Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Certaaxtitti- mur, don ix- opt KrtaQetinrNt. Ptalm.t4.r. Pfalme 117. 590 The uncertainty of obtaining lborld y things pay) do with more diligence performe their butnes, in hope ofgreater reward, for their greater labour, it quire fruflra.. tech them of their hopes, and not only denieth to giuc them more, but alto taketh from them that they haue. For how many are there, who by their moderatelaboutshauing got- ten many things, do in more eager feeking attermore, lofe that which they alreadie haue ? How many do we fee daily before our eyes, who lofe their certainties, whiled they la- bour for vncertainties, and not thinking that they batnee- nough, when they haue too much,do in ouer reachingcatch a fpreine, and while(} they greedily feeke after fuperfluities, do lofe not theirfuficiencie alone,but evenneceffaries ?And this commeth to paife,not only becaufe the world is vnfaith- full and vnthankfull to thole that ferue it, but allo bccaufe it is impotent and infu fficient : for howfocuer it is readie (like Satan the prince thereof) to vndertake great matters, and to make large promifes, that it may moue men to leaue the Lord, and leane veto it, yet the truth is, that though it were willing,yet it is altogether vnable to per forme; for the earth is the Lords, and allthat therein is, and he giueth to the Ions of men, as it feemcth befl to his infinit wifdome : fo that though the world brag neuer fo much of it poffeflions, and great abilitie ; and proudly arrogating vnto it felfe Gods royallpriuiledges, doth what it can to rob him ofhis right; yet the truth is, that it hath not the worth of a genie at ab- folute command,becaufe euen the leaf'matters are gouerned and difpofedby diuine prouidence ; neither is it the painful' indeuors of greedie worldlings,that can compaffe the things which they fo much delire;keeing they whollyproceed from the bleffing ofGod; for as the Pfalmift hath taught vs, Ex- cept the Lord buildthe hone, they labour in vain that build it; and except the Lord lteepeth the citie, the keeper Veatcheth to vaine: and thereforethe world oftentimes (like a needie and bare mafler, who notwithilanding his pouertie, flandeth much vpon his credit and reputation) dodgeth and paltreth with his feruants, when in truth it hath nothing to pay, and deceitfully picked' quarelswith them, after long feruice fen - dingthem away elliptic handed, becaufe by reafon of it po. vatic,