270 Reafons tohjwadevrfrom the lowofthe world. as theyhaue nogreat goodne(lé in them whilefl wee haue them,lb thoughthey had,yet we hauenoaffurance of them; that they arevaine, and ofno excellencie, and yet mingled with a multitude of miferics; there will bee little reafon whywe fhould greatly loue them; andmuch leffewhy wee fhouldpreferre thewbeforeGods fpírituall graces and hea- uenly ioies; or accept of them as Satanswages, whereby he perfwadeth vs to fernehim by committing offinne, wherby wehazard the loffeofour foules, and ofour heauenly inhe- ritance, which are infinitelyof more worth then the whole world. 4 SeFz<.3. Fir(i therefore wee are to know, that theworld and the Tbat the befi heft things which it canboafi of,are but meere vanities, and tbing, the in con-Tani-onofGods fpiritual graces,and our heauenly in- world can boat.' heritance,ofno worth or excellencie; neither is there any of are but thing intheearth great or excellent, but theChriflian mind . ,eere vanities. whichcontemneth and defp ifeth thee highly efleemed va- nities.They make a faire Phew indeed to thofe,whofe iudge- ments arealreadieforeflalled with the falfe conceitsoftheir corrupt fle(h, and feetne to be offomevalue and greacneffe to thofcwho look vpon them through the fpectlacles ofaffe. ólion. But ifwee pul offtheir falle couers,and feriouflyand vnpartially behola themafter their deceiuing colours and painted vizards are laidafide, we (hall find theworld in his chicle beatific and pompe tobee but aglorious hypocrite, faire in !hew, and foule in truth, profe(ling andpromitïng much, and performing nothing; or a beautifullfepulcher outwardly adorned with all cofi andbrauerie, but within full offlench androttenneffe;or likeveto our fairebuildings in thefe times, which making a fumptuous Phew to thepaf- fers by, feeme to invite poore men to receiue reliefe; but withinhaue no prouifion for hofpitalitie,nor food to refrefh thofe whoRand in need. The like vanitiealto is inall thofe worldly things,which are to affe &led and admired ofthofe, whohaue ere6led them in their hearts, as their idolswhom they ferne and adore; herein indeed truly rcfemblingidols and images, which are outwardly adorned with gold and precious ornaments,and make reprefeutationof fome excel- lent
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