Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That worldly things arev »profitable. 499 moff efleemeable. But betides they are alike vnprofitable for thins do not the freeing ofvs from the greateft cuils, and fuccouring and belie' to free vr deliuering vs in our grearefl extremities. So the Prophet Sa- from our gYeeaa- meeel calleth them vaine things whichcannot profit vs, nordell- tryst they do not taer vs, becaufe they are bat vanitie. For fir (l, they do not free dt iiuer vs Pam vs from dangers,nor deliuer vs when we arc fallen into them, djngers . only in the time offecuritie and peace, they promife vs im- r.Sam.ia.xs. munitie and freedome fromperils, and in the time of danger they allure vs to relie vpon them; but when we come into our greatefl extremities, they proue but reeds and broken flaues, which do not fupport vs,but rather wound our hearts with Briefe, when as wee fee our felt.tes forfaken of thole things in time ofneed, wherein we placed our chicle confi- dence. And as thofewho hawing fallen into the water, and are in danger of drowning, do as they are falling, orwhdeft they are floting on the water, catch hold on that which is next at hand, neuer confidering whether it be fuficicnrto flay and hold them vp ; and fo their fupport prouing weake and rotten,faileth and failetb with them: fo worldly men be- ing readieto fall into the pit of danger, do fuddenly catch hold of the weake and brittle (hies ofearthly things,becaufe they are neere them and fubiccl to their fink and fight; but they faile in their greatefl extremitie, and notwithflanding any helpe which they will or can afford, they may well be drowned in a fea of dangers, and perifh whilei }they hold thofe too weak flaies betweene their hands. And as they do not at al help vs themfelues,fo do they difappoint and vtterly depriue vs ofour chiefe hope &helpe which we fhould haue in God; partly whileff trufling vnto them for deliverance, we either not at all, or but in formall and faint manner haue our recourfe vnto him, and crane his helpe, and partly be- caufc they haue made vs fo to offend and difpleafe God, that he will not helpe vs. For when we haue in the time ofour peace and profperirie giuen our hearts, which is Gods pro per due,vnto thefe earthly idols, and haucloued and milled in thefe creatures more then in the Creator, neuer leaning them,or leaning towards him,til we haue plainly found their infufficiencie andour owne error; then though we call vpon K k 2 God