The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 35
MEDITAT. XXXV. Further Diſſwaſives from the Conſideration of the Nature of our Souls.
SEcondly, If we value our ſelves onelyonly as men, Creatures of Noble Natures and large Capacities, let us conſider that the World with all its Trinity of Riches, Pleaſures and Honours, in Inferior and Inadequate to our Souls; below our Faculties, and inſufficient to our Neceſſities. 'Tis juſtly accounted diſhonourable for Perſons of Noble Extraction or Ingenious Education to mingle themſelves with perſons, or in things mean and unſuitable to them, as if it were a debaſing and degrading of themſelves: but if this mixture be a familiarity, 'tis ſtill worſe; and if this familiarty be an Union, 'tis worſt of all. What a ſtir and a clatter do we make about a Gentleman marrying his Maid, or a Lady her Groom. Great Indignation ariſes to the Gentry of the Neighbourhood preſently, and much wonderment to the reſt. But the Soul of the meaneſt man, matching with the moſt ſplendid Object in the Creation, and uniting its ſelf thereunto, incurs a far ſorer Cenſure, and requires a far greater pity. The Sun ſtooping to Mortal Clymene, or the Moon to the Sheperds Boy Endimion, or Venus in the Arms of dirty Vulcan, or Jupiter aſſuming Horns and Hoofs, for the ſake of a mortal Miſtreſs, or whatſoever the Poets have invented to the diſparagement of their wanton Deities, does but repreſent the infamous mixture which that off-ſpring of Heaven, the Soul of Man, does make of it ſelf with things terrene and mortal. A generous Eagle preying upon Carrion, or a glorious Star falling from its Sphere, and choaking it ſelf in the duſt; or the Romane Emperour catching Flies, are tollerable Abſurdities in comparriſon of that abominable and miſchievous Choice which all worldly minded Men in the World do make. Does the Maker of Souls, who beſt knows the worth of them, value one Soul, any one Soul againſt the whole World? And ſhall we think a little ſcantling of this World, a fit match for Millions of Souls? Doſt thou not know, O my Soul, that thou art the Son of God, the Brother of Angels, nay even of the Angel of the Covenant by Adoption; and canst thou pitch and fix upon any Object below God himſelf? It is unreaſonable, it is unjuſt, it is ſinful and ſhameful. Believe it, all inordinate love of thy ſelf is an Inceſtuous, and of other things a Sodomitical Conjunction.
And beſides the Relation and Capacity of Souls, we may diſtinctly conſider the wants and neceſſities of Souls, which are ſuch, that the World and the fulneſs thereof cannot ſupply or relieve. The Appetites and Thirſts of Souls are great and ſtrong, which the Creatures Ciſtern can never ſlake and quench. There is a kind of infinity in the luſtings and cravings of Souls, which all the Poſſeſſions and Conqueſts of the World could never yet fully gratifie; Curtae neſcio quid ſemper abeſt rei. You may as well imagine that Behemoth that drinketh up Jordan into his mouth, ſhould be ſatisfi'd with one drop of a Bucket, or the wrangling of a hungry Infant for the full Breaſt, ſhould be from day to day ſilent by Gawds and Rattles; as that the Thirſts of a Soul which are after Reſt and Happineſs, ſhould be quencht and ſatisfi'd by Creature fulneſs. No, no, the whole World is thoſe Husks, that will not fill the Belly of the Hungry Prodigal: Take it in all its dimenſions, and a Man may ſay of it, The Bed is too ſhort for a Soul to ſtretch it ſelf upon, and the Covering is too narrow for a Soul to wrap it ſelf in.
To which I may add, That the Heart of Man is alſo a Sacred Thing, a Thing Conſecrate to God. The Prophanation of Temples was ever bann'd, our Saviour was never ſo tranſported with Zeal, as againſt the Profaners of the Temple; but certainly to entertain the World into our Hearts is greater Prophaneneſs, than to drive a Trade in the Temple, to make a Dove Houſe or a Stable of it.