Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That ibe may certainly obtain fpirituallgracer, &c. 6o; for howfoeuer thefe heauenly treafures areinfinitly of more value then this earthly trafh,yec we may not only attaine un- to more certaine affurance of them, but alto compaffe them with much more cafe; for though we haue neuer fo great a loue & delire of obtaining ihefe worldly vanities, it helpeth vs not much to theirfruition; yea (as I haue fheweel) often- times too much delire after earthly things, frufirateth our hope,& hindereth vs from attaining vnto the things defired; but (as one faith) a iufl li fe,tbhich za the °bay that Ieadeth to life t.Ffa verá vita eternal, rsalzaaiesprefent when e .euil ;becaufeti ùiufhceit felfe, cumvolamna íf we effetlually defire it,neit her is there any thing more required adefl,3r<ia tam ta the pe fellingofrighteoufnet, thentohaueaperfcllMiltoem- pplam,plenèvel- brace it ; and thereforewhat great labour is in -t hat, where to will !e °.FUga iR, &c. Auguí}. r alfo to obtaine?For whereas it may be obiecried that our Sa- epif..as.ad At uiour faith,that the way to life eternall is (trait, and the gate mencarium, that entreth into itnarrow ;thisdifficultieistobevnderilood Tom". in refpeét offlcfh and blood, which indeed is too groffe for Muth.' t.to. this narrow paffage; but if we lay afide the old man;with the Plalme 119.11. - groffe corruptions thereof, and become fpirituali and holy in 31r3o our minds,affecuions & a6uions,we fhall haueroome enough to enter.Againe,thisdiflïculty and flraitnes is only at the Ell fight whë we behold this way a far off, wichout any deliireto go into it;whereas if we come neerer hand, with a full refo. lution to enter into this narrow paffage,we Thal find it open, , eafie andlarge enough ; euen as when being in a broad way, , and looking farre before vs vpon a narrow lane, we thinke it quite clofed vp,and are ready (if experience helped vs not more then fight)to turne backe,as being hopclefí'e in finding anypaffage; but when we (till go forward and-come neere vnto the place, we find an eafie entrance for foure or flue to- gether,which we fuppofed was not large enough for one : fo although the way to heauen feemeth lirait to thòfe who look upon it with carnali eyes, yet this is not fo much in the nar- rownesofthepaffageitfelfe,as in the error ofour fight; for they who approach varo it find an open paffage, and being once entred,do trauell forward with great delight.And ther- fore feeing this way is certaine, affuredly bringing vs to our lorneyes end ofeternall happinea,and eafie alfo to chofe who trauell.