Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That all worldly things arebut moere v4,itier. 281 with vs; who likewife haue beene after the fame maner de- ceiued and feduced,hauing had force fuch prefldents which theyalfó imitate. And when this conceit hath once polfef_ fed vs, then feifeloue blowing the cole which phantafie hach kindled, our hearts are prefently inflamed with a deliireof obtaining that which fo many feeke; partly to thew that our ownewifedome, policie and power, if we till to imploy them, can goe as fall a pace as other .cnens, and can with greater dexteritic and agilitie catch that game after which fo many hunt; and partly becaufe wee imagine, that there may-be forte worth and excellency in thefe things although we be ignorant ohr, which if happily it fhould lo fall out in the proofe and experience,we would rather at all - aduentures enjoy it then another, left afterwards the worth appearing, we fhould haue caufe to repent of our floch and negligence, in that wee haue Coffered others to outflrip and goebefore vs And thus we afl'eel thefe vanities not for any good or ex- cellencie we fee in them,butrather in felfeloue,pride,enuiee and emulation, becaufe wee would prcuent others, and ob_ Caine that which they fo much delire. Like vnto boyes,who with all eagernes runneafter a ball, not for the loue ofit felt, but that they may -catch it before another,- whereas they would fcarce Tooke after it, if they had no competitour to contendwith them. And at the vulgar people running in flocks to fee force vaine flght,do moue others which fcarce- ly know wherefore they make fuch halle, to goe with them forcompanie,aud euen to outgrip their fellowswith nimble (peed ; fo doe theyrunne with headlong hafle in the purfuite ofthefeworldly vanities; not becaufethemfelues know any worth or excellencie in them,but becaufe they fee that many haue gone before them, and that many are í1il1 going fpee- dily in this courfe,they alto goe for companie,labouring to preuent themwith their hafle,and toobtain that firfl,which being obtained they do notknow as yet whether it beworth their hauing and enioying ; yea and that which is worn of all, afterthat they fee theirerrour, and hauing bad trial( of there things in their owne experience,doe plainlyperceiue, that they deferue not theirlabour, nor are worthie of their loue;-