not theworld isa moltdangerous enemie. z'3 enemie the diuell placeth in them his chicle confidence for the obtaining ofviaorie. But no little arc there forces flrengthencd for our over- §.Set7.7. throw, through the aide and helpe which our owne cor- (Thee:: it jsad- rupt flefhminillreth vnto them. For as the world is Satans eal the wildfire,wherew ithhe inflameth vs ; fo our fldh is the tin - de o, ldr eones der which receiueth and nourifheth this fire,as foone as it is through our call into it; and fuch a neere league of friendfhip there is corruption. betweene our fitfhand worldly vanities, that Satan can be nomore readie to offer, then it toreceiue this wages of fin : whereof it commeth to paffe, that when by the word of God,or the motionof his holy fpirit, we thiuke vpon thefe earthlyvanities, that wee may learne thebetter to flee and contemne them, they flicketo our fingers when weewould throw them away, they catch vs when we would flee from them; and being infnared with thefe worldly lime- twigs, (like the filliebird) the morewee ílruggle to get out, the moreweare intangledanddifabled. Sothat it farethwith vs as with the foolifhlouer,who fondly louing,but yet wor- thily difliking.hisill- deferuingmifireffe, groweth to a fee- ming refolution to forfake her companie, and armethhim- felfewith many forcible arguments to ftrengthen him in his purpofe; butat the next meeting he is foallured withher lookes,andfobewitched with the leafl apparance ofa prof - fered.fauour,that he dotethon her againe with morewon- tedfondues. The reafon hereofis,becaufe it is as natmall for our corruptflefh toloue the.wotld, as for the look youth to loue the cunning harlot, for the water torunne downe the hill,the fretoafcendvpward, or for the tender hearted mo- ther to loueherdeare boughtandonlybabe.So that it deth noarguments toperfwadevs to imbrace his finlull va- nities,foronly the fight ofthem is fuffiicicnt toallure wit= ownaffeôtions more violentlydrawingvs, then the inticing eloquence and wellframed reafons. of-the bei perfwading Oratour. Pea. But ifweewouldhave yetamore plaine and euen palpa power o/rhr ble demonllrationof the great power andpuffanceofthts worldPored by our enemic,let wpropound the experienceof former times, the experience and offorracrOar; -.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=