Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The vncertair .tieofobt:tiningvnorldlythings. 5 g have had in themfelues from time to time ; (}ill hoping for better, till they ceafc to bt-:. And though hauing pafi a great part ofiheir life they haue found no caufe why they (hould How men de. defire to flue ; yea haue inioyed fo fivall comfort and been lud.eih mes turmoded with fo many miferie=,that if it were put to their wi rtu tbfol/ebopet. choice they would not care to hue, if they might hue no better; yet in hope ofamending their eftate, and of attain - ning vnto Tome new happineffe, which they haue not yet inioyed ; they are in lone with life and the world (fill; though commonly they neuer obtaine the things hoped for; or if they do, yet they haue their new hopes fo attended on with new miferies, that when they come they bring little comfort: for vpon the acceffe of new benefits which they haue long defired, either they lofethe old,which were more in number and better in worth ; or elfe are ouertakcn with forte vnthought ofeuils,which difWelcotne their new come guefts,and turne all their fweet into gall and bitterneffe.And as tholewho trauel,though they haue found the wáics which . they haue alreadie paffed,fouleand vncomfortable,and thole in which they prefently arc, no more faire and pleafant, yet calling their eyes a good dillancebefore them, and teeing the fields greene and plaine in thew, conceive hope of a- mendment,and imagine that they (stall end their iorney with more delight; but all in vaine : for when they come vnto it, they find the ground wet and rotten, and many flowes and lakes which before they approached them, they could not difcouer :fo we trauailing in our pilgrimage, anti hauing in our traue ! experience of the miferics which we haue found in our childhood and youth; feeing before vs riper and elder age feemingly pleafanr, inrefpe&ofthatplentic and autho- ride which doth accompanie them, together with the com- forts ofwife and children, and fuch otherbenefits; doe pre - fently conceive a deceiving hope of force future happineffe,, , when we (hall enjoy thole things which fo long before we did expeei: but often we are altogether frufirate ofour de- fires,or if we actable vino them,we find the faire field in Phew to be nothing in proofe burbogs and marifh grounds , and that the life which we fo much liked, is fo full of cares and feries,