That worldly things arev»profitable. 499 moff efleemeable. But betides theyare alike vnprofitable for thinsdo not the freeing ofvs from the greateft cuils, and fuccouring and belie' to free vr deliuering vs inour grearefl extremities. So the Prophet Sa- from our gYeeaa- meeel calleth themvaine things whichcannot profit vs, nordell- tryst they do not taer vs,becaufe theyarebat vanitie. For fir(l, they do not free dt iiuer vsPam vs from dangers,nor deliuervs whenwe arc fallen into them, djngers . only in the time offecuritie and peace, they promifevs im- r.Sam.ia.xs. munitieand freedome fromperils, and in the timeofdanger they allure vs to relie vpon them; but when we come into our greatefl extremities, they proue but reeds and broken flaues, which do not fupport vs,but rather wound our hearts with Briefe, when as wee fee our felt.tes forfakenof thole things in timeofneed, wherein we placed ourchicle confi- dence. And as thofewho hawing fallen into the water, and are in dangerofdrowning, doas theyare falling, orwhdeft they are flotingon the water, catch hold on that which is next at hand, neuer confidering whether it be fuficicnrto flayand hold themvp ; and fo their fupport prouing weake and rotten,failethand failetb with them: foworldlymenbe- ing readieto fall into the pit ofdanger, do fuddenly catch hold ofthe weake andbrittle (hies ofearthly things,becaufe theyare neere them and fubiccl to their fink and fight; but they faile in their greatefl extremitie, and notwithflanding any helpe which they will or can afford, they maywell be drowned in a fea of dangers, and perifh whilei}they hold thofe tooweak flaies betweene their hands. And as theydo notat alhelp vs themfelues,fo do they difappoint and vtterly depriue vs ofour chiefehope &helpe which we fhould haue inGod; partly whileff trufling vnto them for deliverance, we either notat all, or but in formall and faint manner haue our recourfe vnto him, andcrane his helpe, and partly be- caufc theyhauemadevs fotooffendanddifpleafe God, that hewill not helpe vs. For when we haue in the timeofour peace and profperirie giuenour hearts, which is Godspro perdue,vnto thefe earthly idols, andhaucloued and milled in thefecreatures more then in the Creator, neuer leaning them,or leaning towards him,til we haue plainly found their infufficiencie andour owne error; then thoughwe call vpon Kk 2 God
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