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

lob g.7. f 26 Ofthemanifoldmsferies ofmanrlife. and to fixe themonGod his fpirituall graces and heauenly happines, which bring vs fincere ioy, without the mixture of any evils. The miferies then ofmans lifeeither refpc& him generally, orhis feuerali ages andeflates. The generali mite. ries vnto whichmans life is fubie&, arc either thofe which arehisown dire &ly, orelfehis friends,whichare hisby fym- pachie, compaflion and fellowfeeling. Concerningthe for- tner,ifwedobuttake aflight view ofttiofe miferiesto which our fraile life isfubie&, we (hall find that euen a large world ofwretchedneffe,doth ouerwhelme thislittle worldofman, and that whether we refpe& his Bateor perfon.For firfl,vnto howmanymiferies isman fubie&about his Bate, whiled he feeketh to preferue andmaintaine, or to aduance andbetter it? with what painfull labours doth he fpend his flrength in the worker ofhis calling, that he may prouide fufficient fór himfelfe and his charge, which dependeth vpon him? what cares, what watching,running ,riding,buying,feiling,plow - ing (owing, reaping,and turmoiling to get apoore lining? And this miferie Eliphazpointeth at ; Miferie (faith he)com- meth not from theclia, neitherBoth afflitlionrring out efthe earth; butman it borneonto tretuaile,ae theff'ar(esflievproard. With all which labourswhen as hehath worneout both bo- dicand mind, oftentimes for want ofGodsblcflìnghe hach no fucceffe, and bath infl caufe to complaine, that he bath fpenthisflrengthinvaine, feeing with all his indufirie and labourhe cannot attainevnto the things which he laboureth for;but notwithflandingall his diligence pinechwith want, orhauin found that he fought for, how ishe; troubled in the poffeffion, how grieued with his loffes, while(' God blowingupon that hehath, notwithflanding all his care and labour, it vanifheth like fmoakc, leaning him in pouertie, who ere whiles was rich, and in contempt and difgrace,who not long fence was refpe &edand efleemed ofall? Againe, how innumerableare ourwants aboueall other creatures in the world,&what care and paines is required tomake a fup- plie,aad to furnifhvs withnecelfaries and fufficiencie ? what adoe to prouidevs nourifhmenr,what cateringandcooking, boiling, mailing, baking, faucing? and whenit is fetbefore vs

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