Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v9

286 Chap.3o. An Expofitiox upen the Book of J o B. Verf.31 Time is (port in all the notions of ir. Take it Fide for the whole duration of this world , from the firft day of the creation to the day ofthe diffolution of all things fo (compared with eternity) time is fhort, all times put together make but a fhort rime. Secondly, take Time for the whole duration of any one mans life, fo 'cis fhorrer, fo (bore, that 'ris nothing. Thirdly, take time, for the fpeciall feafon eyther of doing or enjoying good in this life, fo'eis fhorteft ofall. The fhortnes of time in all thefe confederations, but efpccially in the laft, (hook( keepe our hearts in a great deale of modera. tion towards the belt and fweeteft ofour worldly enoyments. And indeed All thefe Noti in the Apoftles text, before alledged, are not negations, but Moderations or qualifications of our re- fpeets to earthly contcntments. Wee are as apt to over-doe, or to doe too much in worldly things, as we are to under-doe, or to doe too little in heavenly things. Our two great faylings are, fide, that wedoe but makeufe of thofe things which wee fhould enjoy; fecondly, that weenjoy thofe things which we fhould only make ufe of. Ohow few are there who have learnt that holy art ofMatria gn, To have wives as if they had nene ? How feware there who have learned that holy trade of Merchandize, b..y as ifthey pffeffed not ? How few are there who have lear- ned that holy skill and cunning in Muficke and di [ports, To re- joyce as ifthey rejoyced not ? How few have learned that divine wifdotne, which containes all that was fayd before, To afe this world as not abufang it. Now what ftronger arguments can be ufed to provokeevery man to the Rudy and attainement of all there poynts of fpirituall learning then thefe two which the Apoftle urgeth ; prxfixing the former of them before all thefe prac`ttcall leffons, The Time ea _Mort ;and doting them all with the latter, TheFalhion of this worldpafeth away. As the world it felfe (hall paffe away fhortly, fo the molt beautiful) and .de- lightful! fcheames or fhewes of ir are palling away every mo- ment. And as every man at his bell cu ate is altogether vanity, (m¡al. 39. 5.) fo is the belt worldly effare of all ran. In the 29thChapter ofthis Booke, ?ob appeared as likely as any man to continue in his profperity, andnow you fee through what a hard Chapter ofhis adverfity I have travailed; The way of this 30th Chapter is let with briers and thornes, 'cis full of gall

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