Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

258 one lignet of the loue of the world. feEted almoll all men, not onely prophane worldlings, but euco chofe who would be efteemed flncere profeflours, and found Chrifiians; I will follow the Phyftiansmethode,and firfl let downe the fymptomes and figues of this difeafe, and then afterwards the remcdies,that fo we may know whether we be tainted with this contagion, and if we be, then how to cure it. The fignes whereby we may know whether wee be infeEted with the loue of the world and worldly vanities, preferring them before fpirituall and heauenly excellencies are diuers. Firll, chofe things which we molt effeeme and loue,on thole we molt often thinke,and that with vnweari- ed delight and chiefefi comfort : for as our Saviour Chrift ästatth,6.z1, faith, thereat the treafureis, there will the heart health,. And thus doth the exile take his chicle delight and comfort, in thinking of his owne Countrie; the louer ofhis beloued; the ambitious man of honours and preferments ; the coue- tous man ofhisriches ; the voluptuous man ofhispleafttres and delights; reuoluing in their minds,eitherhow they may obtaine, retaine,or augment and increafe them. And con- trariwife, chofe who moft effeeme and affe6lheauen, and heauenly things, they take their chicle delight in medita- ting ofthofe vnfpeakeable ioyes rcferued for them in their Countrie,or of the meanes whereby they may beafï'ured to atraine vnto them. Let therfore euery man examine himfelf before the tribunal! rate ofCod,and call his owne confci- ence to witnefl'e,whether he thinke more,and with greater by and comfort vpon God, or vpon the world, heauen or earth,thofe eternal( ioies, or chofe momentanie vanities.Por ifGod and heauenly things, be the chiefe obit& ofour me- ditations,then do we effeeme dlr.!' our chief treafures, feting our harts,and afie&ions are let vpon them.But contrariwife, be our chiefe comfort and delighr,to think on the world and worldly vanities,and if our meditations doe continual- ly runne on them with vntired wearineffe,taking no pleafure at all to call to mind chofe fpirituall treafures, and heauenly exceliencies;or ifwe chance to thinke ofthetn,this thought be asfüddenlyvanifhed, asaflalh oflightning; it is a moft naanifelt iigne,tl.tatour treafures are not in heaucn,but vpon the