266 Vol. II. The Regulation of 2 Tim. III. 4. Lovers of Pleasure more than lovers of TH HIS is one Character St. Paul, in a Prophetick Spirit, gives us of the laft days, whether of Jerufalem, or of the World, matters little, and is a Wickedness that will bring down Temporal and Eternal Vengeance on a Senfual World; which is enough to convince us how nearly it imports us to preserve or free our Souls from the guilt of it. To which, that I may contribute what lies in me, I have made choice of these words: In handling which I fhall confider these things, 1. I will Difcourfe of the due Mode- 2. I will Enquire into the Reafons 3. I will prescribe the Cure of this 4. .Laftly, I will conclude with an 1. Ofthe due Moderation of our PleaSure. Now that it may appear what this does confift in, I fhall fhew you briefly, (1.) What Pleasure Religion does not; and (2ly,) what it does prohibit. (1.) That God has not interdicted all Pleasure is manifeft: for, in the Old Teftament we are taught, that the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and that all her paths are peace, Prov. 3. 17. and in the New, that Religion even in this Life is Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft; and in the other, it will be an Eternal Jubilee, an Everlasting Triumph. But all this, you fay, is to be understood only of a Vol. II. Vol. II. Spiritual and Divine Pleasure : 'Tis true; and this is that Pleasure which Religion does especially recommend to us; but yet, it does not condemn that which springs from the Enjoyments of this World, and the good Things of it, and flows in upon the Soul thorough the Senses; I fay, it does not condemn it wholly, and in general. I need not tell you, that Solomon in his Ecclefiaftes, and elsewhere, exhorts us to a chearful and grateful Enjoyment of the good things of this Life, as an A& of folid Wisdom; Ecclef. 3. 2. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. V. 12. 13. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man torejoyce, and to do good in his life. And also that every man fhould eat, and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour; it is the gift of God. I need not tell you, that God himself propofed Peace and Plenty, Glory and Victory, as the Encouragement and Portion of his People, and that he inftituted many Festival Solemnities to be an Effential part of their Religion. By all which he has plainly taught us, that Impurity and Turpitude is not infeparably mixt with the the fruition of outward Things; and Vol. II. that an Affluence of Temporal Bleffings ought not to alienate, but to enkindle our Affections for our great Patron and Benefactor; and that it is natural enough at once to worship him, and rejoyce before him. Nor let us think this favours too rankly of a low and earthy Difpenfation; for, it agrees exactly with the Spirit and Genius of the New Teftament. To what purpose has Religion the promife of this life, as well as the other, if either we might not enjoy outward temporal Bleffings, or were forbidden to take any Pleasure in their Enjoyment? were this once fuppofed, what Encouragement could length of Days and Prosperity be to the Obedience of Children, and yet it is proposed as one in Ephef. 6. as well as Exod. 20. Alas! on this fuppofal a long Life would be but a fore Punishment, and Prosperity a Snare, a Curse, not a Bleffing: finally, on this fuppofal we should not, with our Saviour, pronounce the Meek bleffed, because they inherit the Earth, but the Sons of Wrath and Paffion, because they embroil it, and feldom live out half their days. Vol. II. Religion then, 'tis plain, does not prohibit all Pleasure in general; it invites us even to a holy Riot and Luxury in Spiritual Pleasure; it refines and fanctifies our fenfitive Pleasure,and then allows it us, i. e. it allows whatever Pleasure even of this kind, can arife from a wife and rational, from a moderate and grateful Enjoyment of the Things of this World. But then what that Enjoyment is which we may call Rational and Moderate is the Query. To refolve which, I am next to confider (2.) What the Pleasure is, what the Love of it, which Religion prohibits; and here I think two things are plain from Scripture beyond difpute. 1.That there are fome Kinds or Instances of Pleasure utterly forbidden by God. 2. That we are forbidden an excessive fondness or dotage upon Pleasure even in those Inftances which are allowed us. 1. There are fome forbidden Kinds or Inftances of Pleasure, fuch are Addultery, Fornication, Chambering, Wantonnels, Rioting, Drunkenness, Gluttony, the Pride of Life, and fuch like, and much more all unnatural and |