Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Worldly mifedomee is to be contemned. 89 ned with worldly contempt, efpecially when it is accompa- nied with the croffe; thinking it great madneffe to contend much for religion; to leaue their Prince, to follow the truth; and to hazard their preferments in the world, which they haue alreadic in poffeflion, for fore bare promifes (as they account them) of better things in the world to conic. It bringeth not with it fo much as worldly ioy and pleafure,but rather vexation of fpirit, and much heauineffe. And as the Wifeman faith,who had moll experience of it ; In the multi- tude of reifdome it much Zriefe,astd he that increaf th knesledfe increafeth furrow: for he is fill iealous of his Bate, and al.. waies readie to call doubts : he bath more skill in forefeeing euils, then in preuenting them ; and long before they come hedoth anticipate them with his feare and care; gricuing long before the caufe ofgriefe approcheth,and making him - feife prefently miferable, becaufe hee expedieth miferie irr time to come; yea and oftentimes he thus torm,nteth him- felfe with a fhadow, and through falfe feare indureth true forrow, the euill which he feared and expedied neuer happe- ning vnto him : but if the euill which hefeareth cotnmeth, then towhat end ferueth this worldly wifdome,but tomake it giue a deeper wound with ouer vehement apprehenfion ? to gather arguments to amplifie his griefe, and with the waight of opinion, to makehis burthen more intollerable ? 'whereas thofewhole wit hath a {hotter reach ; lay not hold ofmiferiesbefore they touch them, nor complaine of more then they fentîbly felle ; and oftentimes fhadowes of ill grounded hopes,bring vntothemfortheprefent ,fubflanti - Seli.2o. all comfort. Againe, thisworldly wifdome puffeth men vp with pride, w ich worldlyto and maketh them to haue an ouerweening conceit oftheir wildomeplus. owne excellencie; fo that it is a thing as rare as a blacke gethmen. Swan, to find a man both worldly wife and truly humble.To ['aide difacile which purpofe one faith, that it ìs hard to find one srho concei- eftyr ti qu: je ling himfelfe wife , redsecethhis mind to humilitie, and either be- mac ee t em ad leeneth chafe who informe him in the truth, or layette afide his bumilitatem owneperuerfe meaning and opinion. And this pride is ioyned redricat,&c. withrebellionagainfl God,for when they thinke themtelues Gregor.moral. too lib.ib. cap. 2,7.