Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The dengeroufhe, ofworldly profperitie. 4 t effcó}s of' thefe two efiates in the fame men. And leaning worldlings to the world,who feeth not that thofe who make profeflion ofrcli: ion,are exceedingly cooled in their zeale, and corrupted in their liues and conuerfation, through the profperitie of the world? and that not only counterfeit Chri- flians, but eren fuch as in their meaner and more poore el }ate, would rather haue fuffered any perfecution,euen to the taking away of their hues, then they would difgrace their profeffon by offering any fcandall, or bee drawne to flacken their pace in the way ofgodlineffe,are by degrees fo carried away with the inticing bait es of profperi tie,that fir(} they abate of their heate, and afterwards become luke- warme, or keycold in their religiousprofeffion and praó}ife? And howfoeuer they retaine fill the name of Chrif}ians, lef } they fhould bee branded with that dreadfullbadgeof apofia(ie,yetcotne to the touchfloneof their hues, and to their carriage and demeanour in their particular places and callings,and you (hall findemany ofthem,as worldly,coue- tous,and niggardly in contributing to religious and chari- table vfes,yea asproud and vaine in apparel), as deceitful) in their dealings,and riotous in needleffe and idle expenfes, as profeffed- worldlings. So that whereas aduerfitie could not foile them with his fharpef} incounters, when bee purpofely bent all his forces again(} them; profperitie hath fubdued them, and made them captives to the world, as it were in play,taking no great painesto obtaine the conquef}. Now the reafons.why wee are fo ealily foiled and ouer- §30.9. come by worldly profperitie ,are,becaufeit cloth foften and lhereaîens effeminate our mindes,fo as they can indure no labour, nor mby¡rojperitie futlaine the leaf} force and violence :for as the lute firing isio dangerotu. being formed in water fwellethmuch in bignes, but lofeth all his flrength;foour hearts being moifined and mollified with thefe waters of profperitie,exceedingly (well in pride, but in the meane time lofe all their frength and Chriflian fortitude,fo as they cannot indure the leaf+ incounter of an enemie. Or elfe it is becaufe it maketh vs retchleffe and fecure,fo as we fearing no aflàult neuer muf}cr vp our for - ces,that we may haue them in a readiutffe, and fo being ta- ken