Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

7iat the worldandmorldly things are zroaretrtasie, 6o1 much bearing, hath not her ancient vertue and vigour in bringing forth her fruits for the vfe and nourifhment ofman; by reafon whereofhe is much leffened in growth, enfeebled in firength,and obnoxious to manymore infirmities and dif- cafes then were his anceflors.All which Phew that the world isin it old and decrepitage,and not farre from death. For as in the little world oman, fo alto in this greaterr world and large vniuerle, there isa time ofyouth, and full ftrength,and a time of old age, and decrepit weakneffe; a time oflife,and a time of death. And as man in his youth is luflie and firong, Inning his bones full ofmarrow,and his finowes offtrength; hisskinne full offlefh, his whole body full of naturali heate and moiflure, and quickened with vital! fpirits: but when age commeth, his firengthisabated, hisbacke crooked, his fpirits fpeut, and all parts fo full ofinfirmities and weaknes, that they are notable to performe their naturali fun6tions and actions; till at laft the limbes being altogether unable to fupport the flaggering bodie, it ftumbleth and falleth at the threfhold of death: fo the world had it time ofyouth where- in it flourifhed in beautie, health,and flrength, and wasable to propagate a pofterisy like it felfe, and to nourifh and make it tat with all delights; but now it is come to old age, wherein all the powers thereof are fa weakened and enfee- bled, that it,cannotbee but the death thereof neere appro - cheth; and therefore let vs not fet our hearts vpon that which , is ready to vanifh ; let vs not now foolifhly dote vpon the world in it witheredold age,wherein it bath loft all it beau zatum tie, and is fo full ofwrinkles, infirmities, difeafes,and mani- taudo:di argue fold miferies, that letting our dotage afide, it hath not fo.prsdicasdi,qui much as a Phew ofcomelineffe to allure vs, nor any bait of utás etiam cum beautie to entice vs.For looke how much thofe great wor_fnuudo Jiorers- thiesofanci enttimes, thePatriarchesandProphetsaretobetepert tan.. commended for contemning it, in it greateft brauerie, refu- turn increpandi fing when it chiefly flourithed to flourifh with it; fo much &accuíaadi are wee to be blamednd condemned, for efteeming and lo- a t quos me uing it,when all excellency being va'nifhed, and it now be- deleEiai Aug. ing full ofblemifh and miferies, bath nothing in it, worthie ad Armenia fo much as carnall loue. rium.epitì. ;fa , And