Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

93 Of the manifoldmiferiesofawnslife. cdiais yerefiaa vnto any; though theybe not yet happened :let them call tvi cidtre gaodcni- mind, that commonly after a faire rummer, followeth a foule gaaasp17. winter, and abl uftringftorme after afun- fhinecalme; that profperitie and aduerfitic haue their changes, and that na man but the true Chrittian can be Paid to be happie before his death. But betides there miferies which refpe&iamans felfe, there are innumerable more which refpeEI his friends; and to fay nothing of fall and pretendedloue,whereby men proue molt pernicious enemies, whilef} they profetfe the greatefi friendfhip; to fay nothing ofthe breaches, fallings out, and hot contentions whichfometime happen betweene thofe who are coupled in the neerc lbond ofatnitie; and to paffe by all thole difcontents which are caufed through the default ofanypartie :how many are the miferies which ac- companie true frienc'thip, cuen w hen it is mot} wifely inter: tained, and religioufly oblerued ? For who can fee his friend thunder-itrucken,and not tremble at the blow?who can be- hold himplungedinto any miferie, and not in compaffîons, and fellow- feeling communicate with him in his griefes? who forroweth not at his friends loffes; who groneth not in his ficknclfe,and bleedeth not at his wounds ?Or though any manihould be Co happie as to haue his friends alto exempted from there miferies, or fo potent to deliuer them; yet how is he affliéled with his death, grteuing.with fò much more for - row, by how much he was more:worthie ofhisloue;andne- tierreioycing that he fo long had him, but lamenting-thathe bath now loft him, and that Tweet comfort which he took in his fociety?all which miferies though they be fomwhat eafed wish the contrai ycomforts, yet confidering that the griefes of this life do fo farre exceed the ioyes,and the croffes and af- fli6lion, the profits and delights,therefore it mufi needs fol- low, thath he who hath moll friends, communicatesin moil miferies, and by compaffion and fellow-feeling participates inmoil griefesand perturbations. CHAP.