Temporal pleasures, a great hinderance to spiritual joys. [ 357]
ARistotle maketh mention of a parcel of ground in Sicily, that sends forth such a strong smell of fragrant flowers to all the fields and le••zows thereabout,* 1.1 that no Hound can hunt there; the scent* 1.2 is so confounded with the smell of those flow∣ers:* 1.3 It is a thing considerable in this licentious age of ours, whether the sweet plea∣sures, and profits of the world, have not wrought the like effect in our souls, whether they have not taken away all scent and sence too, of heavenly joyes; whether they hinder us not in our spiritual chase;* 1.4 if not, we may take the greater joy and comfort in them, because it is an Argument of true happiness, not to be overcome of earthly delights, not to be corrupted with temporal happiness.