Luk.r;.:;. A1at.tr.ta. Nilus inaf tecito. 790 Thatwordly things binder a fromattainingheearily iolef, footeforwardtowards their heauenly countrie. But as the Rubeniteshaving taken a likingof the countrie which was firí} conquered, becaufe it was fit to feed their cattell (al- though it were farre from theTemple, where they fhould receiue the food of their foules) and therefore to enioy it renounced all interei inthe landofpromife: fo chele world- lings let their harts andaffections vpon the earth and earth- ly vanities, becaule they are at hand, and fit to feed their fenfuall andbrutifh appetites, preferring it before thehea- uenly Canaan, and temple of Gods holineffe, where their foulesmight be fatisfied with thole rauifhing ioyes,and fur- palfing pleafures which are at Gods right hand for euer- tnore.Or if they doe not hinder them from this heauenly happineffe,by canting them to forgetand vtterlynegleélir, yet at lead by (lacking their pace,andcanting them to feeke after itnegligently and remiffely : and whereas there is fuch azeale in thofe whoattain vnto the kingdorne of heauen, that as our SauiourChrid faith, they /frnie to enterinto the traitegate, andare ready to take poffeffion of it byan holy kindofviolenceandforce,fparing for nopaines, nor flaying for anydanger; thefe men who are wedded to the world, are coldand flacke in this purfuit, being altogethervnwil- ling; to take any paines, or to fuflaine the lead brunt ofany danger. Or if at any time they fhew a little earneffneffe more then ordinarie, prefently this zealeis quenched with thefewatrifhand earthly vanities; and the world catching fad holdof them, maketh them to flay, and neuer ccafeth wrealingwith them till theyhaue the foile and ouerthrow. Inwhich confli thefe worldly thingsare vnto thembutas clothesto wrafllcrs,whereon their aducrfarie takethfish er hold toglue thema fall; and (as one faith)the world cafleth vpon them this dull ofearthlyvanities, that he may feaze on them the furer,andkeepe them from flipping out of his vn- kind imbracements; from which dangers they might bee freed,either if theywere naked&deflitute ofcheleworldly vanities, or at lea(l if they kept them on as look garments; whichareeafil), pulledoff; being not far in louewith them whiled
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