a Book that it may be for the use of those several Generation which shall pass through here Which is of no great bulk but take ●ll the Libraries of the World all that was ever Written and Printed and besides what they have from hence they do not contain so great and excellent words as this The Wisdom of God doth as much excel Mans as his Works doth theirs which I●a 55. 9. he could have manifelled in a stile accordingly but he condelcended to our infirmities that we ●●●ht receive and know what concerneth us They are not Words only for they are both true and significative as such they ●hould affect us as the things themselves for they go before and give notice of it In things of common life Men are equally concerned at the Message as the thing it self and provide accordingly now the first is but a Word so it would be the same as to the Promises and Threatnings of God if they were believed The VVord Preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. The Will of God is as we learn from John 1. 6 7. That all Men through him might believe So we read Acts 28. 24 that at the first time of Hearing Some believed the things that were spoken and some believed not But would they have attended again and again for successive times hearkened to what might be urged further then more might have believed Did ever any Man feriously understand and throughly weigh all the Arguments that might be brought for Faith and yet remain an Unbeliever It is possible through Prejudice Ignorance hardness of Heart but not to a sincere and willing mind that hath no other end but to be satisfied whether indeed these things are so The greater part will not admit of a full hearing least they should believe and be saved and so they are of their own fault Unbelievers That place in Isa 6. 9 10. is after God hath used former Methods as appears by his Expostulation in the foregoing Chapter What could I have done more for my Vineyard that I have not done in it Isa 5. 4. People may be at length unaffected and hardened under the Word but it was at first through their own provocation and wilsulness By not minding thereof when it would have saved them they come to have no Sence thereof afterwards But in it self it is apt to produce Faith. And when it is received therewith it doth
power that we may do the things he doth require of us they are made known in Scripture which is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. We are to believe him to be true and then all must be so which is contained in that Book God doth encourage to his service with a Reward so that he who labours to please him acts after the very same manner tho in a much more eminent and greater degree as another who studies to recommend himself to the ●avour of the K●ng or any Superiour The utmost visible greatness is Low and but a shadow of Majesty in comparison of this High and Lofty One dark as to his Brightness and soon passeth away when He inhabiteth Eternity However Religion which is our whole Duty towards God is looked upon as a little contemptible thing laughed at by the Ignorant Scornful and Proud Men yet is as much greater then any Temporal Design or Business as God is greater then Man Heaven then Earth Eternity beyond time a most perfect and everlasting Happiness above the fading imperfect trivial conveniencies here We may as well trust God for the great things to come and labour after them as we do for our daily Food and those little things that are present And though he now gives common Mercies to the unthankful yet they must use some means after them but for the better hope the exceeding great and precious promises of unseen and future things those are only for them who glorifie him here and seek after them Faith makes these things as absolutely true and certain as those now before us Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 10. 11. Faith towards God is reckoned among the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6. It being that upon which not only those there recited but whatsoever is said throughout the whole Book of God doth depend Which whosoever believeth stedfastly must necessarily be a Christian not in Name and Profession but in manner of Life or otherwise he will act more unreasonably and foolishly then ever any one yet did as to the things of this World. The Scripture doth contain things to be believed and things to be done The first are comprized in a brief form of sound Words commonly called the Apostles Creed which is believed as it stands upon certain and evi●ent places of Scripture and the outward confession of them is necessary to Salvation according to what may be gathered from John 5. 24. Rom. 10. 9. Mat. 16. 16. John 3. 15 16 17 18 36. Luke 6. 47. The great danger in not believing any Scripture is what the Apostle Speaks He that believeth not God hath made him a Lyar 1 John 5. 