Chap. 20. An Expofitionupon the Book, of J O. B. Verf. 2.2. flraitens his fpitits, it ftrairens his defignes ; every way he is ftraitnéd. to be in flraits is to be in loch affliaion, that a man knowes not which way to turnehimfelfe , or what to doe next. Every affliction is a kinde of prifon great afli:aions , Ilraiten greatly, and (huts us up faß in prifon, Hence obferve When it is heft withwickedmen in their owne opinion, cr accord- ing to their pr%nt pofeon, then their worfi is approaching. I will not flay upon the generali difcourfe of this common theame, but onely (hew toure wayes diflintily in which a carnali man may be Paid to be in fraits in the middefc of his fufficiency, or in the fulneffeof it. First, Carnali men are in firaits in the time of their fufñ. ciency , as being troubled what to doe with their abundance. That's the cafe of fome. I need give no other proofe of it then that reprefented ( Leek. I 2. 19. ) which at leali fuppofeth, that loch a thing may be. There was a certain rich man, whole ground brought forth abundance, and he laid, what Jhall I doe with all this? The manwas troubled what to doe with it; he was hard put to it for flowage, or where to befow it. He muff pull downe his barnes and make bigger. This is a ftrait that carnali men are in, in the middeft of their fu(Ficiency : but I quefion whether that be here intended. Secondly, A reali lirait isupon him, how to keephis abun- rn an,Jcane dance, how to prate&what he hath gotten. ' He is in many Britfolicitur (traits about this poynt, how to protect his flore that it be not quomcda cant loft, and taken from him. What fhall I doe to keepe this crea- cgnjervat. Druf. lure ? how (hall I hold it ? I am affraid it will get away from me. It is a common fpeech ; Agreat 'hip, is agreat care ; a great Migna navio deale of the things ofthe world are a great worldly burthen ; magna curd they that arin the fullef lufficiency ofoutward things, their Oates and poffeffions bring them in as great an increafe of troubles as of revenues. As they have plentie of riches fo they cannot avoyde plentieofbufines and labour about them. Some old rich men have faid, theywere then as hard put toit to keepe their riches, as they were in their youngerdayes to gather and heap up riches. There is a third lirait, which is worfe then the former ; as B b -b b he 553
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