Christian Epicurians

"A godly man in his afflictions is, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, (2 Cor. 6:10) and in his abundance, he hath all things, but possesseth nothing: for he possesses things, as if he did not possess them, as the Apostle's counsel is, (1 Cor. 7:31) He marries as if he married not; he weeps as if he wept not; he rejoices as if he rejoiced not; he buys as if he possessed not; because the fashion of this world passeth away. It was an excellent speech of Luther, concerning worldly things; "I have protested, that I will never be satisfied with the creature, (this is to be a Protestant in deed, as well as in truth)". A godly man is an Epicure in Christ; he would never play the Epicure, but in Christ, and in God: In them, and towards them, he gives his affections their full swing, and as a wicked man is said to enlarge his desires (after the Earth) as Hell, (Hab. 2:5) so he enlarges his desires (after Heaven) as Heaven, and complains his desires are no larger. In the thoughts of Christ he sits down, and would take his fill, he saith, "I am safe in Him, I am quiet and at rest"; he saith to his soul, "soul, doest thou see That Christ, and doest thou take notice of those promises? Thou hast goods laid up in Him, in them for many years, yea for eternity, soul take thine ease, take it fully, thou hast riches, thou hast an estate that can never be spent, soul, eat, drink, and be merry; His blood is drink indeed, and his flesh is meat indeed, joy in Christ is joy indeed, unspeakable joy here, and fullness of joy hereafter; In His presence there is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore." Until the soul pitches thus on Christ, it is not in safety, much less in rest or quiet."

From Practical Observations on Job by Joseph Caryl, page 475, Volume 1.