than He that is usually a temperate man In such a man all earthly pleasures may Best serve to excite good actions heavenly joy Such men indeed are worthy of most praise Who can their minds to such a temper raise To know and see the highest sweetest joy The World affords and yet without annoy To live therin and as a Master use The same in all respects without abuse As if he us'd it not Even how and when He will himself enjoying now and then Its choisest pleasures when he please again Contemning them even with a great disdain For 's own advantage when his soule aspires To Heaven comparing them with such desires He then contemplates surely such a man Who thin doth use all earthly joys and can Be good as Lot in Sodome or as Christ Be temperate even at the Sinners Feast And surely such heroick noble hearts As can be good amongst a showre of darts As also such as not withstanding Quires Of Syrens tempting unto ill desires Can yet be chast and temperate shall be Rewarded greatly for such victory In Heaven with inestimable treasures With Crowns of glory with eternall pleasures Most certainly indeed thrice blessed then Are such great mighty rich and noble men Who notwithstanding many strong temptation Alluring and inchanting provocations Can yet contemning evils mount the Skies To heaven through al these charming difficultie O how such men in heaven eternally Shall sweetly triumph for such victory It is an error to maintain and say Religion doth deject us truly nay Religion sure doth comfort quicken cheare It doth encourage elevate up reare Mourning dejected Spirits very high Even to a kingdome far above the skie To Heaven it self and sweetly doth possesse Them with true peace true joy true happinesse It also makes earth's happinesse farre sweeter So as we may enjoy the same much better For when such raised heavenly joys we finde We may enjoy the earth with heavenly minde So having sought Gods Kingdome now we may The Pleasures of the earth freely enjoy In such sort as we may esteem them even Little additions to our hope of Heaven Since we are Christs and Ghrist is Gods we may The sweetest joyes on earth in Heaven enjoy The eighth Section Wee may enjoy earthly happinesse with a heavenly mind insomuch as by the good use and enjoyance therof we may learn and enjoy in some measure the felicities of heaven on earth I Have in the former Sections insisted somewhat largely upon the free and cheerfull enjoyance of earthly happinesse in their good use answering the objections to the contrary The rather because certainly If men were well perswaded of this truth That externall happinesse is not contrary but rather in the good use therof may be a furtherance both to internall and eternall happinesse They would with more swift desires run the ways that lead them both to the felicities of earth and heaven And also because the too rigid and stoicall severity of many men both in their carriage and writings is a great occasion That multitudes of people in the World especially such as are young and of a pleasant nature will not follow the divine Precepts of verue and Religion thinking the same too severe Monkish and solitary Wheras indeed the ways of religion and vertue are most lovely pleasant and beneficiall Her ways are ways of Pleasantnesse and her paths are peace Proverb 3.17 The same is sufficient to guerdon the followers therof even in this life with perfect pleasure and a multitude of benefits It is no way deficient but in all respects amiable and excellent Adding to the pleasantnesse and delights of earthly pleasures felicities and recreations and making these also serve to encrease heavenly joys and consolations And when our mindes are raised to the knowledge of heavenly pleasures wee may then also enjoy the felicities of the earth with a heavenly mind Let us therfore endevour by and through these lower delights and happinesses of the earth These little glimmering rays proceeding from that Sun of Glory God himself to espie some light of his havenly Glory and Happinesse and so in some measure to spell learn and enjoy the felicities of heaven on earth Wee are not to disdain to make use of these earthly in the acquist of heavenly things nor to make earthly comparisons and similitudes herein For although there be no comparison between them either in Time or Excellency Yet as children have need at first to be allured to the acquisition of great and excellent matters by such toyes and trifles as they apprehend so in respect of our weake apprehension such comparisons and similitudes often are and may be used in a convenient manner So as we may make a very good use of earthly felicities in this respect as of a prospective Glasse for by and through these earthly our weak sight may see more plainly into heavenly happinesses and consequently be excited to seek and enjoy the same Let us then by reasons light through these terrestriall endevour to learn espie and contemplate higher more excellent heavenly happines Reason is of such force as that it can passe from things known to things unknown It can abstract from visible things things invisible from corporall incorporall generals from particulars and high mysticall and heavenly things from low apparant terrestriall things So as hereby we may in some measure contemplate God himself and his heavenly Glory It is a common doctrine the World is made for man and man for God and that there is no happinesse in the World from which wee may not draw some instruction to know God our selves and our dutie If therfore first in generall we consider all the Felicities in the World in their greatest worth beauty sweetnesse and pleasantnesse reason will tell us That if there be so much excellency in the creatures the Creator is in all respects much more excellent and that if we may enjoy such and so many pleasures and felicities in creatures Much more and better may and shall we enjoy in God himself taste and see how good the Lord is saith King David The Felicities of the Earth in their greatest worth and excellency Are but as drops proceeding from the ocean of his infinite sweetnesse If we may enjoy so much pleasure so much happines in these little drops foretasts how much more may shal we in those rivers of pleasures in that sea of happinesse which is in God in the heavēs Reason also tels us If there be so much so many such excellent treasures glory delights and felicities on earth the place of our mortality of our pilgrimage possessed also by Gods enemies There is abundantly more happinesse in Heaven the place of our Eternity our Kingdom and possessed onely by God himselfe and his Friends And besides the instruction which man draweth in generall from earthly Felicities hee may likewise in particulars even by reason spie and learn some knowledge of God himself and his heavenly glory and
