Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

4% The al tráeroujres ofworldly profperitie, ken at vnawares,and vnprouided,we are not able to hand or make refinance : for whereas the cold ofaduerfitie gathers and vnïtes all the powers of the foulc,and by vertueof this vnion inables them to make refinance, when they are in. countred,fothe heate of profperitie dtffi sting and fcatte. ring them,makcth them much more cafie to be ouercome. Or which is mots probable,becaufe profperitie puffeth men vp with pride, and making themleaue their dependancieon God, caufeth them to troll in themfelues and their owne firength; and fo God refifteth them in their pride and for - faketh them,who had firfi forfaken him r and therefore no marucil it is if being left of God,they be eallier ouercome of the weaken enemie. Whereas contrariwife a1fi6lionma. keth vs flee unto Godfor helpe,anddifirufling in our felues to relie on his power andpromifes; and fo though we haue to deale with a mightie enetnie, yet being fhrouded vnder the fhadow of his wings,we become fate through his pro. tedlion. 4.Seti. to. And thus haue I manifefied the great power of this mo. Mat a great narch,by the greatnes ofhis vidiories,and haue chewed how mea ¡arc of much more dangerous he is then afflióiion and perfecution. grace is requi- red to timbre!! Whereby it appeareth,that a farre greatermeafure ofgrace managing of and Chriflian refolution is required,to beare and refill the' ourpro[Peritie. encounters of worldly profperitie,then of the other which feerneth to fiefh and blood fo terrible and vnrelfiable. For as it is much more intollerable to indure a tickling itch then a fronting paine ; fo it is muchmore impofiible to retaine a Chriflian confiancie in the courfe of godlineffe, when the world tickleth vs with this itch of profperitie, then when Ybi plusfartu- wee feele the fmart and paine oftroubles and affliions; nelicentia,ibi for where there is greatell libertie ofe/tate, there vertue bath plus virtual thegreateff imployment. To this purpofe onefaith fitly, that negottum, ut is a note of angular vertne,to ffrirse and contend meth world- Auguß.1 rm. ly felicitie, that it may neither allure, corrupt, nor ouerrhrow 13.tom.to vs,and great vtbappinejTh to be essercome of this earthly hap_ pinef . 4.Set`i'.t The confideration whereoffîiould make vs to keepe a That we ought narrow watch ouerour felues,as at all othee times,fo cfpe- to keeps nar- dally