Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

270 Reafons tohjwadevr from the low of the world. as they haue no great goodne(lé in them w hilefl wee haue them,lb thoughthey had,yet we haue no affurance of them; that they are vaine, and of no excellencie, and yet mingled with a multitude of miferics; there will bee little reafon why we fhould greatly loue them; and much leffe why wee fhould preferre thew before Gods fpírituall graces and hea- uenly ioies; or accept of them as Satans wages, whereby he perfwadeth vs to ferne him by committing offinne, wherby we hazard the loffe of our foules, and ofour heauenly inhe- ritance, which are infinitely of more worth then the whole world. 4 SeFz<.3. Fir(i therefore wee are to know, that the world and the Tbat the befi heft things which it can boafi of,are but meere vanities, and tbing, the in con-Tani-on ofGods fpiritual graces,and our heauenly in- world can boat.' heritance,ofno worth or excellencie; neither is there any of are but thing in the earth great or excellent, but the Chriflian mind . ,eere vanities. which contemneth and defp ifeth thee highly efleemed va- nities.They make a faire Phew indeed to thofe,whofe iudge- ments are alreadieforeflalled with the falfe conceits oftheir corrupt fle(h, and feetne to be offome value and greacneffe to thofc who look vpon them through the fpectlacles ofaffe. ólion. But if wee pul offtheir falle couers,and ferioufly and vnpartially behola themafter their deceiuing colours and painted vizards are laid afide, we (hall find the world in his chicle beatific and pompe to bee but aglorious hypocrite, faire in !hew, and foule in truth, profe(ling andpromitïng much, and performing nothing; or a beautifullfepulcher outwardly adorned with all cofi and brauerie, but within full offlench and rottenneffe;or like veto our faire buildings in thefe times, which making a fumptuous Phew to the paf- fers by, feeme to invite poore men to receiue reliefe; but within haue no prouifion for hofpitalitie,nor food to refrefh thofe who Rand in need. The like vanitie alto is in all thofe worldly things,which are to affe &led and admired ofthofe, who haue ere6led them in their hearts, as their idolswhom they ferne and adore; herein indeed truly rcfemblingidols and images, which are outwardly adorned with gold and precious ornaments,and make reprefeutation of fome excel- lent