Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

614 That worldly thing: aremomentany andcorruptible. winged hafle : nor doth greatnesofaduancement in this cafe glue any priuiledge, or yceld any fupport, yea rather the higher men are extolled and lifted vp, the greater and more vnrecouerable is their downefall; euen as he who falleth of a low floole, rcceiueth no great hurt, and eafily rifeth againe, and recouereth himfelfe, whereas he who falleth from an high flceple, or the top ofaloftie tree, is mortally bruifed, if not difrembred and ¡battered in pieces. And thus (as one Grauiro Adam obferueth) Adam had the more gricuous downefall,becaufe in Paraehfe ce- he fell in Paradife,from a melt high and glorious condition: eidir,gaam fi for to be ouerthrowne from an high place is an head -long cecidrffet in ter- downefail, whereas it is but a flip or Toile to fall on plaine fa. De ak /J;,ris ground. The reafon hereof is, becaufe the more highly men taderepractpi- firm eft, in pia- areaduancçd,thegteatercommonlyis their pride; and the ni, lapfus dici- more full they are ofthe wind ofvaine- alory,the neererthey far. AmbrcLin are to burfting;becaufe the Lord oppofmg againfl the proud Ptalm. ;s. man aboue all other (inners, by reafon of all others he molt Tom.4, oppofeth againfl him doth call him fuddenly downe, and bringeth him tonought, when he is moll fecure, and flan. deth tlrongefl, and out of danger of falling in his owne con- ceit. So Zophar (peaking of the wicked man, faith, that 1620.6.7 ,g. thoughbis excellencielhould mount vp to the heauen, and his head reachvnto the clouds; yet (Ball he perifb for euer like his dung; and they which hauefeene him fhallfay,where is hee ? bee fhalllie away as a dreame, and they f callnce find him, and (hall Prou.ró,ga8. paffe army asavifionof the night .And the Wife man aflrmeth, that all which are proud in heart are an abomination vote the Lord, and though they ioyne hand_ in hand, yet they fhall not be vnpunifhed :and confequently,that pridegoer h before deí ru- llion, and an high mind before the fall. Yea fo doth the Lord abhorre the proud, that he contenteth not himfelfc to haue brought them to ruine, but fitbuerteth and defroyeth his houle and fatnilie, as elfew here he fpcaketh. And therefore Prom S.Z4. fecing worldly honors are tnomentanic and vncertaine, be. getting in vs pride, and pride deflruélion, let vs not foolilh- ly affe6t, and fet our hearts vpon them, Peeing men are but thus aduâced that they may catch themore grieuous downe- fal,theworld vfing them herein like a cunning wraliler,who liftcth