Pleasures of Righteousnesse, not discerned by unrighteous Men; And how so. [ 1378]
THe Roman Souldiers,* 1.1 when at the sacking of Ierusalem, they entred the Temple, and went into the Sanctum Sanctorum; but seeing no Images there, as they used to have in their own idolatrous Temples, gave out in a jeer, that the Iews worshipped the clouds. And thus because the pleasures of Righteousnesse and holinesse, are not so grosse,* 1.2 as to come under the cognisance of the Worlds carnal senses (as their brutish ones do) therefore they laugh at the Saints, as if their Ioy were but the child of Fancy, and that they do but embrace a cloud instead of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her self, a phantastick pleasure for the true; But let such know, that they carry in their bosome, what will help them to think the pleasures of a holy life more reall; and that the power of Holinesse, is so far from depriving a Man of the joy and pleasure of his life; that there are incomparable delights and plea∣sures peculiar to the holy life,* 1.3 which the gracious Soul finds in the wayes of Righ∣teousnesse, and no stranger intermeddles with his joy: The truth is, they lie inward, and therefore it is that the World speaks so wildly and ignorantly of them.