rate our Defires of them; and in fome sense whilst we are in the Body, to live without it. But this, I say, whilft in Health and Vigor, we find to be a very difficult Work. And therefore to assist us in our Duty, and to enable us to despise the Charms and Dalliance of this flattering World, God is pleased (as an instance of his tender Care over us) to take us into his School, the School of Affliction; there by gentle Discipline to teach us this great Lesson, Of being mortified to the World. And in order to our improvement, he usually proceeds in this Method. If he doth not take this World from us, (by depriving us of our greatest Comforts) he then takes us from this World, even whilft we are in it: By embittering it to us; and by making us uncapable to relish its Enjoy ments. We 1 /. We all know by experience : That not only a vigorous Constitution of Body, (which we call Health) but also a fuitable Disposition of Bodily Parts and Organs, are absolutely necessary to partake of sensual Pleasures. The brightest Colours, for instance, and the most curious Pictures, are no Diversion to a Blind Man. And the most ravishing Musick doth as little affect the Marr that is Deaf. And the Experiment is the fame in other Delights of a grosser Nature. The most poinant Sauces, and the richest Wines, are no Reliflı to a distemper'd Palate. And there is a time (in the WifeMan's language) When Defire Shall fail. Now this Natural Mortification (as I may call it) is a good Introduction to that which is Spiritual. When When either Sickness or Old Age, have so weakened the Body, that thereby they disable it from the Act of Sin; then a serious Confideration, assisted by the Grace of God, will more easily fubdue the very Defire. And having thus lost our Taste, the greatest Dainties which this World can present, will be flat and infipid. Thus Sickness and Diseases, by disabling the Body, and weakening its sense of Pleasure, do wean us from this World: And by thus teaching us our Duty, do work for our Good. 5. The Fifth Benefit of T His Sickness and Pain dotk work for your Good, by fit ting and preparing you for the Hap piness of another World. To To be Happy, is not only to be in a fine delightful Place, and to have the Local Prefence of delightful Objects; but there is further required, a Capacity to enjoy those Objects; and by the Mediation of suitable Parts and Faculties, to be united to them. Now to explain this distinctly, I must remind you, that there are Two Sorts of Pleasures; Corporeal and Spiritual. Corporeal Pleasures are those, which the Soul perceives by the Mediation of the Body, and Bodily Senses. As Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Fasting, Touching. Spiritual Pleasures are those, which the Soul perceives by the immediate Exercise of its Rational Faculties, the Understanding and the Will. To relish Bodily Pleasures, there is not only required certain Parts and Organs, (for you cannot See without your Eyes, nor nor Hear without your Ears;) but also it is further necessary, that those Parts and Organs should be duly Qualified, and rightly Disposed. For though you have Eyes in your Head; yet if the Tunicles of the Eye are diforder'd, and the Humours of it are vitiated, the Eye doth either not See; or else, not in a due and right Manner. And thus it is with the rest of the Senses. When the Parts and Organs are defective, there is no true Senfation: And as Bodily Parts and Organs are thus necefssary to receive Bodily Pleasures, in like manner, a peculiar Temper and Disposition of Soul, is as necessary to partake of Spiritual Pleafures. Hence the Apostle doth admonish us, To give thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the |