knowing that men naturally are affected with nothing more then with pleasure and ioy, and doe shunne aboue all things sorrow and sadnesse, they vse all their Art to blinde and delude vs; by offering to our view all the pleasures of carnall and corrupt courses, and hiding from vs the griefes and mischiefes which alwayes attend vpon them, and like a bitter tang or lothsome after-taste, doe vtterly spoile these sinfull and fleshly de∣licacies. And contrariwise, they offer to our consideration all the sorrow and smart, losses and worldly inconueniences, which they must vndergoe who resolue to please God, in the strict and constant performance of the duties belonging to a godly life, concealing in the meane while the mani∣fold comforts which doe accompany them, and the inestimable ioyes, and euerlasting happinesse, vnto which they attaine that continue in them vn∣to the end. For the answering of which obiection, wee are first to know, that though there were as much sadnesse, and as little ioy for the present time in the godly life, as is pretended by our spirituall enemies, yet this should not discourage vs from chusing and imbracing it; seeing both the pleasures and paines, solace and sorrowes of this life are but short and mo∣mentany, whereas both the ioyes and griefes which shall immediately succeed them, are endlesse and euerlasting. In which regard, wee are to account that mirth miserable, which ends in perpetuall mourning, and that sorrow and sadnesse sweet and comfortable, which is attended with eternall and heauenly ioyes. So our Sauiour, Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall bee comforted. And againe; Blessed are yee that weepe now, for ye shall laugh; and woe vnto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourne and weepe. Now if wee worthily abhorre vnwholesome meates and drinkes, though they be neuer so sweet and pleasant to our taste, because we lose that de∣light which we take in them, by the bitter paines of sicknesse, indangering our liues, which soone after followeth it; and if we loue that wholesome, though bitter medicine, which freeth vs from tedious sickenesse, and pre∣serueth our health: why should we not be alike wise in spirituall things, which concerne our soules, hating those carnall and sinfull pleasures, which indanger them to sickenesse and euerlasting death, and louing those Christian and holy duties, though they bee bitter and vnpleasant to our fleshly and corrupt appetite, which preserue our spirituall health, and certainely assure vs of eternall life and happinesse? Neither are the religi∣ous exercises of a godly life harsh and vnpleasant, either in their owne na∣ture, or to vs in the spirituall part, and so farre foorth as we are regenerate and sanctified: yea, rather they are of incomparable sweetnesse, aboue the honey and honey combe, and affect vs in the inner man with vnspeak∣able ioy and delight, as we see in the example of Dauid, the Apostle Paul, and our Sauiour Christ himselfe: but to our carnall appetite and sinfull flesh, which (like a sicke and aguish stomake, full of corrupt and noy∣some humours) doth bring our pallate quite out of taste, iudging those spirituall duties which are sweet and pleasant, bitter and lothsome, and our sinfull vices and workes of darkenesse, that are sowre and harsh to a right iudging taste, delightfull and well-rellishing. And therefore, see∣ing wee are not (as the Apostle speaketh) debters vnto the flesh, that wee should fulfill the lusts thereof, let not this distaste which it feeleth in reli∣gious