THE CONCLVSION. 139 



prefently gJutteth with fatiety,and is attended with annoy and with 

 diflike: and the often ufing and repeating it', wcarcth away that 

 edge of pleafure, which only makcth it fweete and valuable , even 

 to them that fet their hearts upon it ; and nothing heighteneth it 

 but an irritation by a convenient hunger and abftinence. Contra- 

 ry wife, in the foule, the great and more violent the pleafure is, the 

 more intenfe and vehement the fruition is ; and the oftner it is re- 

 peated, fo much the greater appetite and defire we have, to returne 

 unto the fame ; and nothing provoketh us more , then the entire 

 and abfolute fruition of it. If a fuddaine change from one extreame 

 of flc(h and blood, to the other oppoiice pole of fpirituall delights 

 and enter uinements, feeme harfh to him , whole thoughts by long 

 afiuefaftion, are glewed to coporall objects ; let him beginne with 

 gently bridling in his inferiour motions under a faire rule of go- 

 vernement : If hee cannot prefently fupprefleand totally mortiHe 

 their clamorous delires , let him at the lead moderate and ftecre 

 them according to the bent of reafon. If wee will but follow this 

 courfe which nature teacheth us, to heighten even our fenfuall de- 

 lights and pleafures, by reasonable moderation of them to their 

 o wne advantage ; we (hall finde her fo kinde a mother to us, that of 

 her felfe (he will at length quell and diiincurnber us of all our ene- 

 mies. If we but temperately attend her worke, (he will quietly waft 

 us over to our defired end , to our beloved happinefle. I a a few 

 yeares>by boy ling away our unruly heate,fhee will abate,and in the 

 end quite weare away the fenfe of thofe tranfporting pleafures, wee 

 ufed to take Co much delight in the fruicion of. With in a while , 

 rheumes will fo clogge our tongue and palates , that wee (ball but 

 fUtly relifli the mod poinanc meates. Our dulled eares will no lon- 

 ger devours with delight, the ravifhing found of fweete harmonies. 

 Our dimme eyes will carry to our heaviefanfie but confuted newes 

 of any beautifull and pleating objects. Our flopped nofethriles 

 will afford no paflfage for fpiricfull perfumes, to warme and recre- 

 ate our moyft and drowlie braine. In a word, nature will ere long, 

 warne us to take a long farewell of all thofe contentments and de- 

 lights* which require a ftrong, vigorous,and athletike habite of bo- 

 dy to enjoy. She will (hew us,by fetting our graves before our eyes, 

 how vaine this glittering fanfie of honour is: how unprofitable 

 the ftaflfc of power to underproppe our falling being ; how more 

 burtheafome then helpefull are thofe maflie heapes of gold and fil- 



(Lll) ver, 



