Be acquainted with the
whole range of sensual desires, and pay attention to
them, and watch them in all their extravagances.
Otherwise, while you are stopping one gap, they will be
running out at many more. I will here briefly set some
before your eyes:
1. Watch your appetites as to food and drink--both
quantity and quality. Gluttony is a common sin. The
flesh enslaves men most--by the appetite; as we see in
drunkards and gluttons.
2. Take heed of the lust of uncleanness, and all degrees
of it, and approaches to it; especially immodest
embraces and behavior.
3. Take heed of ribald, filthy talk, and love songs, and
of such sensuous snares.
4. Take heed of too much sleep and idleness.
5. Take heed of taking too much delight in your riches
and lands, your buildings, and delectable conveniences.
6. Take heed lest honors, or worldly greatness, or men's
applause--become too great a pleasure to you.
7. And take heed lest the success and prosperity of your
affairs do too much please you--as the rich fool, "And
I'll say to myself--You have plenty of good things laid
up for
many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
Luke 12:19
8. Take heed of an inordinate pleasure in your children,
relations, or nearest friends.
9. Take heed of a delight in vain, unprofitable, sinful
company.
10. Take heed of fineness of apparel--to set you out to
the eyes of others.
11. Take heed of a delight in romances, novels, useless
news--which corrupt the mind, and waste your time.
12. Take heed of a delight in any recreations which are
excessive, needless, devouring time, discomposing the
mind, enticing to further sin, hindering any
duty--especially
our delight in God. They are miserable souls, who
delight themselves in such unprofitable things--as
cards, and dice, and theaters, and immodest dancing.
