in the use of them, as St. John the Baptift, who had no House but the Defert, no Chamber but the hole of a Rock; he fowed not, neither did he reap, neither gather into barnes, he used no Wine, no Table, no delicious Couch, no Bed made of the fofteft plumes; his Form, his Table, and his Bedchamber were the cold ground. His Wild Fowl was Locufts, his Cake wild Honey, the rich Cup, he drank in, the hollow of his hand, and his Wine was Water of the Neighbouring Brook. He took notice indeed of the Creators Wisdom in these outward objects, but was afraid to put them in his bofom, for fear, like Snakes warmed by his vital heat, they should sting him into an Epidemical Sickness. But here we find men generally live the reverfe of God's defigns and intentions, and in ftead of ufing thefe vifible comforts in order to a greater end, they make that their home, which was intended onely for their Inn, and are for erecting Tabernacles to dwell there, which God defign'd only as a thorowfare.

And to this unhappiness, prepofterous education, which most men are fubject to, doth very much contribute. For whereas we should be educated into Reason, and a right apprehenfion of things, we are ufually educated into fenfe and deceptions; and those that have the care of us, and fhould teach us felf-denial in these outward things, and by that means engage our Souls to fix on nobler objects, do commonly prefent us with nothing but fenfual fatisfacti

ons. All their Difcourfes to us are of the World, and of the magnificence, greatness, fplendor, and ravishing aspects of thefe outward gaieties; and the first principles they teach us, are how to please fense, and to pamper our appetite; and though now and then they teach us fome little Notions of Divinity, yet it is in fuch a fenfual way, that it amounts to no more, than a formality and divertisement, and being a thing that's taught by the by, it makes little or no impreffion upon our affections. The first thing we should be taught, should be poverty in the midst of plenty, and the art of being contented without carnal ease and fatisfaction, of bearing injuries and reproaches, of doing things contrary to our natural defires, and of defpifing all things that make for the pampering of the flesh. We should be educated into a love of Sackcloth and Ashes, and doing that which flesh and blood hath the greateft averfion from. So the ancient Christians taught their children, and that made them such excellent Saints, but our first instructions are things of a different nature. This fine Coach, and those rich Trappings; this curious Garden, and that commodious Seat; this Necklace of Pearl, and that gliftering Diamond; this French Dish, and that pungent fauce; this filk Coat, and that velvet Cap; this mans stately Train, and the others fplendid Retinue; this mans Feathers, and the others coftly Veftment. These are the things we are first of all instructed to gaze on, and to worship.

But

up

But whatever disadvantages men lie under on the account of their fenfual education, one would think, when they come to the full ufe of their reason, and are capable of understanding the vanity, emptinefs, unconftancy of thefe lower objects, and of apprehending that they were onely intended as Ladders, to raise them into contemplations of their great Benefactor in Heaven, when they arrive to this ripeness of understanding, come out of their Apprenticeship, set up for themselves, become, as it were, their own Masters, and enter upon the poffeffion of that Estate, which before was managed by others; one would think, I fay, they should then begin (as there is commonly an alteration of our temper, upon the alteration of our conditions and fortunes) to rectifie thofe fenfual principles, which their Nurfes and Tutors have thed into them, and wash away the ftains thofe fond Mafters (as indeed men may be kill'd by kindneffes, and like that Olympian Victor, be stifled with Pofies) have unluckily imprinted on their Souls.

But alas! there are fo very few, that having gone thus far, stop, and attempt to captivate their appetites to the obedience of Reafon and Religion, or feek to elevate their Souls above the dung and trouble of the World, according to the intent of their Maker, that most men sink deeper and deeper into the gulph of fenfual defires, open the gates wider, make the door lar ger for fenfual fatisfaction to enter in; nay, if

it be modeft and loth to enter, compel it to come in, and give their fpirits an infufion of carnality, water and keep warm the feed of worldly inclinations, and find out ways to encrease their Thirst, add heat to their Fever, provoke their fenfual appetite to enlarge it felf as Hell, and fearing they have not been fufficiently, or faithfully enough inftructed in the enjoyment of these worldly felicities, they try experiments and conclufions to find out new fatisfactions, and thus plunge themselves into the main Sea, being charmed by the Sun-beams playing and glittering upon the water, and curling of, the waves; and the impreffions which were made on the Wax, when soft and tractable, remain when it is grown harder; and now by a continual hurry of worldly cares and bufineffes, which they are content to admit of, they make their Souls the least object of their folicitude; and were they ask'd, as that profane Duke, What they think of Heaven? it's like they would answer in his language, or think fo, or at least act as if they thought fo, That they have fo much business on Earth, that they cannot think of Heaven. Thus their very fpirits become flesh, and their Souls turn to earth as well as their Bodies. And the tincture of carnality in them is fo ftrong, that like petrifying waters, which turn all things thrown into them into stone, or a lapideous fubstance, it makes all the thoughts that come in to their minds fubfervient to their worldly interest. Whence

fully absorbed

Whence it comes to pass, that their minds be ing altogether fenfual, impregnated with worldly cares and fatisfactions, and all their faculties imploy'd in contriving how to get a greater fhare of Earth than they have already, or at leaft to keep and preferve what they have, there is no room for this Confideration of their fpiritual estate or condition. They hearken to nothing with any zeal, or attention, or life, that doth not carry either fome worldly profit or pleafure with it, and that which charms or wing them, must be the mufick of temporal interest. As the Wolf in the fable being fent to School to learn to spell, could make nothing of all that was faid to him, but Sheep. His mind still ran upon that, and confequently was harden'd against all other fuggestions.

Confideration how they fhall be saved hereafter! there are no Lands to be brought with it, no Mannors to be purchas'd, no Houfes to be built, no Countries to be conquer'd, no Honours to be got by it. It brings in no Riches, it fills not their Coffers with Gold and Silver; it doth not give them refpect and credit with Princes, and Men of Quality; it doth not cover their Tables with dainties and delicacies, it doth not furnifh them with portions for their Chil dren; it doth not feed their bellies, nor put them into a condition to lie on beds of Ivory, or to be clad like Dives, with filk and purple ; it doth not maintain their great Retinue, nor present them with foft Airs; it doth not pro