happinesse As for example The azur'd Heaven so richly deckt and counterpointed with Stars and rowling Torches never ceasing over our heads enjoying the same by contemplation he mounteth higher and is carried with admiration feare love and reverence of the Authour and soveraigne Lord of all So that we can even by our corporall eys from the Earth look to the Moon the Sun the starry Heaven and therein sweetly please our selves in the view and contemplation of their glorious aspect Their bright lovely twinkling silver heavenly rays from thence by the eye of reason wee can see further to the Christalline Heaven yea to the Emperiall above the Spheres and there contemplate farre more excellent glory delights and happinesse So as even by reason in and through these earthly Felicities our dim eyes as through spectacles may espy some light of God himselfe and of his infinite beauty pleâ—santnesse sweetnesse and excellency But if wee adde the eie of Faith also to our Reason wee may view farther and see more plainly This Author of all happinesse God himselfe and his Celestiall glory And taste of the ocean of his infinite sweetnesse and heavenly pleasures And as Reason so faith also in the view and contemplation of heaven may make a very good use of earthly comparisons similitudes delights and happinesse Wee often finde in the sacred Scriptures that earthly comparisons are used to expresse heavenly excellencies to our apprehension So as by the Riches Honour Kingdomes Crowns Glory Delights and Pleasures of the Earth wee may looke infinitely higher by the light of Reason and of Faith and therby contemplate those infinitely more excellent Treasures Crowns Kingdomes Glory and Delights of Heaven Faith goes before time and makes things future present in such sort as therby we may even in this life in some degree possesse the happinesse of Heaven in so much as by faithfull and heavenly contemplation we may even set our souls in Heaven before-hand tasting already of future happinesse entertayning our selves with God himself and with Angels And so enjoying in our thoughts and contemplations a Paradise of heavenly Pleasures and Felicities on earth Let us therfore often in contemplation by the light of Reason and of Faith which are the best Opticks view and contemplate those glorious Crowns Treasures Delights Felicities which wee expect hereafter to possesse in the Heavens and as in a mirrour behold his glory who is the fountain Perfection of al pleasure happines It is the poore despised and miserable mans onely hope and joy on earth To be rich honorable and happy in Heaven The rich honorarable and prosperous man also with reason imagines That if Terrestriall Prosperity afford him some Felicities and Pleasures Hee shall be much more happy when he shall possesse those eternall Riches Honours and Pleasures of Heaven Let our souls then often soare aloft upon the wings of Reason and of Faith unto the Empirean Heaven where our desires shall be accomplished with all manner of Felicities Would we have Thrones This Imperiall Heaven shall be our Footstool Would wee have Crownes Glory and Immortality shall environ our heads Do we desire Treasures Inestimable riches are in this house of our God Would we have Pleasures Rivers of pleasures are at his right hand for evermore Let us then untie our selves from the covetous ambitious intemperate and vitious desire of these earthly Felicities and with a Pitch full of desire and love elevate our Thoughts to those most glorious Riches Kingdomes and Pleasures of Heaven The riches of the World so much as wee do possesse In the good use therof let us still enjoy freely and cheerfully onely let us convert our covetous base sordid and vitious desire therof To the love desire and enjoyance of a contented minde and of the riches of divine grace Those eternall Treasures of Heaven yea even to possesse God himselfe In such desires let us greatly rejoyce So also Honour and good repute may we still enjoy And instead of that ravenous and unsatiable thirst of ayry and vain honour composed of Pride Vain-glory Hypocrisie and sundry vices Let every one of us aspire by the assistance of the Divine Power to be Lord of himself The Worlds Master To triumph over all infernall Powers To be a Sonne of God an heire to the Kingdome of Heaven And in such desires and aspirations Let us take marvellous joy and Pleasure All lawfull and good pleasures also in such good use let us freely enjoy onely let us convert our vain vitious unlawfull intemperate desire therof To desire and wish for those most sweet pleasures which proceed from a happy tranquillity of the soule and joy in God and to taste in some measure before hand of that divine Manna that celestiall Nectar those fountaines of Pleasures which wee hope and expect to enjoy with God himself for ever in the Heavens Let us then freely and cheerfully walke into this terrestriall Paradise the vast Palace of the World and enjoy the felicities thereof for to this end they were created that we should use them well and so enjoy them Even the meanest delights therof were ordained for this purpose and may be of excellent use As for example The chirping of Birds who learn to sing of Nature to charme our eares through the sweet harmony of their warbling when these please our eares then may we think of the sweet Musick of Saints and Angels which shall ravish our spirits And the Fountaines though insensible yet strive with the sweet murmurs of their prety purlings to afford us delectation When this delights our thoughts Then may we contemplate those heavenly Fountains of Life which shall fill us with extreme delectation for ever In this Terrestriall Palace the Spring the Summer and Autumne are incessantly busied in producing our happinesse for a season but let us think in the Celestiall Paradise an Eternitie shall accomplish us with more felicity then we can imagine Here we see the Sun Moon Stars The Skies Fire Torches Pearles Gold and divers other glorious sights and beauties Let us then think of that Glory of which if wee could with Saint Peter espie but one ray wee should like him be so dazeled at the glittering thereof as wee should for ever desire to dwell there and to build Tabernacles When we see and taste of sweet and pleasant Cates Banquetting Festivall and dainty meats of all sorts of sparkling and delicious wines and other pleasing liquors Let us then think of that Celestiall Manna the food of Heaven of that divine Nectar the sweetnesse of eternall joy and happinesse That everlasting Lovefeast to which the Angels shall invite us and where wee shall enjoy infinite pleasures and happinesse for ever This divine Manna this heavenly Nectar if we could but taste therof but truly think therof indeed it were sufficient to charme our spirits and sweetly to bring them into a most pleasing extasie In so much that in such heavenly thoughts and contemplations wee may already in
