Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

T hatlborldly things are momentanie andcorrupti ble. 6z yer,orcóntentious perfon. Nor can our care and diligence pteuent thefe dangers,or fecure vnto vs the things we enjoy; yea rather (as the Wifeman telleth vs) riches do often perijh Ecclef.f.i3. each by our trauell:and the more wee labour to hold them, the foonerthey forfake vs; like water in the hand, which is loft with griping. And the reafon hereof is, becaufe wee are not abfolute owners of them, but our great lord and matter which bath chtefe right vnto them, (loth difpofe ofthem ac- cording to his ownepleafure, giuing, and taking away, en- riching,andmaking poore, whom, and when bee will. So that though we haue neuer fo great an heape of this fhining dal of gold and uluer,yet if he but blow vpon it, it will pre- ftntly Elie away, as himfelfe fpeaketh by his prophet. In Hag.' .9. which refpeétthe Wife man faith, that the treafuresoflbic- Pro.to.x. ;. . keánefèprofit not hitsg,becarefe God ca/leth away the fubffance of the cricked :an example whereof we haue in the whore ofBa- bylon,who being rich in fine linnen,purple, & skarlet,. gold, Apoc.t8.r6. precious Bones, and pearles, is faid to haue all her riches t7 in one houre brought to defolation. Id regard of' which vn.. Chryloft.de conflancie, and momentanie continuance ,of wealth and pceniten.Ho worldly treafures, they are fitly compared to fugitiue fer- uants, who will not flay long in any place, but runne from mailer tomafler: whereof it is that worldlings hauingno affurance of them, and yet doting in their loue, do keep* them vnder the fafePt cutiodie of bolts and barres,. Iocke and key, and watch ouerthem continually with vigilant and car - king care, for fearc they fhould make an efcape, and fo de- priuethem oftheir feruice. And yet fuchis the follie ofworldly men,that though they 4.Sell. t S. are taught by continuall experience of others loges, that That riches are their riches are alto momentanie, yet doe they dreame that daily in danger their owne will be permanent and perpetuall, and that they eking; and lhall long enioy their wealth themiélues,andafter lcaueitto feffebri greater their children for many generations. Which vaine hopes g,eatergrieje. . when as they faile,and their riches contrary to their expe&a- don are taken from them; they torment themfelues with hit- ter grief e,and the greater their riches haue been, the greater is their forrow for their loffe, vexing themfelues the more,b. how..