Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the mrferiet act ompanying worldly things. 551 tompetencie ofworldly neceffaries? and fecure our felues of the fruition of our eternall inheritance, with far lefre labour then is vfually taken in procuring oftbefe worldly annuities, which lait but for the fhort time of a momentanie life, and oftentimes are not with all this paines enioyed, they flying the more fr6 fome, the more earneft!y that they are purfucd? And yet fo foolifh we are that we neglect thefe rich treafures offpirituall grace,and eternall ioy,which God (to take away all cxcufc) bath offered voto vs freely and franckly without money, and with little labour ioyned with much comfort; and with all eagerneffe purfue there worldly trifles which cannot be obtainedwithout much paines and toilefome tra- uell; like little boyes who with great delight fpcnd their fweate in catching a butterflie; but are firaight tired though they fit eafily at their books to get learning, and neuer take the leali thought in fecuring veto themfelues the titlewhich they haue to their inheritance. The which follie is fo much the greater, in that men doe 4.Set7.4. not take there extraordinarie paines for obtaining worldly That worldly neceffaries,but for the moll part ncedleffe fuperfluities, not men take their Inch as the neceflïty ofour temporali life rcquireth; but Inch chiefs gainer asinfatiableconcupifcencedefrrethand affeeheth. For thofe ieruperfhw things which are necefrary to nature,andto the preferuation oflifè, as meate and drinke, clothing and lodging ; aire, fire; aPet.1.3. water,and the refl,are giuen liberally by God to thofe who take Tome moderate paines in their lawfull calliugs,and they lie out in common without inclofire,to bee obtained with cafe bythofe that need them :but fuperfluities are not fo ea- flie compaffed, being either hid and not found without great fearch, or inclofed about with fo many difficulries,thet men cannot approch them without great paines and danger. For example, the mines ofgold and filuer are hid in the fe- eret cauernes ofthe earth;precious flones,in the fea & rands; gorgeous clothes bought at deare rates, and delicious meats with much coil and paines procured, and with no Ieffe coo- ked and prepared. And yet (as one faith) though gold bee CletnenCA. hidden by the Indian Emits, watched by the Griffins,decpe- hx.pxdagrg. ly buriedin the earth, and not without ref/lefi labour, and Lb, asap.: a. N n 4 extreme