10. Which is more provoking then living in known Sin and Wickedness But this none that believes other things will dare to do the General Question and debate is what God intended in such a place It is agreed on both sides of the Truth of some sence and meaning but what that is is the rise of controversie and dispute In Paul's Epistles are things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. But since we have had those who were learned and resolute in their way who have done the same to carry on an interest to maintain the grandeur and infallibility of such a Church to espouse and propagate all the errours of such and such parties There hath been horrible perv●●ting and seeking out Evasions not to the establishment but ov●rthrow of the Truth The pure and true Word of God hath be●● made use of to defend corruptions and m●i●tain errour ab●●dance of this kind of iniquity will be disclosed at the revelation of all things It is sad to reflect that the only thing necessary in Religion is the only thing neglected how people fly about the skirts and borders not coming into the substance thereof The Church is pulled asunder into this or that parcel of Christians every little difference in Opinion must forthwith make a distinct party they cursing and damning one another It is the greatest part of the Christianity of some to be exclaiming against such a S●ct or Communion so that if our merciful God should proceed according to the Anathemas Excommunications Wishes and Impretions of one against another No flesh would be saved What is the cause of all this stir and madness The VVisdom from above is fi●st Pure then Peaceable Gentle and Easie to be intreated full of Mercy and good Fruits without Partiality and without Hypocrisie Jam. 3. 17. The Gospel is good and plain made up of simplicity and purity so that is not the occ●sion thereof But an enemy hath sown these tares of division who works mightily in the hearts of Men to deceive and hath taken this course to hinder the good seed to sti●le those practical truths which would bring forth fruit unto everlasting life Men rightly think they must have something to do with the things of God and some falsly think these vain disputations will serve the turn These are speculative not falling upon lust and they hope a zeal for this one way or another it is something for God and therefore shall come in for atonement of other sins And in conclusion tends to that he fain would save himself by condemning others What else makes him so extraordinary zealous for such a way and against such an opinion when himself in the mean while lives in Habitual sin and unrighteousness which is more dangerous to Souls then errours of the understanding if they were really such Here some drive on an interest of their own but who do not are led by such an impulsive cause In those that have set up for Guides and Teachers there hath been Doting about Questions and Strifes of words whereof cometh Envy Strife Railing evil Surmisings perverse disputings of Men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth supposing that gain is Godliness 1 Tim. 6. 4 5. This was their end but the silly people were by them told that was most for Salvation which made for their own profit and thus they have came to that height of zeal and giddiness Do they not place more in their petty differences then in the weightier matters of Law Judgment Mercy and love of one another That all this is a meer delusion may be further seen because it quite vanishes when the Man approaches near to Death and apprehends things according to sincerity and Truth How earnestly doth the Apostle express himself against these disputes even at their first beginning Rom. 14. 1. Phil. 2. 14. 1 Tim. 1. 6 7 6. 20 21. 2 Tim. 2. 14 23. But what would he say if he had lived at this day to see so many volumes of controversie to have heard of so many go about as have troubled Christians with words subverting their Souls Acts 15. 24. Shattering if not making to fall the
believe the Scriptures not only by saying so with the Tongue but in Reality let them see Ezek. 3. 17 18. Heb. 13. 17. Which should oblige them to act accordingly by making it their principal business to Turn people from Darkness unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God. If they would insist earnestly upon the word of Exhortation do all things to perswade making use of the Arguments that God hath given that people might do also the things well pleasing in his sight As the Scriptures are indeed the Word of God so respect is to be had to them accordingly as the Holy Ghost hath consulted for all times Persons and Places so application is to be made The reason of things is general and God is dishonoured in alike instances as those there particularly spoken against The Law of God is perfect Psal 19. 17. Reaching to all the Thoughts Words and Actions his Government extends over the whole Man and there is no action exempt from his Commandments As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing M●n but God which ●rieth the hearts 1 Thes 2. 4. Not handling the Word of God deceitfully 2 Cor. 4. 2. Which is either done by concealing the cogent arguments or not pressing them home but superficially There are further directions from Acts 20. vers 20 26 27 28. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Heb. 4. 12. Isa 58. 1. Jer. 26. 2. If all this and much more which every Teacher knows and is convinced to be his Duty were carefully observed it would tend more towards the reformation of the World. The Church hath ordained Prayers to be used before the Solemn times of Ordination That God would give his Holy Spirit to them that shall be called to serve in the Ministery that they may set forth his Glory and set forward the Salvation of all Men which words if according to their part they did turn into faithful and diligent endeavours if they did their utmost according to the power and means given them more would be done towards it then now is I● they would shew themselves as much concerned as an Embassadour is in a Negotiation for his Prince Men are reasonable Creatures and they might at length yield to the good-will of God who would have all to be saved And though all have not Faith which is the ground-Work for Spiritual Exhortation to be builded upon yet they have Judgment and Understanding to consider the probability of those things which are required to be believed But to this great and good Work there are amongst others two hindrances Pride and want of Resolution If they should use this kind of Preaching expressed by a * Canting and Fanatical disdainful contemptible Term they should lose their Reputation and Good-will with the People and they could not shew their learning The VVord of the Lord was made a reproach unto me and a d●●ision daily Jer. 20. 