Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Cum diuitia fat caduca, pana perpetua efl.Ambrof. iaLuc4. tam.ç.t.s. Rom. s.ç. 6t8 That worldly things etremomentany and corruptible. how much themore they haue abounded. And thus the grief ofa loft kingdome,pierceth the heart with far greater for- row, then hee who bath lofl but a fmall lordfhip. Thus the merchant more bewaileth the wracke of his rich fhip, then the poore fifherman his little boate; and the rich man being robbed ofalI his treafures, taketh his Ioffe Rauh more hca- uilie, then a poore man who is fpoiled offome worthleffe trifles, though theybe his whole fubflance. In whichrefpc& riches are right runawaies, which are kept with great care, and alwaies do their matters more hurt at their parting,then they haue done them good in their whole feruice. And thee- fore feeing thefe earthly richesare alwaies momentanie, and oftentimes harmeful,let it be far from any Chriflian from fix- ing his hart vpon thefe vnconflant and fickle vanities, which like the wanes of the fea riling and falling,will toffc it vp and downein the refllefl'e motion of hope, careandfeare. Farre be it from vs who profeffe godlineffe, either to compaffe or keepe thefe vncertaine and flitting trifles, by vnlawfull meanes,and for their fakeby fin to hazard the eternal' ioyes of heauen, and to cafl our felues headlong into hell; fee- ing the things wee gaine are tranfitorie,and the thìngswee lofe permanent and perpetuall; the pleafures which we take in our earthly treafures vnconflant,and momentanie,andthe torments which attend vpon their linfull fruition endlefte and euerlafiing; in which refpe6 the Apoflle lamer thus fpeaketh to couetous mifers; Goe to now ye rich men,weepe and houle,foryourmiferies trhich /hall come vpon you. Tour riches are corrupt,andyourgarments motheaten. Tour gold and fil- uer it cankred,and the ruff ofthemfhall be a witneffe againflyou, andfhalleateyourfefbas it were fire. re haueheaped vp crea- fure for the lafi daies; menthe treafure of wrath againfl the day ofwrath,and ofthe declaration ofthe itsfl iuderementof ,Clod, as the Apoflle `Paulexpoundeth it. And therefore let vs not fet our hearts vpon chele momentanicand flitting vanities, but rather vpon thofe fubflantialltreafures, Gods fpirituall gra- ces andheauenly ioyes; which as they are infinitely ofmore worth; fo are they eternal' and euerlafling, and (hall neuer be taken from vs, or we from them. For when wee haue en- joyed