Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Tfiat all world y thitgt are hut metrevaxifies. 27i- meth good,and worth dcfiring, both in refpeél ofhis abun- dance, and great varietie of them, and hislong, fecure and peaceable time,wherein he did inioy then ; and that with- out the mixture of thofeinnumerable troubles, with which other men are vexed and molefled. And fomuch for the teflimonies which ferue to (hew the 4.Sea.6. worlds vanitie, vnto which innumerable others might bee Thatthcfe added out of writings,bothdiuineand heathenifh;but thefe worldly things being fufñcient I will come to the reafons, which alfo proue a.eofnogreat it. And firfl the vanitie and worthlefnefre of the world and extellencìe, fee - worldly things in comparifon ofthofe which are fpirituall á, ontrm bra and heauenly,mayhereby appeare,in that they are but Gods gifts. common gifts which he giueth in his infinitbounrie,as well to his enemies,as vnto his friends; to thofe who negleéd all dutie,and.rebellagainfl him, as well as to his children and fcruants,who loueand feare him. Yea,commonly the Lord befloweth thefe worldly things in great abundance upon the wicked,whereas for the molt part he giucth them to the godly and righteous,whom ne chiefly loutth,but with a fpa. ring hand,and fo much onely as may (true for their neceffa- tie vfe.'And this Dauid obferned, whereas he faith; that his wicked aduerfaries were inclrfrdin rhe,rolbxe fat, that they Pfala7.ro.rq. had plentie notoncly for them felues,but for their children. Yea fo great was the profpericie of wicked men,and fo (harp his owne punifhmeursand chaflifemens,that when he con- fidered ofit, his feet were almoflgone, and his jleps bad well PG1m.73.2, ;mere Apt, being readie to preferre the elate of the vngodly, before the blef(è&f oudition of the children ofGod. And thus the Church in the Lamentations complaineth, that her aduerfaries were the chiefe, and that her enemies profj'ered; Latnen.r.s. whereasfhe was affltEíed, and herchildren ledinto captiuitte. But ofthis I haue fpoken more fully when I generally intreated ofprofperitie, and therefore will for the generall,adde no more teflimonies nor examples. Onely let vs confider the truth hereofin thófe three in- 4Sea7. fiances of honours , riches and pleafures. And firfl for That God hr honours wee (hall find, that God hath more bount fiilly alt nellj.ponetJ imparted them vnto .the wicked and reprobatc,then unto w)rkedàa póis T the the godly.