1817 Nov 19

Not Paul

II. Doctrine

Ch. In Jesus no Asceticism

§.1. Negative proof

Among the items contained in /Of the two classes in one or other of which are

comprizable/ the list of pleasures of which the list of pleasures is composed, those

to which the attacks of asceticism have applied themselves with greatest energy are

the pleasures of sense: and among those of sense that in which the individual, and

that in which the species respectively depend for their preservation say pleasures of

the palate /table/ and sexual pleasures /pleasures of the bed/.

On no occasion against either of these classes in the aggregate or against any one

modification of them taken separately among the sayings of Jesus, as recorded in any

one of the four Gospel histories, will so much as a single /any one/ saying, whereby

directly or indirectly any mark of reprobation is cast upon any of these pleasures,

be found.

Of the truth of this position a proof more summary and more satisfactory than negative as is the complexion of it, might readily have been

imagined, may be seen in the /a/ work of an orthodox and dignified divine of the

Church of England, viz. Gastrell Bishop of Chester—his Christian institutes.