some measure feast on the joyes of Eternity taste of the delights of Heaven on Earth And so I might instance in a thousand other occasionall Meditations Thus if wee can use these Terrestriall happinesses well we may freely and cheerfully enjoy the same Even with a divine a heavenly minde and they may further us in the attainment and also enjoyment of heavenly delights and happinesse And when wee have made such a good use of them as Children do of their A B C and Battledore or of toyes and trifles such as they apprehend By these Learning and comming to the knowledge of farre more excellent matters and afterwards seeing themselves beyond and above them do even contemne these in comparison of the more excellent things which they have then learned yet still scorn not to use these Letters and Rudiments of Learning But so as that they can be above them and use them as they list for their own advantage So let us having by these earthly felicities spelled and learned eternall and heavenly Excellencies endevour to be above and even to contemne these earthly in comparison of the heavenly felicities which are infinitely more excellent yet so as that without such comparison and in respect of our nature and necessities of their Author And their good use wee still esteeme them wel accordingly stil use them for our own advantage And so in all respects to increase our joy and happinesse still endevouring by these as by Letters to read and learne further into those infinitely more excellent treasures Glory and delights of Heaven And certain it is that those souls which are raised to a supernaturall and divine temper to a high degree of knowledge and contemplation in the heavenly felicities are the most happy men even in this World in as much as they enjoy the happinesses of the earth with a gracious creared cheerfull joyfull and heavenly minde and also do in some measure already taste of and enjoy â—hose felicities which they pretend to receive hereafter and to enjoy eternally while their souls are here solacing themselves in the contemplations of Heaven In so much that even on earth in such divine Contemplations we may set our spirits in Heaven enjoying also a Paradise of heavenly pleasures and happinesse Tasting in some degree the delights of Heaven beforehand so as it seems we may enjoy two Heavens The first Heaven on Earth the other Heaven in Heaven Ascending at the end of the Careere of this life from one Heaven to another from this Terrestriall to the Celestiall Paradise The abstract of the eighth SECTION SEe then Religious lovely pleasantnesse It crowns us every way with happinesse It addes unto earths joyes and recreations And makes these adde to heavenly consolations And when such heavenly joys in us we finde We may enjoy the Earth with heavenly minde When we in earthly blessings take delight We may look higher thence direct our sight Above the Sphears to God himself to Heaven From whence these come and there contemplate even The eternall glory which we shall possesse Even God himself and heavenly happinesse For by the eye of reason our dimme sight May through these earthly pleasures spie some light Of heavenly joys and so may be excited To taste therof To which we are invited O taste and see how good the Lord is saith King David Then by Reâ—son and by Faith Let us look up to Heaven If we consider The sweetest Pleasures of the World together Reason will tell us If in creatures bee Such excellency much more may we see Taste and enjoy In the Creators worth From whence as little drops these do spring forth If in these drops some pleasures we do take How more shall we in that mightie Lake That Sea of sweetnesse which we shall possesse In God himself and heavenly happinesse If on the Earth so many Pleasures be Which is the place of our mortalitie Much more delights in Heaven shall we see Which is the place of our Eternitie When we the azur'd Heaven richly deckt With glorious rowling Torches whose aspect Doth often mount our mindes in Contemplation Vp to their Author and with Admiration With reverence with feare with joy and love To think of him their Lord who dwels above All these we then with reason must confesse He is all wisdom power and happinesse We can with our Corporeall look even Vnto the Sphears viewing those lights of heaven The Sun the Moon and twinkling stars so bright Whose lovely glorious silver heavenly light Gives pleasing delectation from thence higher Our sprightly souls by reasons light aspire To the Imperiall Heaven where we may Contemplate marvailous glory heavenly joy So as through earthly pleasures our dull sight May as through Spectacles by reasons light Look up to Heaven to God himself and spie Some glimpses of his glorious Majestie And so may taste already in some measure The Ocean of his sweet and heavenly pleasure But if we adde faiths light to reasons eye We then may far more plainly cleerly spie The glory of God his bright celestiall treasures And tast the sweetnesse of his heavenly pleasures Faith 's of such power such force as that it can Make future things seem present to a man It prevents time so as therby we may Pleasures of Heaven in some degree enjoy Beforehand setting our blest souls in Heaven In faithfull contemplations therin even Our selves with God and Angels entertayning And in such glorius heavenly thoughts remayning Most sweetly pleas'd and joyfull Thus we may On earth a heavenly Paradise enjoy Let 's often then by faith and reasons light From earth unto the Heavens direct or sight And there contemplate on those glorious treasure Crowns Kingdoms sweetest eternal pleasures Which we expect hereafter to possesse In God himself in heavenly happinesse It is the poore despised miserable Mans onely hope to be rich honorable And happy in the Heavens The mighty man The rich and prosperous with reason can Also imagine If he do possesse In earths prosperity some happinesse He shall be much more happy in those treasures Those heavenly riches honour glory pleasures Let then our soules be mounting up aloft Vpon the wings of faith and reason oft To God to the Imperiall Heaven where We shall be fill'd with sweetest pleasures There Wou'd we have Crowns Immortall Glory shall Environ us If Thrones The Imperiall Heaven shall be our footstool if treasures Eternall riches are with God If pleasures Rivers of pleasures various infinite store There are at his right hand for evermore Let us then with a pitch full of desire Of love and joy lift up our thoughts aspire To those inestimable glorious treasures Those heavenly Thrones Crowns Kingdoms Râ—ches Pleasures Let us convert all our vain vitious Earthly desires to the ambitious Yea covetous and intemperate desire Even to extremes when thus we do aspire Of heavenly things herein let us possesse Our souls even with immoderate happinesse Freely then let us trace this Paradise The Worlds vast Palace let us with our eyes Our eares and all our sences since we may The pleasures therof cheerfully enjoy Even the meanest pleasures were we see Created for this purpose and may be Of excellent use as chirping notes of Birds Who sing to please our eares the same affords Vs prety delectation when they sing Who can but please to hear their warbling When these sweet birds doe please our eares then may We sweetly contemplate and think what joy We shall possesse when full of sweet desires We shall hear Angels sing in heavenly Quires Who with the Musick of their harmony Shall charm our souls into an extasie The fountains also though insensible Do strive as farre as they can possible With their sweet purling murmurs to delight us So let these prety pleasures then invite us To think of heavenly fountains of that River Which with extrem