Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

440 rhat all worldly awes are full ofdifeentent, want,& not knowing that it is the difeafe oftheir mind, but rather imaginingthat it is fome defeét in their outward cô- dition,they grow into diflike ofìt,and afpire to fome higher preferment, thinking that height and happineffe, aduance- ment and content will come together. Thus the man' of meane qualitie thinkethrhis bafenes an heauie burthen, and afpireth vnto the reputation of a gentleman, fuppofing that there is much more contentment in gentilitie then in yeo_ maorie: but when he hath attained veto it,not finding in his new eftate, that for which he looked, he refleth not heere, but goeth on in his endleffe iorney ofambitiotí,andaffeéleth nobilitie;and being enobled he is neuer the neerer vnto con. tent, becaufe he doth not looke vnto thofewhom he bath outgone,but vnto thofe who are yetaboue him ; and there- fore is not fo much contented becaufe he excelleth themoil, as he is tormented to fee any preferred before him; and this maketh him not to flay heere, but now he affec`leth Soue, raigntie, imaginingit a goodly thing to rule, and that there is great contentment in this fitpremeauthoritie, vnto which all floope, it felfe ftooping to none; but before the crowne be well fetled to his head, he finds that it doth not glue his head-ach of ambition any cafe, but only tormenteth him with the heauie waight,andthereforebeingnot yet fatisfied he affeets Monarchies ; and hauing no higher place veto which he may clime on earth, he afpires vnto diuine honors, vfurpingboth the titles and worfhip which is peculiar veto God. And thus do ambitious men tirethemfelues in feeking content where it is not to be found, and torment themfelues 'when they find it not : and hauing placed their happineffe in honor, they afpire vnto one preferment after another, thin- king when they miffe ofit, that it is only wanting in that degree vnto which they haue attained, and not in honor it felfe. §,g`11,4. The like difcontentis to be foundamong thofe who af- (he dijcontent fed} riches; for being altogether vnfatisfied with their pre - which accompa feet poffeflions, they grow into diflike of their eflate, thin - nictb riches and king others more happie, becaufe they are more rich; and p[ealicres. therefore hauing outflripped one richer then themfelues, they