8. Said the Prophet in his times And it may be a Question Whether it was not by some like saying as that so common in ours Whatsoever shift and meaning they pretend yet he who knows the secrets of the heart is judge himself Men shew their contempt towards him accordingly as they use his Word or Servants which he resents as immediately upon himself And therefore all should have a care how they take into their Mo●th any Proud or Scornful expression of what relates unto him Neither should others be discouraged by it if they would learn what their great Master saith John 7. 18. The Doctor of the Gentiles h●d as eminent Gifts and Natural Accomplishments as any now amongst us yet he did use the foolishness of Preaching But he saith the foolishness of God is wiser then Men 1 Cor. 1. 26. So in his Word are contained greater Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge then in all humane Writings whatsoever There is the Wisdom of God in a Mystery even the hidden Wisdom which God ordained before the VVorld unto our Glory 1 Cor. 2. 7. Which by degrees hath shined forth and still there is more to be seen and so will be unto the end of the World. The well is deep and there is much Water our Fore-fathers have not drained it there is something left for us our Children and for all Posterity for evermore There lie * Isa 45. 15. hid many Inferences and Deductions by which God may be more known to the World his Works and manifold Wisdom more discovered All hath not nor is manifested to past or present Generations there is left for succeeding ones to exercise themselves withall And had all Learned Men applyed their study time and Prayer more closely unto this Book of Divine Revelation there had been much more made known then is now amongst us Whatsoever things are true Whatsoever things are honest Whatsoever things are just Whatsoever things are pure Whatsoever things are lovely Whatsoever things are of good report Whatsoever tends to the real happiness and good of Mankind are here contained the which cannot be said of that vast Multitude of Books in the World taken all together In them are things false meerly conjectural impertinent when here all is true certain and very proper to the great end of Man. Since he is beholden to God for his Being and for discerning those things in himself which is properly Knowledge Where can he better improve that then by the immediate help given in his Word This being Divine and for the assistance of all Men should no● set up so much as to be called Rabbi when all are Brethren and Fellow helpers Where they deliver any thing that necessarily flows from the Word and is Truth there we ought to receive it and be thankful unto God who hath made it known by such an instrument for it is one of the Ra●es which comes down from the Father of Lights and leads up where we shall see Light Psal 36. 9. But if it is meer fancy and opinion if it neither rises from the Fountain of Life nor hath any taste of it such as gratifies an itching Ear or curious Humour this is not to be ●ed principally on nor to keep off from wholesome food The goodness of a thing is measured by the end and what hath the most sublime object God and immortality and that which conduces to present and future Happiness must necessarily excel that which delights only while it is read and perishes in the using for which none is more happy in knowing or if he doth meet with any benefit it is small and signifies nothing beyond this vain transitory life But the VVord of Life 1 John 1. 1. should affect us much more then those little and paultry things we now grasp of which we must in a very little while be bereaved for ever when those great astonishing things shall be both present and visible and so remain to Millions of Ages It tends to those things which always endure
who knows them better then he that made and established them rather then according to the common Vogue of others which is meer Opinion and Fancy of the multitude not to be justified from Truth nor Reason then he would be certainly Happy Let not thy Actions be according to others Sayings but be ruled by the Direction of Gods Word for this in most things is contrary to what is commonly received among us We are distinct and several Beings there is a mutual need to keep up Society yet that was intended for our ●enefit and not Destruction ●t is to ge● Necessaries and Conveniencies for the Body to Admonish and ●nstruct one another this is only to help but to make nothing to assist and ●hew the wa● but not to add or implant Power Still one Man is divided from another God and himself only is to work out his own Happiness and 't is not in the power of all the World besides so again if he fall away into Misery they cannot absolutely prevent He alone is sensible of the Good and none but himself shall groan ●or the Evil. In this is the Saying true God for us a●● an● 〈◊〉 one for himself What the Israelites told David Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thousand of us is really so as to the meanest Pe●●●● ●e is more to himself then Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand which prompts especially to what the Prophet advi●es 〈◊〉 ye every Man his Soul from the fierce Anger of the Lord Jer. 51. 