delights shall fill us ever On earth time doth produce joy for a season In Heaven eternitie joy past our reason Let transitory joy then puts in minde Of heavenly joys wherof no end we finde On Earth we see many and glorious lights Sun Moon Stars Fire Cold other pleasing sights And shining Beauties Let us then I pray Think of that glory which if but one ray We could espie the glittering therof would So dazle our weak eyes as that we should For ever like Saint Peter wish to bee And dwell where we this glorious sight may see When we do taste sweet liquors rich and neat Wine of all sorts and curious dainty meat Let these sweet pleasures oftentimes excites us To which the Angels also do invite us To think and tast of that Celestiall Feast Which shall for ever make us truly blest â—hat feast of love and pleasures where we may Infinite sweetnesse evermore enjoy This heavenly Manna this celestiall food This divine Nectar is so sweet so good That if but truly taste therof we could But truly think therof indeed we should Be sweetly charm'd into a Rapsody Of heavenly pleasures such an extasie As that we should taste of in some degree Before hand Pleasures of Eternitie So if we thus can use terrestriall joy Looking therby to God to Heaven we may Enjoy the same with happy heavenly minde And therby also heavenly joy may finde So that on earth already we may even In some degree enjoy delights of Heaven And when this lifes careere shall have an end From heaven on earth to heaven in heaven ascend A Paradise of pleasures so we may Both here on earth and in the heavens enjoy FINIS
gladnesse and singlenesse of heart And those who resorted to those ancient Feasts and Banquets of Charity of whom I have written before and others since in all ages vertuous and religious Christians of all degrees who have not disdained to enjoy these gifts and blessings of God in their good use are much better to be reputed then such as refuse so much good which God lovingly and freely offers to our acceptance good use enjoyance Such therfore who can live in the World and yet be so spirituall and heavenly minded That they can use it as if they used it not how when they please for their owne advantage Who caâ— be temperate like our Saviour amongst Publicans and sinners or as Lot be a good man in Sodome Such as know these earthly Felicities in their highest excellency and pleasures And yet can avoid their evils dangers and impediments and in all good ways use them or contemne them as they will themselves Such men indeed are most worthy of prayse and to be esteemed most deserving And this to do is a greater glory and shews much more and stronger sanctity and grace inwardly then utterly to abandon the World by retyring to a Monastery or to neglect Gods gifts and blessings and consequently shall be more gloriously rewarded in Heaven Wheras it is also further objected That our Saviour saith It is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven And Saint Paul Not many noble not many mightie are called c. 1 Cor. 1. The Reason is because riches and greatnesse are great dangers and impediments And therfore the former answers may serve to this objection also Not many mighty not many noble are called after the flesh saith the Text. If a mighty and noble man can be spirituall and heavenly notwithstanding the temptations of the flesh and the â—llurements of Riches and Greatnesse which naâ—urally draw our desires downwards He is a noâ—le and worthy man indeed Thrice blessed are those rich mighty and noble men who can overâ—ome such great temptations to evill as great honour and riches allure unto It is a greater glory to mount up to heaven through impediments through great temptations and difficulties then otherwise Wheras it is also objected That the Mourners the meek and dejected spirits are rather pronounced blessed in Gods Word then voluptuous men It is true indeed our Saviour saith Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted Blessed are the meeke in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of God But these are indeed words of blessednesse of comfort and of exultation To such as are truly penitent and meek in spirit exciting them to faith to hope to joy and cheerfulnesse It is an error to think and mayntain that Religion dejects us wee see the same is sufficient to cheer quicken and comfort the mourners the lowly and dejected spirits and to rayse their joys as high as a Kingdome as Heaven For most sweetly and happily doth it teach us That such men are blessed They shall be comforted to them belongeth the Kingdome of God Religion indeed tels us wee ought to mourn and be dejected for our sins and frailties ratheâ— then always to enjoy the Pleasures Felicitie of the World But this also is to be done in duâ— order and at convenient times as hath bin said There is a time to mourne and a time to rejoyce Eccles. 3. And indeed even true repentance and humiliation in its deepest sorrows ought incontinently to worke in us a sound and joyfull assurance of reconciliation to God in consideration of his infinite mercy in IESVS CHRIST to his penitent believing creatures and so to open unto us the sweet Fountaines of joy and cheefulnesse rather then dejectus causing in us a happy and blessed tranquillity and exalting our joys even to the Heavens And although it be most true that Religion ought to make us deny our selves And to see our selves like the Laodiceans poore miserable blinde wretched and naked yet of Christ Iesus who counsels us therunto Revel 3.18 Wee may buy fine gold white rayment eye-salve in him therfore we may be and ought to think our selves rich blessed happy the beloved of God himself and heirs of Heaven This heavenly joy and exultation of Spirit within us may also adde to the free and cheerfull enjoyance of earthly Felicities in as much as we â—ay enjoy the same with a more happy free and â—eerfull minde for why a gracious high spiriâ—d joyfull heavenly minde enjoys all things â—ore sweetly pleasantly nobly and excellently â—en a low dejected minde which onely creeps â—n the earth and can raise it self no higher Doth not then Religion most sweetly and diâ—inely teach us to be contented pleased and hapâ—y in all estates and conditions so that whether â—ee be afflicted mourn dejected loose want â—ave sufficiency or abundance wee may thinke â—ur selves happy in all things Having first sought â—he kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof wee may now freely enjoy earthly happinesses â—lso as little additions to that great hope which we may and ought to have of those infinite and eternall felicities of Heaven It is an errour therfore to mayntaine as some â—ave done that men though Gods servants should not enjoy earth and heaven also What a grosse absurdity is it to think that the felicities of the earth which many wicked men enjoy should not be possest and enjoyed by Gods servants in their good use freely and cheerfully since he lovingly offers the same and for whose good use and enjoyance they were created 1 Tim. 4.4 Being reconciled to God in Christ what good what happinesse is in Earth or Heaven That we may not enjoy for now all