Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The vncertaintieofobtaining Yoorldlythings. S9T ,¢ifcouer them.Now (as one faith) what is fame after death, but a good gale of wind after fhipwracke ? Or what good doth it a mä to haue (pent his whole time in paineful labour, and in wel deferuing; 'when the vnthankful world in hislife hath paid hitnwith couic and detraêtion, though it magni- fieth him after his death, feeing hee hath not the fenfe, much leffe the comfort of his commendations. But howfoeuer the world confeareth honour vpon few, 4.Sel7.ó. and thatmoft commonly when it is too late, yet itpromi- Thatteeear- fgth it feafonablicvnto all; and maketh them beleeue, that nrß¡eekngbo* if they will but fet their hearts vpon it, and ambitiouflyaf Ikerlo feet it,they fhal timely attaine veto it:where as in truth they tbux. who moli fwell with pride, and afpire vnto honours with all their indeauours, doe molt commonly mifle ofit, and Peeking for glory find difgrace; the world vfing their ambi- tion as the meanes oftheir deie6 ion and abafement,which it promifed fhould bee the meanes of their aduancement. Wherein as the world fheweth it trecherie and deceit to- wards thofe that faune vpon it; fo alfo impotency andin- fufficiencie, in that it is vtterly vnable to aduance men to that glory and digoitie which k promifeth. For howfoeuer poffiblie the worldwouldbe willing and forward enough to giuc prioritie to his forward children, and to aduance thole into the feate ofhonour,which make moftfuit, and take the greaceilpaines to rife; yetit cannot helpe and raife them as they would, becaufe God croffeth them in their courfes, and will not fuller them to afpire vnto their proud hopes, but be- caufe they will rife of themfelues without his helpe, and at- taine voto the height of honour by their owne meanes, therefore hee meeteth them in the mid way, caLling them dome againc, when they thinke themfelues neereft to ad- uancement, and glorifying his owne power and iuftice, in their ruine and vtter difgrace: And this is that which is often threatned againft the proud and ambitious in the Scriptures. So the Prophet Efay faith: Thehgh look*. ofmanAalíbehum- Efas,rt to Red, and the loftinefe of men fhall de abafed,atd the Lord ones )12a116e exalted in that day. For the day ofehe Lord of hogs is lope %411:hehaughtie, and upon all that is ,exalted, and it f all be Q`q made