The vncertaintyo fobtainingworld& thiogt. 584 ments,and inour affe6tion and praélifewithmuch more fer- uencie and earnefineffe loue and feeke them ; feeing theft are certaineand permanent, and the other mofl vncertaine and tickle, and that both in refpe61 of gating and keeping them. For though wefhouldvfeall indeuour, and fpend all our ftrength in fecking and fearching for thefe worldly things, we arenot lurewith all our labour to obtaine theme Andthough we fhouldget theminto ourpoffeffion,yethaue we noaffuranceto retaine andkeepe them. Concerning the former, we find by continual) experience that the fwcatof worldlings isnot alwaies fruition, but after that they haue beaten their braines, wearied their bodies, and confumed theirfirength with working, watching, and continual) car- king and caring; yetare they oftentimes at the end o(their hues, as farm from theend of all their labours, as when they firfibegan. We feemanydaily ldce greedie kites, Patching and (Inking continuallyat the prey,andyettrifle of it after Wifd.p:t4. all their earne(l indeauours, howfoeuer many times they pierce themfelues vpon the pikes of tentations and finne, whichSatan likeacunning fowler bath hidden vnder thefe worldly bastes for their defiru6tion. And howfoeuerthefe worldly prodigals being poore, beggerly, and emptie of Luk.tfaó< :heauenly riches and fpirituall grace, doe delire to fill their bellies,and appeafe their raging hungcr,by feeding vpon the draffe and mall ofworldly vanities, yetno man giving them, they lofetheirlonging.Neither is thisanygreat wonder: for *11in the worldis nothingneere fufikient to affoordplentie ofthefe things fo much defircd, wall that feeke them;and therefore the fame thing having many competitors, it mull ofneceflìty fall out as it doth inhunting, that one Itarteth thegame,andanother catcheth it ; and as the prouerbe is, a Mancannotthriuefor throng ofhis neighbors.Yea in truth, themfelues doe croffe themfelues, their delires being con- traricone to another, as aff Being things which will not hand together; forat once they would taketheir pleafures, andheape vp riches, andbe :glorious' in the world for.theîr ,.bounticand liberality, and fo griping more then they can hold, oftetitimcs they retainbut little, and fometinie lofe P P 4 all,
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