Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

516 Ofthe manifoldmiferiesofmens life. fhouldmuch efleeme them, orlet our hearts vpon them : for let vsput into the one fcole,rhofe things that we thinkewor- thie the nameofgood, which is to be defired ; and into the other, themiferies, euils, inconueniences, and difcontent- ments which alwaiesdoaccompanie them ; and we fhal find that there is noproportion, betweenethe huge heape ofthe one, and thelittle graineofthe other,betweene the oceanof miferie, and fnall drop oftrue delight and happinefle. Itis true that this notable hypocrite the world is alwaies readie todeceiuevs, by promifing vnto vs excellent benefits, and things fincerely good,without themixture ofanyeuill; but when it commeth to performance, behold it tempereth a dram ofbonie with a poundofgall; it promifeth all good, but it payeth vs withmill, or at leaf+ mixeth it with folittle good, that it feruethbut to gluevs a morequicke talkand true rellifhofthofe eutls which accompany it: it promifeth life andpayeth death ; it proffereth ioy, but behold it giueth forrow; and commonly ifwe hauebut one good meale of delightand comfort, we mufl walke in the flrength thereof many daies, and hauing nothing to feed vpon but trouble and difcontent, lofe all that former pleafure many times o- ver, with griefes and crates, before ourcomforts be againe renued.And thus doth world, like aflatelybuilt fcpulchre, make vntovs outwardlyagoodlyfhew,though therebeno. thingwithin but rottennesand. putrefa&ion; and like a fub. tile merchant, it offered) vs a good fample ofbad wares,and outwardly prefenteth toour view the bell end of the fluffe, whereas the inmoft and middleparts are courfeand flight; and placeth thepurefi and choicefl commodities inthe vpper part of thevcffell, whereas in the middle and the bottome,it is mixt, counterfeit, and purpofcly falfified to deceiue vs. Neither in truth is it more apt to deceiue, thenwe to be de- ceiued; for as thole who arc borne in a mill are fo well ac- quainted with noire, that it little difquieteth them; and as they whoare bred and broughtvp in a prifon, are nor much troubled with their reflrainr, nor offended with their little light, nor grieued tocarrie their glues and bolts ; yea con- rrariwife, whentheir irons arebuta little lightned, they are comforted

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