things are ours and we are Christs and Christ is GODS The abstract of the fourth SECTION ALthough that many hinderances be In earthly riches honours pleasures We In their good use without abuses may Them notwithstanding cheerfully enjoy 'T is not their use but onely their abuses That hinder us in goodnesse their good uses May further us in all good happy ways And be occasions to direct our joyes To God himself to heaven from whence they spring And so whilst we are sweetly solacing Our selves in thoughts of God of Heaven we may In some degree pleasures of heaven enjoy 'T is true indeed that moderate abstinence So as the same be with convenience Disburthens Our grosse mindes and makes them lightfull Perspicuous free most quick and very sprightfull Apt to receive all heavenly inspirations And to retain divine illuminations But too much abstinence beyond due measure And over-nice restraint of lawfull pleasure Doth much perplex the minde and so annoyes The same in all good Actions heavenly joys And herein order time occasion is To be observed lest we do amisse But usually a temperate customes best And such as use the same are surely blest No men do live more free and healthfully More joyfull cheerfull and more happily More apt in minde to all good actions
how it list we shall ever remayn safe and happy Even crosses losses want and all afflictions shall then increase our happinesse for why First we shall be delivered out of all afflictions Many are the troubles of the righteous saith King David though often more are the troubles of the unrighteous but the Lord saith he delivers the righteous out of all And they that sow in tears shall reap in joy Oftentimes they are delivered in this life certainly in heaven How pleasant will heaven be eternally to such as have been here in want and afflicted for a time a moment in comparison Secondly wee may have joy in all crosses and afflictions Our Saviour saith In the world yee shall have afflictions but in mee you shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you Vnto the righteous doth arise in trouble joy in darknes light saith King David afflictions and want do often stirre up and quicken good soules to look and see farre into heaven possessing themselves with most sweet and heavenly joys and consolations I do abound with all joy saith Saint Paul in the midst of tribulation Thirdly the same shall turn to our good All â—ings worke to the good of them that love God â—ith Saint Paul Afflictions take from us all base â—are and effeminacie they are purgations to â—ense us and bridles to with-hold us from evils They are spurs to excite us to all goodnesse It is â—ood for me saith King David that I have been â—fflicted Troubles want and crosses make us wiser more circumspect resolute and couragious The same tryes exercises increases quickens and refines all heavenly grace in us Your light afflictions which are but for a moment saith Saint Paul shall work in you an eternall waight of glory This glory if wee could truly think of though we should suffer all the miseries on earth yet should wee greatly rejoyce and glory to think at what an easie rate we should gain such eternall happinesse Why then should we not be sweetly contented in all conditions sith there may be such happinesse in losses crosses want and afflictions and what better happinesse can wee learn then to be contented and sweetly pleased in all estates and occurrences and so to enjoy these earthly happinesses with a contented fearlesse free and happy minde Such men therfore as are well perswaded of the goodnesse and fitnesse of their condition whatsoever it be and their mindes setled in a free fearlesse and contented estate are to be esteemed happy men and no men living are able to enjoy more true pleasure and happinesse on earth then such men So that whether we lose want have sufficiency or abundance Let us make a good use therof be contented with and rejoyce in all things The abstract of the second SECTION THe way in earthly things true joy to finde Is to enjoy them with contented minde He is the richest and most happy man Who being moderate in desires can Content himself and sweetly pleased bee In all estates conditions each degree Who covets nought doth all the world possesse And sure he may contend in happinesse With love himself but he that fears the losse Of earthly things and grieves at every crosse Or letting loose his appetite doth extend His vitious desires beyond the end 〈◊〉 moderation and of reason sure â—e is not happy but he shall endure 〈◊〉 restlesse discontent he fain would be A Lord a King an Emperour then he â—he World would have nay more he knows not what â—ouses of Jasper neither this nor that â—an please his minde surely he is not wise â—e brings himself into Fools Paradise â—ut nature hath provided for us so As every man may be content We know A litle is sufficient to suffice Nature it self And he that 's truly wise Within himself can true contentment finde He enjoys even all the world within his minde Give me the silent shade the quiet life The happy Country free from Cities strife The bush where under Tityrus did sing And no more wealth then may contentment bring He bring the choicest Nymphs into my Cell The Muses and the Graces there shall dwell I will endevour sweetest joys to finde To enjoy both earth and heaven in my minde 'T is sure a happy state and free from strife To live a still poor and contented life We often see that poore despised men Are healthy merry happy Let us then In all estates ever contented be Yea even in crosses troubles miserie Crosses and troubles are to all men common Let us not grieve too much for that which no mâ— Living is free from and we know indeed Some crosses necessary are we need A mixture pleasures else were bitter Stale would cloy us crosses make them sweete And though we have some troubles yet there be A thousand pleasures in the world which we May still enjoy so as perchance we may Drown all our griefs in pleasantnesse and jâ—y And though our troubles should be very bitter Yet being past pleasure will then be sweeter Wisdome and fortitude may raise our minde To such a noble temper we may finde Such peace and courage in us as we dare Contemne the World when 't frowns and no whiâ—â— fearâ— Its blows which onely feeble minds depresse And heerby crown our selves with happinesse But yet the surest and best remedy Against all crosses and adversity â—o advance our mindes to pietie â—s indeed true magnanimity 〈◊〉 yield to God such are the happiest men â—o trust in him in all things Let us then 〈◊〉 all good ways endevour to attain â—rrestriall happinesse Concerning gain â—t us on him who cares for us depend â—â—d always what is best for us doth send 〈◊〉 may we happy be and rest secure 〈◊〉 all conditions we may now be sure â—hat even crosses want and misery â—hall now convert to our felicity â—e shall from all afflictions be releast â—nd joy will be most sweet when sorrow's past â—ow pleasant will heaven be eternally â—o such as heere have suffered misery â—nto the righteous often doth arise 〈◊〉 trouble joy in darknesse to their eyes â—oth heavenly light appeare so as we may 〈◊〉 trouble see and taste of heavenly joy â—fflictions take from us effeminacie And all base feare addes magnanimitie Wisdome and goodnesse in us quickens tries All heavenly grace and in such exercise Refines and purifies the same that even Our joy shall be therby increast in heaven This heavenly joy and glory if we could But truly think and tast therof we should Though all earths miseries were in the way Go through them all with sweet and pleasant Since that such joy such happinesse may be In crosses losses want and misery Let us in all conditions sweetly rest Contented so shall we be ever blest None can enjoy more earthly pleasure then Such as be fearlesse free contented men So whether want or have or lose or gain We always happy joyfull may remayn The third Section We must enjoy earthly happinesse in the