45. and in all other things relating to his Happine●s Our Sav●our was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 1. 3. Paul doth also Stile some his Brethren according to the Flesh but there is no relation between Souls otherwise then from the common ●●ock no more then between rayes of the Sun. They shall be all Taught of God as Children of the same Parent Only to talk together of the things pertaining to him and to put one another in mind how they shall most please him The stronger and elder should help the weak according to his different Grace But still as their Being so their End as their Works so their Reward and also of Si● and Punishment Every person s●all bear his own Burthen The way to Happiness is to live according to what is written in the Holy Book not what is thought in the foolish and corrupt minds of Men as they are such when in Opposition to that This is not so much besides the present Subject as may be first apprehended for this would help to the prevention of Murmuring and getting of Contentment The greater part of Mankind are in a middle state having neither Poverty nor Riches but Food convenient for them And yet are not satisfied Which proceeds from Covetousness Sensuality Pride of which it hath been discoursed severally By observing the ●nsol●nt and Contemptuous Carriage of others above them to avoid that they are discontented with what they have and seek greater things They are guided by the opinion of others which hinders from finding rest for it is in anothers power to disquiet them Contempt doth strangely exasperate and though a sure remedy is to despise Contempt yet through the dominion or remainders of Pride this is more easily said then done which yet Grace and Truth are able to subdue and mort●fie This would be of much Advantage ●or it is the greatest Sting of the lower Condition wherefore Men are so ashamed of it and are tempted to get higher by right or wrong For in a mean Estate Our Soul is exceedingly filled with ●he scorning of th●se that are at ease and with the Contempt of the Proud Psal 123. 4. Let not thy Heart envy Sinners but be thou in the fear of God all the day long Prov. 23. 17. Do not Sin to advance thy present Condition Look not so much upon others but mind thine own things to compare with those above thee will occ●sion fretting and greedy d●sires Consider thy equals and thou art satisfied Cast thine Eye upon those inferiour and thou art thankful Many have not so much Who Labour long and Eat little Who endure great hardship to live but it is not so with thee And they seem less discontented They give praise to God and have good will to their Benefactors for every small Mercy and Kindness Art thou apt to Murmure and be Unthankful who hast more Those poor Wretches shall rise and Condemn thee for they were contented with less things Art thou better then they Pride will dictate so why if they had the same Advantage for Education they would have been the same also but even now God is more pleased with them because they are better satisfied with little then thou with more He that made them made thee who placed them in the lowest degree might have done so with thee also Will you Sin more because he hath dealt more Graciously Doth the Wild Ass bray when he hath Grass or loweth the Ox over his Fodder Job 6. 5. you have s●fficient for your natural needs Labour therewith and be contented It is time to come and visit those who are poor indeed that they may see the way how their Condition is to be remedied It is a sore Evil depressing the mind and making the Body seem yet more Vile and Sordid Yet now our Flesh is as the Flesh of our Brethren our Children as their Children Neh. 5. 5. There is no need of describing their Miseries for they are too much known and felt already Evil is no further to be manifested then is necessarv for Provision against it as a Wound is to be Launced in order to a Cure. It is alledged That Custom Their low Thoughts and Desires make this Condition easily born which we otherwise used think insupportable But a continued Evil which one is forced to submit unto all his days is so much the more Grievous Indeed it is Wisdom to have moderate desires stretched no further then the true worth and value of the thing There are Objects answering to each Faculty in Man he is made of perishingFlesh and an immortal spirit the one for Earthly things the other for Heavenly So he hath different desires according to them One covets after the things here and is contented The other those above which at present he is only seeking and in expectation of for they are to be revealed hereafter Now the error may be two ways if the Man lets out both after present and visible things then he is but half satisfied On the contrary it is when they are both stifled and confined within this World when they are pressed down to the Earth and aim no further We have Instances of both mistakes in the Rich Voluptuary and the Poor and Foolish person the first runs out after Happiness till he is tired and disappointed the other cannot do that through Want but he rubs through as contentedly as he can with what is before him not thinking above but is Ignorant and