Three tractates by Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N.

SECT. XXIII.

2. Resolution, to abate of our desires.

SEcondly, we must resolve to abate of our desires; for it is the illimitednesse of our am∣bitious, and covetous thoughts, that is guilty of our unquiet∣nesse; Every man would be, and have more then he is; and is therefore sick of what he is not. It was a true word of Democri∣tus, If we desire not much, we shall think a little much: and it is sutable to one of the rules of S. Augustine; it is better to need lesse, then to have more: Paul, the richest poor man, (as Ambrose well) could say, As ha∣ving all things, yet possessing * 1.1 nothing: It is not for a Christi∣an to be of the Dragons temper, which they say is so ever thirsty,

that no water will quench his drought; and therefore never hath his mouth shut; nor with the daughters of the Horseleach to cry alwayes, Give, give; He * 1.2 must confine his desires; and that, to no overlarge compasse; and must say to them, as God doth to the Sea, Hitherto shalt * 1.3 thou come, and no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.

What a cumber it is for a man to have too much? to be in the case of Surena the Parthian Lord, that could never remove his family with lesse then a thou∣sand Camels? What is this, but Tortoise-like to be clogg'd with a weighty shell, which we can∣not drag after us, but with pain? Or like the Ostrich, to be so held down with an heavie body that we can have no use of our wings? Whereas the nimble Lark rises and mounts with ease, and sings chearfully in her flight.

How many have we known, that have found too much flesh a burden? and when they have found their blood too rank, have been glad to pay for the letting it out? It was the word of that old and famous Lord Keeper Bacon, the eminent Head of a noble and witty family, Medi∣ocria firma: There is neither safety, nor true pleasure in exces: it was a wise and just answer of Zeno the Philosopher, who re∣proving the superstuity of a feast, and hearing by way of defence, that the Maker of it was a rich man, and might well spare it, said; If thy Cook shall oversalt thy broth, and when he is chid for it, shall say, I have store e∣nough of salt lying by mee: wouldst thou take this for a fair answer?

My Son, eat thou honey, saith * 1.4 Solomon; because it is good: but, to be sure, for the preveat∣ing all immoderation, he addes

soon after; Hast thou found * 1.5 honey? eat so much as is suffi∣cient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith: if our appetite carry us too far, we may easily surfeit; this (which is the embleme of pleasure) must be tasted (as Di∣onysius the Sophist said of old) on the tip of the finger; not be supt up in the hollow of the hand: It is with our desires as it is with weak stomachs, the quantity offends, even where the food is not unwholsome; and if heed be not taken, one bit draws on another, till na∣ture be overlaid; Both plea∣sures and profits (if way be gi∣ven to them) have too much power to debauch the minde, and to work it to a kinde of in∣satiablenesse; there is a thirst that is caused with drunkennes; and the wanton appetite, like as they said of Messalina, may be wearied, but cannot be satisfied; It is good therefore to give au∣stere

repulses to the first over∣tures of inordinate desires, and to give strong denials to the first unruly motions of our hearts; For, S. Chrysostome well; plea∣sure is like a Dog, which being coyed, and stroked, followes us at the heels, but if rated, and beaten off, is driven away from us with ease.

It is for the Christian heart to be taken up with other desires, such as wherein there can be no danger of immoderatenesse: These are the holy longings af∣ter grace and goodnesse; This only covetousnesse, this ambi∣tion is pleasing to God, and in∣finitely beneficiall to the soule. Blessed are they which hunger * 1.6 and thirst after righteousnesse, for they shall be filled: Spiritu∣all blessings are the true riches whereof we can never have e∣nough. S. Ambrose said truly, No man is indeed wealthy, that cannot carry away what he hath

with him: What is left behinde, * 1.7 is not ours, but other mens: Contemne thou whiles thou art alive, that which thou canst not enjoy when thou art dead.

As for this earthly trash, and the vaine delights of the flesh, which we have so fondly doted on; we cannot carry them in∣deed away with us, but the sting of the guilty mis-enjoying of them will be sure to stick by us; and, to our sorrow, attend us both in Death and Judgement: In summe therefore, if we would be truly contented, and happy, our hearts can never be enough enlarged in our desires of spiri∣tuall and heavenly things, never too much contracted in our de∣sires of earthly.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambros. de vitiorum & virtu∣tum confli∣ctus.
• * 1.2

  Pro. 30. 15
• * 1.3

  Job 38. 11
• * 1.4

  Pro. 24. 13
• * 1.5

  Pro. 25. 16
• * 1.6

  Mat. 5. 6.
• * 1.7

  Ambros. Epist. 27.