to heaven treading on Roses Secondly in respect of others we ought so to use and enjoy earthly happines as the same may â—e without offence scandall damage and prejudice of another The vertue of Iustice ought to â—e our rule herein Charity and liberality should â—e also exercised hereby Let us therfore doe no â—arme but all the good herein that conveniently we may to our Family Friends Kindred Neighbours as also in general to the Church and Common-wealth No man liveth more unworthily then he that â—iveth meerly for himself but hee that useth his time his goods and his endevours for the good of others also liveth most worthily and honorably But thirdly all our endevours indeed all our actions pleasures and enjoyances ought to be directed to this point to wit Gods glory Let us always remember Saint Pauls rule Whatsoever yee do let all be done to the praise and glorie of God Let these earthly pleasures and Felicities excite and encourage us to thankfulnes to all duties of vertue and piety to look higher to their fountain to God himself to heaven to love and rejoyce in him to contemplate his infinite goodnes love beauty sweetnes glory and excellency And so to enjoy these earthly Felicities with a heavenly minde and by these also to spie and enjoy a Paradise of heavenly delights on earth Of all which I intend to write more largely and particularly in the last Section So then if wee can thus use them let us freely enjoy them in their greatest excellency pleasure and happines The abstract of the third SECTION HE that on earth will happy be must use Terrestriall happinesse without abuse For all abuses all intemperate Desires are enemies to a happy State A multitude of aches griefs and cares Distempers passions perturbations fears Anguish and miseries are incident To vitious men they seldome are content Though vice seem pleasant yet assuredly Sorrow shall follow all impiety And therfore vitious men as most unwise Do also run into Fools Paradise There is none living in the World that can Live so contented as the vertuous man He lives most healthy happy free secure Pleasantly cheerfull always being sure The treasures riches pleasures of his minde Shall ever last his happy soul doth finde A free delight in all things and the way To heaven he rides as in a Summers day Let vertue rule us then in earthly pleasure Let temperance in all things teach us measure So let us then a mean in all things use In matter measure time without abuse Let justice also guide us in this way Le ts do no harm but all the good we may Remembring always in all things to give Him glory who gives these by whom we live And let these earthly pleasures us excite To all good actions also move invite And quicken our dull mindes themselves to raise Vp higher to their fountaine And rejoyce In him with pure divine and heartie love And so by looking up to heaven above From whence these lower joys do spring we may A heavenly Paradise likewise enjoy Of sweet delights on earth so may we finde The joys of earth and heaven in our minde The fourth Section We may enjoy earthly happinesse freely and cheerfully KNowing earthly happines being contented in all conditions in respect thereof and using the same well we may now in such knowledge contentment and good use enjoy the same freely and cheerfully even in its greatest excellency pleasure and happinesse Which to the intent we may we must also banish out of our mindes all idle superstitious erronious opinions concerning the same Certai ly if we would advisedly think and be perswaded as the truth is that Vertue and Religion is a furtherance to the enjoying of earthly happines rather then a hinderance therin and that the enjoying of the Felicities of the earth freely is not contrary to Vertue Religion and heavenly happinesse nor any hinderance if not abused but in the good use and enjoyance therof rather a furtherance therunto all which in due place I shall further endevour to shew wee should be more carefull diligent in seeking the felicities both of earth and heaven Yet see those common and main errors of the World in this kinde multitudes of men conceiting that Religion doth debarre them from the enjoying of earthly Felicities to which they are naturally strongly inclined will not search into the happy ways of Religion and Piety which leadeth to eternall happinesse And many men knowing the vanities dangers and impediments of these earthly Felicities do become in their carriage and writings too austere Stoicall Monkish and rigid in the enjoyance of the same There are many indeed who would seem to be men of notable understanding doe study to contemne and tread underfoot all sorts of pleasures and care of the body retyring the spirit into it self not having any commerce with the body but elevating it selfe to high things and so would seem to slide through this life insensibly neither tasting not attending it suspecting not onely recreations and pastimes but also necessities which God hath seasoned with some pleasure They come unwillingly into places of lawfull honest and harmlesse pleasures hold their breath till they are gone as if they were in placeâ— of infection they feare to use earthly pleasures though well and so to enjoy them because they see some vanities and danger in them so as the earth yea even their life is burthensome and offensive to them and they seeme to be willing to die before their time It is most certain indeed that there are many vanities dangers impediments in these earthly Felicities but this hinders not but wee may enjoy them in their good use freely and cheerfully as I shall endevour to shew plainly answering the objections to the contrary in the ensuing Sections And it is also most certain that moderate due convenient fasting abstinence and forbearance of earthly pleasures retyrednesse divine melancholy and solitarinesse as I may call it heavenly contemplation extasies and the like addes sprightfulnesse â—nd heavenly wings to our souls so as therby wee become the more Angell like apt and prepared to receive retain and enjoy all divine Graces all heavenly joys consolations even to elevate our souls to the heavenly Paradise and to enjoy God himself and heavenly delights in some degree on earth But the same ought to be done duly and conveniently as I intend to shew in the seventh Section not hindring the free and cheerfull enjoyâ—ance of earthly happinesse at due and convenient times also in the good use therof which so may and ought to be enjoyed freely and cheerfully And it is also certain that by an immoderate melancholy and overnice and slavish forbearance of convenient good harmlesse pleasures the spirit may somtimes become singular vain-glorious curious and wandring from harmlesse and lawfull wayes So while these men would seem to live after a strange manner wholly above themselves By not endevouring to play the parts of
