Works of Joseph Hall, Section 21
SECT. XXI.
BVt, if there be any Sorcereſſe vponupon earth, it is pleaſure:The vanitie of pleaſure; the third enemy on the right hand. which ſo inchanteth the minds of men, and worketh the diſturbance of our Peace, with ſuch ſecret delight, that fooliſh men thinke this want of Tranquillitie, happineſſe. She turneth men into ſwine, with ſuch ſweet charmes, that they would not change their brutiſh nature, for their former reaſon. It is a good vnquietneſſe (ſay they) that contenteth: it is a good enemy, that profiteth. Is it any wonder that men ſhould be ſottiſh, when their reaſon is maſtered with ſenſualitie? Thou foole, thy pleaſure contents thee: how much? how long? If ſhe hauehave not more befriended thee, than euer ſhe did any earthly fauorite: yea, if ſhe hauehave not giuen thee more, than ſhee hath her ſelfe; thy beſt delight hath had ſome mixture of diſcontentment. For either ſome circumſtance croſſeth thy deſire, or the inward diſtaſte of thy conſcience (checking thine appetite) permits thee not any entire fruition of thy ioy. Euen the ſweeteſt of all flowers hath his thornes: and who can determine whether the ſent be more delectable, or the pricks more irkeſome? It is enough for heauen to hauehave abſolute pleaſures: which if they could bee found here below; certainly, that heauen, which is now not enough deſired, would then bee feared. God will hauehave our pleaſures here (according to the faſhion of our ſelues) compounded: ſo as the beſt delights may ſtill ſauour of their earth. See how that great King, which neuer had any match for wiſdome, ſcarce euer any ſuperiour for wealth; trauerſed ouer all this inferiour world, with diligent inquiry, and obſeruation, and all to finde out that goodneſſe of the children of men which they enioy vnderunder the Sunne; abridging himſelfe of nothing that either his eyes, or his heart could ſuggeſt to him: (as what is it, that he could not either know or purchaſe?) and now comming home to himſelfe, (after the diſquiſition of all naturall and humane things) complaines, that Behold, all is not onelyonly vanitie, but vexation. Goe then, thou wiſe Scholler of experience, and make a more accurate ſearch for that which hee ſought, and miſſed. Perhaps ſome-where (betwixt the talleſt Cedar in Lebanon, and the ſhrubby Hyſop vponupon the wall) Pleaſure ſhrouded her ſelfe, that ſhe could not be deſcried of him; whether through ignorance, or negligence: thine in-ſight may be more piercing, thy meanes more commodious, thy ſucceſſe happier. If it were poſſible for any man to entertaine ſuch hopes, his vaine experience could not make him a greater foole: it could but teach him what he is and knoweth not. And yet ſo imperfect, as out Pleaſures are, they hauehave their ſatietie: and as their Continuance is not good, ſo their Concluſion is worſe: looke to the end, and ſee how ſudden, how bitter it is. Their onelyonly Courteſie is, to ſalute vsus with a farewell; and ſuch a one, as makes their ſalutation vncomfortable. This Dalila ſhewes and ſpeakes faire; but in the end ſhe will bereaue thee of thy ſtrength, of thy ſight, yea of thy ſelfe. Theſe Gnats flie about thine eares, and make thee muſicke awhile; but euermore they ſting, ere they part. Sorrow and Repentance, is the beſt end of Pleaſure: Paine is yet worſe; but the worſt is Deſpaire. If thou miſſe of the firſt of theſe, one of the latter ſhall finde thee; perhaps both. How much better is it for thee, to want a little honie, than to bee ſwolne vp with a venomous ſting?
Thus then, the minde reſolued that theſe earthly things (Honour, Wealth, Pleaſures) are caſuall, vnſtable, deceitfull, imperfect, dangerous; muſt learne to vſe than without truſt, and to want them without griefe; thinking ſtill, If I hauehave them, I hauehave ſome benefit with a great charge: If I hauehave them not; with little reſpect of others, I hauehave much ſecuritie and eaſe, in my ſelfe: which once obtained, wee cannot fare amiſſe in either eſtate; and without which, we cannot but miſcarrie in both.