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BOdily exercise, saith the Apostle, profits lit∣tle: Little sure in respect of any worth that it hath in it selfe; or any thanke that it can expect from the Almighty: For what is it to that good and great God, whether I be full or fasting, whether I wake or sleepe, whether my skinne be smooth or rough, ruddy or pale, white or discolou∣red; whether my hand be hard with labour, or soft with ease; whether my
bed be hard, or yeelding; whether my dyet bee course, or delicate: But though in it selfe it availe little; yet so it may bee, and hath been, and ought to be improved, as that it may be found exceedingly beneficiall to the soule: Else the same Apostle would not have said, I keepe under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any meanes, when I have preached to others, I my selfe should be a cast-away. In all the records of History, whom doe we finde more noted for holinesse, than those who have been most au∣stere in the restraints of bodily pleasures and con∣tentments? In the Mount
of Tabor who should meet with our Saviour in his Transfiguration, but those two eminent Saints, which had fasted an equall num∣ber of dayes with himself? And our experience tells us, that what is detracted from the body is added to the soule. For the flesh and spirit are not more partners, than enemies; one gaines by the others losse: The pampering of the flesh, is the starving of the soule: I finde an una∣voidable emulation be∣tween these two parts of my selfe. O God, teach me to hold an equall hand betwixt them both; Let me so use them, as holding the one my favourite, the other my drudge; not so
humouring the worse part, as to discontent the better; nor so wholly re∣garding the better, as al∣together to discourage the worse: Both are thine, both by gift, and purchase; inable thou me to give each of them their Dues, so as the one may be fitted with all humble obsequi∣ousnesse to serve; the o∣ther to rule and command with all just authority, and moderation.
1 Tim. 4.8.
1 Cor. 9.27.