as unduly inconsideratly and rashly neglect and refuse so great good which God lovingly and freely offers to our acceptance Wherefore Monks Anchorites Carthusian Fryers and others of the rigid and Stoicall sort of people are in a great error who superstitiously refuse and neglect Riches Honours Mariage Flesh Wine moderate and lawfull Recreations â—n their good use It seems they think themselves wiser in refusing then their Creator is in offering â—o great benefits This superstitious opinion is most commonly found in discontented brain-sicke men Surely they are injurious to reason unjustly depriving themselves of the good enjoyance of much happinesse yea to Religion and God himselfe very much detracting from his goodnesse and most free love and kindnesse From whence should this opinion and beliefe spring that God taketh pleasure in the refusall neglect of the good use and enjoyance of his creatures which hee freely commends exhorts and offers to our acceptance But the wiser Philosophers and Christians have beene and are of another opinion as Saint Paul was Rom. 14. 1 Tim. 4. The practice also of our Saviour Who saith of himselfe The Sonne of man came eating and drinking c. Matth 11. Of the Christians in the Primitive Church Who did eat their meat together with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart Acts 2.46 Of those which resorted to the feasts of Charity mentioned Iude 12. which are recorded to be certain Banquets which the Christians kept altogether and of divers other in all ages Do shew that this opinion of the free and cheerfull enjoyance of earthly happinesse in the moderate and good use therof ought to be embraced The objections to the contrary I shall endevour to answer in the following Sections So that if we will be ruled by Nature Reason Religion by God himself if wee will follow the opinion of the wiser Christians The practice of our Saviour and of those Christians in the Primitive Church and others in all Ages if we can use these earthly Felicities with Temperance to the glory of God wee may surely enjoy them in such good use freely and cheerfully Let us then enjoy God in all things and all things in him and to his glory The abstract of the fourth SECTION THat we in Earths delights free joy may finde Le ts banish Superstition from our minde Most certainly if we could truly see Religious excellencie we should be Enamour'd with its beauty presently However some do think that rigidly The same doth hinder earths felicity And therfore too too superstitiously Refuse the same so making others feare To tread these divine paths conceiting there Is nought but rigid solitarinesse Debarring them from earthly happinesse Wheras indeed the same doth much increase Terrestriall joys externall happinesse These men would seeme to be exceeding wise In studying altogether to despise All earthly pleasures insomuch they feare To see or taste therof as if they were Infectious in their good and harmlesse use And so because of dangers in abuse They weakly fear to enjoy them Thus they finde The world a grief a burthen to their minde Wheras in truth we ought without abuse To enjoy earth happinesse in its good use Freely to which Nature greatly excites us And reason also liberally invites us Justice and Temperance dâ— aswell condemne Stupidity and fayling in extreme As the other way intemperance in excesse Both hindering true delight and happinesse Religion also doth commend the joy Which in the temperate use therof we may Receive therin it bids us freely take Those pleasures which were onely for our sake Created and which God doth freely give For our necessities while here we live And moderate delectation Let us then Freely enjoy the same surely such men As will refuse such joy so great a blisse As heaven doth offer greatly do amisse But Lord do thou our mindes so guide so raise That we all things in thee and to thy praise May still enjoy and also that we may Thy self in all things evermore enjoy The fifth Section Wee may enjoy earthly Felicities notwithstanding their vanities c. THe reasons why many men do so much condemne the free and cheerfull enjoyance of earthly happinesses are because of their vanities dangers impediments and the like But I shall now endevour to shew that wee may and ought to enjoy them freely and cheerfully notwithstanding these And first in this Section Notwithstanding their vanities Those that would mayntain the contrary do worthily and truly tell us That earthly Riches Honours and Pleasures are vain short uncertain and transitory And that in comparison of eternall an heavenly Felicities they are not worthy to bâ— esteemed but rather to be despised It is most certaine indeed that those soulâ— which do often contemplate the heavenly glorâ— and are truly raised to the knowledge of divinâ— things are elevated above all pleasures and Felicities of the earth in as much as Eternity is abovâ— time and infinite Felicities above vanities Anâ— in these thoughts they are often so raised abovâ— themselves that if they were capable of vanitiâ— they woud not know themselves while theiâ— souls are thus contemplating on the treasures thâ— glory and the delights of heaven So as they do in part taste before hand of the sweetnesse of those Felicities which they hope to receive at the end of their life which makes them very generously to tread under foot all the pleasures and greatnesses of the earth while their souls are in such contemplations directing their aymes to heaven And it is also most true that the Felicities of the earth are not worthy to be compared with those of heaven either in worth or duration of time they are altogether vain even as nothing in such comparison Yet notwithstanding in respect of our nature infirmities weaknesses and necessities And in â—â—spect of themselves also without such compaâ—â—on They are to be well esteemed both in reâ—â—ect of time worth even as the gifts and blessings of God commended yea commanded to be joyed in their good use rather then neglected refused As serving also to many excellent uses â—â—d purposes even to increase in us divine and â—â—avenly joys and happines of all which I shall â—re also discourse of somewhat more particuâ—rly And first in respect of our selves In that they â—â—e naturall and necessary to us Which appears 〈◊〉 their pleasantnesse and variety of curious coâ—urs harmonious sounds pleasant tasts and fraâ—rant smels which God hath particularly approâ—riated to every kinde of creature affording raâ—her delight then necessity But if wee consider â—ow necessary they are also As that wee cannot mayntain our selves not live without them we â—hall know That they are to us of much worth â—nd therfore to be well esteemed and freely enâ—oyed in their good use Necessity and pleasure is an excellent Marriâ—ge in Nature And it is good reason that those actions which are necessary should also be delightfull to which as hath bin said both Nature and Reason invites us And therefore such as goe
