Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

264 the frsne: of the lotee of the world. auoid the impediments which croffe our worldly delires, then finne which like a (fumbling block in the way hindreth our pafi'agc into our heaucnly countrie ; then doe weemore ellceme,and more dearely loue the world and worldly va. nities,then the Lord himlelfe, and the eternal' ioyes of his kingdome. 4gell. g. Lanly,that which we moll efieeme and loue,we alto take Thefou;.th frgne in it moil ioy and contenrment,and therefore are more care - iawhen werake full (ldl to keepe it whilefl we haue it,and beaile the loffe , of? ioy in k" thereof with greaten griefe,when as it is taken from vs. The pill, and :mi. ambitious man moil reioyceth in the vaine glorie of the grrrfein lofng Y g tl1Cp1, world,and careth not to lofe his life that he may preferue his honour, accounting it the bitterefl death to hue difgraced: The conetous man moll glorieth and reioyceth in his ri- ches,& is content to hazard his foule,rather then his wealth. The voluptuous man moll reioyceth in his pleafures, and would rather fell both earthly and heauenly patrimonies, then he would be depriued of his fenfuall delights. And ac cording to their ioy in keeping them, fuch is their feare of loûng them, and anfwerable to both is their forrowand griefe,whenas they are taken from them. On the other fide, they whofc hearts are inflamed with the fire of Gods loue, doe moll reioyce in him,and in the afl'urance of his loue and mercie towards them; and making moll precious account of this iewell, they had rather lofe the whole world then Gods fauour,or the teflimonics.thereof in their owne con. fciences; and gtieue more when hauing fallen into_ finne, they want the icy of their faluation, and doe not apprehend the loue ofGod,nor fenfibly difcerne the bcames of his fa- vour fhining into their hearts, as they haue done before times, then if they were depriued of all the honours,riches, and pleafures of the world. Let cuery one therefore accor- ding to this fiigne examine himfelfe; and if vpon triall wee ñnde,that God is our principali ioy, and that wee moll re ioyce in his faluation; if with the Prophet Dotaid wee had ;al rather fee the light of Gods countenance finning vpon vs, then that men fhould fhew vs any worldly good ; and when it appeareth,haue more ioy of heart,then worldly men haue when