65o OfthelhortnefeandfrailtyofmansI,Ñ. fhadowes vpon their bodfes,and will neuer leaue thcm,till they hauebrought them to the fearefull tribunali of Gods iudge- ment, and haue there by accuing them, caufed the Iudge of heauen and earth, to pronounce againfl them the fentence of eternall condemnation. §.Sec`i. L I, And thus haue I(hewed that all menareofmomentanie and Thefhmtneß'e (hortcontinuance. Now let vs more fpecially confider ofthe oftheirlises breui tie and fhortnefl'eoftheir lilacs whoabound in all world- who areadsan. lyprofperity; for fo farce are thefe worldly things frompro- eed vato ha- longingour lilies, and from eflablifhing them againfl their na- sourr' turali frailty, that they rather cutthem offand (horten them, as being the meanes when they are abufed by fin, to bring vpon vs Gods heauie iudgements, and to haften our death, when we toomuch fet our heartsvpon them. Andhence it is that in the Scriptures, there is not oncly mention made generallyofthe frailtyand momentany continuance ufmans life, but more ef- peciallyoftheirs,whó aboundin all worldly profperity. So it isfadofthgfe'who are in honourableplace and calling, that theiraduancements (hall not preferue them from the encoun- ters ofdeath;yea rather it is more ready to (hoot at thetas be- foreothers, asbeing the faireflmarke,and greatefl conqueff. lob 4,2.t. SoE/iphaz, vfethaninterrogation,the moreto affure andcon- ' uincevs ofthis truth. Dothnot (faithhe) their dignitiegoe away with them?doethey not die, and that without wifedome?And the Pfal.4.1133. Pfalmifl telleth vs, that man[hanot continue in honour (or as the word fignifieth,fhall not flay inhis eflateall night) bee is like thebeafls that die. This their way vttereth theirfooliJhne_(/e, &c. And though in refpe&of their honourablecalling, he ad- uanceth them to the glorious titleof Gods,yet he will not at- tribute immortality veto them, but telleth them, that though Pfa1.Ez,6.7, theylbereGods theyfoould die likemen, and though they were chit- and 46.z.3. drenof themoll bigh,yet they!horrid falllike other mé:&ellewhere heexhortethvs, not to truftinprinces,becaufe their breath dspar- Ecclefiaticus teth, andthey retorne to their earth. So the formeofSyrach tel- ao.t r. lethvs, that which we allo learne by common experience, that hewho is to daya l ing,tomorrow isdead. And therefore feeingall our policie, power,and endeauours, cannot continuevs in this honourable condition ; for though honours should remaine for euer, yet we are mortall andof frort continuance; fo that when
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