about to break this marriage doe endevour 〈◊〉 disunite that which Reason and Nature haâ— joyned together Whence it may be inferr'd that super fluiâ— which is vain and vitious in all things being 〈◊〉 chewed we may not disdain freely and cheerfuâ—ly to enjoy these earthly Pleasures Recreatioâ— and Felicities which God himself hath ordaine to be naturall necessary and pleasant and delâ—ctable to us Secondly in respect that they are the gifts anâ— blessings of God ordained and created for oâ— good use enjoyance which he lovingly offers up to our good use acceptance yea commends commands the good use and enjoyancâ— therof as appears in the former Section Therefore to be well esteemed even as his gifts anâ— blessings and in their good use to be enjoyed freely and cheerfully Thirdly they are to be well esteemed as serving to many excellent uses to Gods glory And therin to the good of our selves and others Naturall as the mayntenance of our bodies and mindes in due temper and supernaturall insomuch as they may be an occasion greatly to encrease our heavenly joy and happinesse Of which I purpose to write particularly in the last Section So as although in comparison of the heavenly â—â—licities these of the earth are vaine short and â—â—ansitory and with the same not worthy to be â—â—mpared yet without such comparison and in â—espect of our nature and necessities And for as â—uch as they are Gods gifts and blessings comâ—ended and commanded to be received and enâ—oyed And since many good uses may be made â—hereof to the increase of our happinesse both â—ere and in Heaven Therefore they are to be â—njoyed And such as either through ignorance â—eevishnesse or Superstition do neglect and reuse the enjoyance of these earthly blessings â—n their good use are to be censured and â—lamed The abstract of the fifth SECTION THose souls which raised are above the skie To heavenly glory to Eternitie In contemplations do most certainly Account earths joyes but even as vanity In such comparison they truly deem All earthly joys not worthy their esteem While as their happy souls do thus aspire To heavenly joys with flaming sweet desire They do forget the earth and being above Themselves inflam'd with heavenly joy and love They are so rapt in sweet delights that even They seem to taste already joys of heaven So while their souls are rais'd above the Skie They seem to tread down very generously All earthly joys beneath their feet as vain Not worthy their esteem Their glorious aime And surely no comparison can be Twixt earthly times and heavens eternitie But though in such comparison certainly The greatest earthly joys are vanity Yet in themselves and also in respect Of us and our necessities to neglect And disesteem them truly were a crime In such respect they are in worth and time To be regarded Yea to us they are given By God himself as tokens sent from heaven Not onely for necessity but delight Which doth appear because unto our sight And all our sences they afford variety Of delectations even to satiety Beyond necessity and therfore they Which superstitiously refuse to enjoy What God himself hath freely kindly given Are worthy blame though Saints and heirs of heaven This is not all he doth not onely give them But lovingly commands us to receive them So as without abuses and annoyance In their good use and moderate enjoyance And also in such joy they may invite Attract encourage quicken and excite Vs unto all good actions and to raise Our souls to God himself to heavenly joys From whence these spring and so to taste to finde Pleasures of heaven on earth within our minde So though earths joys be vain and transitory Yet may we therof make us crowns of glory The sixt Section Wee may enjoy earthly Happinesse notwithstanding their dangers c. ALthough it be most certain there are many dangers and impediments in earthly Riches Honours and Pleasures yet these may be avoided so câ—nverted to our Felicity in as much as to eschew and overcome them or to endevour so to do is acceptable to God and by him rewarded And since they are to us naturall necessary commended and commanded by Reason and Religion it self as Gods creatures gifts and blessings to be enjoyed in their good uses which are many as hath bin shewed their dangers and impediments hinder not but wee may enjoy them in their good use freely and cheerfully But they which would mayntain the contrary truly tell us First That earthly Riches Honour and Pleasures are dangerous disposing us to Covetousnesse Ambition Intemperance and sundry vices But wee may truly answer Although these earthly Felicities be dangerous disposing us to such vices This is no sufficient reason to divert us from the good use of them It is absurd to say A man may not use a Knife because some have cut their fingers therewith So to say wee ought not to desire Riches Honor Pleasures in a moderate manner And so in their good use freely to enjoy them because they are an occasion that some men fall into Covetousnesse Ambition Intemperance and other vices is an insufficient Reason The affections as one saith Are the nerves and sinews of the soule They serve to contract to slacken to lift up to lay down to stirre and settle the same whersoever it will even as the body is moved and removed by its ligaments wherefore they are to be preserved and moderated not taken away and utterly destroyed We are to imitate in this a well experienced Horsman who for to tame and manage well his horse will not take from him agilitie and courage but endevours especially to bring him to run to turn to rise to curvet and to stand how and when it pleaseth him and not according to the horses will even so when wee perceive our affections inclining to stubborne disobedience we ought rather to correct and reform the same with reason and judgement then wholly to mortifie and extinguish them And although the Riches Honour and Pleasures of the earth be dangerous temptations to evill Yet for a man not be ill where he hath no provocations therunto is lesse commendable and deserving then to be good in the midst of dangers and temptations Insomuch that if we can make a good use even of these dangers and temptations by overcomming or endevouring to overcome them for God that accepts the will for the deed will lovingly accept of our good wishes endevours and his Power is made perfect in our weaknesse and infirmities as S. Paul saith the same shall then convert to our good and advancement we shal be greatly rewarded in heaven for such conquest and endevours in such good use therfore even of these dangers we may take Saint James exhortation Count it all joy saith he when ye fall into divers temptations But it is further objected to this purpose by such as would deny this truth They truly tell us That we are