Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the manifoldmiferie.r emus l fe. S31 firength,which is allotted to indufirie and labour; and yet when we haue put our band vpon the plow,pleafiireclapping vs on the backe,maketh vs looke behind vs, and leaning our profit to follow our delights. Thus we delire theeafe ofa fo- litarie life, but loath,negle &and contempt, and are in loue with the refpeI that accompanieth a6lion,but hate the care and labour. Thus wie delire the multiplication ofour yeeres, but feare old age and death, as thoughwe would be aiwaies trauelling, and neuerbe the forwarder in our way, and baue a daily addition, without any increafe; for what is old age but the multiplication of many yeeres? and what is death but the hauen veto which we faile, and the iorneyes end vnto which we are alwaies trauelling ?Thus we louelearning and wifdome,but loath the pailles ofiludie and obferuation ; we delire to be rid ofthe tedious troubles oflife, but prefent- ly vnfay that wee haue laid, being incountred with the feare of death. And finally, we are rauifhed with ioy when we thinke ofthe fruition ofGod, and the kingdome of hea- uen, but when we heare that we muff: fell that we haue, and giue to the poote, foi fake all, take vp our crofhe and follow Chrifi, we go away forrow full ; we would be conformable vnto Chrifi in glorie, but not in his fufferings, and fit vpon his throne on his right hand and on his left, but we cannot indure to drinke with him in the cup ofaf liaiontand to con- elude, we do not fooner with one affeólion delire any thing, then we are firaight ready to vnwifh our wifhes,by reafon of fome inconueniences which croffe another. And thus haue I fhewcd the manifold miferies which are §.Sec! i generally incident to mankind, in refpe& of themfelues. olti- emifcries From which ifany plead immunitie,andthat he bath not yet ofman, life in drunke ofthisbitter cup, let himknow that he is only rcpri- rrIpea of His tied and not acquitted; andhowfoeuer he is not brought out fritnds to execution, yet thefentence ofcondemnation being palled vpon him,asw'ell as vpon others,he doth but flay the lunges .pleafhre till he calleth him forth. Let himconfider that lay- ling in this world, as it were in a fea ofmiferies,be may fora time efcape the tempefi, but neuer the feare and danger; and that thefemiferies which are incident vntoall, may happen M m 2 unto