524 Of HEAVE N. ~ <!:~~- Xl!I. ~a;·c fqrc'd to al.tcr their Cow-fe by the \hanging of f.tic.\ Winds ; fb~ '.~is)(vith ~sin our p.tffage here. But upon thdirf[ entrance .rnto anorher ,World, aB the \'ilf r~tions of th is arc ar .an e n~ . __ Verdy _every 11an at l~ts bejl eJI.Ate H 11ltog~tljer Vam!J. S11.Ytly every 1l1an wa/):s m .1 vt~ in ft;eJv, }rtHIJ: they are difquleted in 'ZJ.Itin. ThC vifible Pel\cit}l of Man is of no. cont lllllancc. \ Vc may frequently obfervc in the Evcnin·g, a Clou~ by the refleB:ion of tile Sun invefted with fo bright a Luftre, and adorn'd with frkh a pleafant variety of Colours, tha t in r.Jre Judgment o~ our Eyes, if an Angel \vcrc (o alfumc a Body correfpon- ~}~r;e~~l~~; s b~~~~~~l :f1e'~~~i:a~~ ~~r;,~[ti~~~t "~~~c/~~~:~~u~;~~ of ;~~~h~~cF;ie~~fdsa~~~ ing ~ppear.ance, nmhin~ ren~_a!ns but adark ,V_apour, that falls c~own in a Shower.. Thus vanr0111lg rs ~be fhew ot Felrc!tY here. In tbrs, Senfe affifts Faith; for the expcnence of "'very day verrfies what ~he Scripture declares, tlw t/Je FapJion of thii World pajf" away. Ami therefore the guilty 1'olly of Men is aggravated, to [et tlmr EJ" and Heam upon tb.at ,~htch u not.! . Tq fee one paffion~tely dote on a Face ruin'd and derorm'd with Age, to ~be m~ha med without a Charm, ratfes wonder, and expofes to contcml?t· Yet fuch is the tluptdity of Men to cmbr~cc with their moft entire AffCEt.ions the \\'rther'd Vaniries of the V..'orld, that are h~fie~tng to their Period. 'Twas a flinging reproach ~a Idolaters from God, .None confiders m hu Heart, neitber is there /(poJV!edg nor 'Vnderjlandmg, to fay 1/J~ve b11rn1 part of it in t~Je Fire; yett, I have alfo baked Bread upon ~he Coals thereof : i have ro4fed f lejb and eaten tt; andfhalll make the rejidtte an Abo'i'inatJon? jbdll I f all do"• r.p tlJe flock of a Tree ? And are not fenfual Men equally guilty of fuch monftrous Folly I fo r tho univerfal Experience convinces them, that all things under the Sun are fading, and that many times their deareft Comforts are fnatch'd away from their Embraces; yet who does advifcdly confider, and fay to himfelf, Shall I give my Heart to tranfient Shadows? ~~~1 1~ ?"~\~;~k~ ~~filiip~r~~ ~~~ck~e ~d~~~~·y0~r"~~~~~~gr~:~~~e~~;~tis~~r;~)f~ ;rod as deftruClive to fet our chiefLove and Joy, that is only due to God, upon the Creature. And what follows in the Prophet, is juftly applicable to fuch Perfons; Hefeedeth on Ajbes, (that not only afford no nourifhment, but is very hurtful to the Body ) a deceived Htart has turn'd him aftde, that he cannot deliver his So11l, nor Jay, Is there not a Lie in my right Hand? Thus Carnal Men are fo blinded with their AfFeClions to thefe fhort-liv'd Pleafurcs, that they cannot take the true liberty of judging and refleCling that they are deceived and delighted with empty Shadows that will fuddenly end in difappointmenc and f~r;~~v~i~d:e~r,~tt~~~ ~Rt~~~~ 1:~!o~,ikd r~~d~fY~~~nr~~ ~1~i~r:'J~~or;;ro;r,~~ and dance, with a conceit that he is a Prince, would you be willing to lofe fober Reafon for his phantaftiek Pleafure, efpecially if you knew that his chearful Fit fhould fuddenly change into a mournful or raging Madt\cfs for ever? But the Blelfedoefs.above is unchangeable as God the Author and ObjeCl of it, Eternal as the Soul that enJoys it. And fhall the World that pa!Jes away w1th the Lufli thereof, turn our A.f[effions from the tmdefied (:~~~}:;r;~hb':t;;;~h;;~1~;~aa:~i~~~gJ~J~"b!.a?c:r ~l~e.~~e~r"~::~:r~!. ~[PR~~~~ Love to our Souls be left, we jbal! count all things but drJ, and dtmg, tbat we m"} g•inthe J(jngdom of Glory. Thus Eternity inlighteos, thus it counfels us; CHAP.
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