Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Thataf Worldly things are Imitable and vneonßant. 6z7 this variable ground,are like vnto thofe who hauing no com- mandement or promife, will prefume by foie vertue of a mi- raculous faith u, walk vpon the waters; who (as one faith)are mundo.;tantè fomuch the deeper plunged into the gulphofmifery,by how magi,in Poi"- much the more fecurely they pre(itmed of their permanent d"3" mergutgr. Frolperitie, therebeingnogreatermiferiethenafallehappi- oudent m nes. For there is no conliancie or fled fafines in tide worldly 'caws: fatlax things, but they are continually ready to remoue themfelues eaim lirtitttat from one to another,at the leall becke of the great Creator, infaeuimaior and to alter the elates of worldly men by their commie ú Y Y g guff. in Pfalm. .and departure, as Hannah in her tong notablie obferuech : 529. The Lord (faith the) if a God o f knowledge,and by him enterpri- fes are eFtadltfhed: the bov and the mihtie men are brslren, and rSom.1.3.44 the weakehattegirded themfelues with flrengeh. They that were full are hiredout for bread, and the hangry are no more hired,the farren bath borne feuen,and fie that had manychildren ú feeble: the Lord killet h and mak.eth acme, bringeth down to the graue, and raifeth vp, &c. But let vs briefly confider the mutability of worldly things 4.Set1.3. in the fpeciall inflances.And firfi, what can be more vncon- of themstabtG- liant and variable then honors and preferments? teeing thole Rarac e fbo who are thus aduanced,do continually walk inflipperie pla- Hors and p.rfcr- -ees,where they arc Hill ready to catch a fall; and borrowing meats. their glory in a great partfrom the vnconflant opinion ofthe fickle multitude, which like the weathercocke turneth with euery wind, their fameand reputation muli needs be excee- ding variable, refling it felfe vpon fuch an vnflable ground. In which regard worldly men are fitly compared to fhelfifh, Plin.hb, a, cap. which dependingvpon the Moone,are fubiecrl to al her than- 99 ges,encreafing as the encreafeth,anddecreafing, as the incli- neth towards the waine; for fo their honor landing at the deuotion of the vncó(lant multitude, altereth and changeth, rifeth and falleth,according to the ful or waine of their varia- ble conceits.The world promifeth indeed perpetuitie ofho- nors to thole who will let theirhearts vpon them,and prefer them before the glory ofGod,and the faluation oftheir own foules, but he dealeth fometime vnfaithfully with his fauou- rites, creacherouflybetraying them vnder Phew ofloue, and S f a liftin.g