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

r syg Ofthe miferieswhich accompetnieworldly thingt. theyhauewholly fet their hearts; when they aredepriued ofchem theybewaile their loffeno leffe; yea in truthmuch more bitterly,andwith far greater paffion, then if theyhad loft all part and intereft in Godhimftlfe,his SonIefus Chrift, and all thofe glorious ioyes in his heauenty kingdome. And haui ng repofed in them all their byand comfort, their hope and confidence, when with Laban theyare robbedof their idols, they lament their loffc with more true griefe, and fù- ftaine this burthen withmuch more impatiency, then ifthey were at once fpoiled oftheir wife, children, and all their friends; becauf_ theyare together with them robbed altoof their hearts, which are fall nailed, and infeparablie affixed to them. Neither in this cafe is the worth ofthc thing loft to be conldered, but the affe&ion and eítimation ofhim that lo- feth it; Forthofe things which arc poffeffed withimmode- rate loue,are loft with immoderategriefe,although in them-. (clues they are vaine and worthies : euen aswe feelittle chil- dren lamenting with no leffetrue forrow the takingawayof their childifh and contemptible trifles,then ifthey were de- priuedoftheir inheritance. So in likemaner,worldy meno- uerualuing earthlyvanities aboue their worth, are moretor- mented with griefe when they are forced to forgoe them, thenfor lofing theglorious inheritanceofthe faints, and the eternal! ioyes ofheauen. Yea their forrow is fo intolerable oftentimes,thatto cafe their griefe,theymurtherthemlclues; as thinking leffe torment indeath, yea in hell it felfe, then in lining to fuffaine fo great a loffe. For the greater they conceited their happineffe in thefruition of their vainede- fires, the more miferable they thiuke themfelues when they . aredepriuedofit; and now they hartilywifh that they had neuer enioyed thefe pleafures, becaufe at the laft theyare fpoiledofthem; though in truth with great follie, for they hauing had formerly the fruition of theirdeliires, might, were it not fortheir owne peeuifhneffe, (till delight them- felues with the remembrance of it, and when they are moil deftitute and fbrfaken ofthe things they loued, they are (lettingpaffion and opinion afide) in no Wo&cafe. thenbefore they hadthem : yea fometime menare thus affli- t5ted

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