Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Lament. t.t. r.Sam.2.7.8. Pfalme 73 18. EtcteLto.7, Ecckfiaflictts 1106. Prou.t6.18. and 18.1z. and s1.2. 6; o That allworldly things are mettable and vncomf ant. had receiued many teflimonies ofhis loue, and were by hint exalted aboue all other nations ; forabufing ofthefe !pedal!: fauours, were deiedled and brought voto a bale condition: for fo the Prophet complaineth; lerufalem hathgrieuoufly ftn. ned, therefore Jhe it m dertgon; allthat honored her, des fitf ber, becaufe they house feene her filthines. No maruell therefore if the world be vnconflant in conferring theft honors, feting in truth it hath no power to continue them, more then that . which it recciueth from God,who as he is the chicle Author ofthefe honors, fo he giueth and taketh them away at his ovine pleafure.Thus Hannah confeffeth,that the Lord bring - eth lo :v and exalteth ; he raifith vp the podre out of t he dufl, and ¡i ftethvp the begger from the dunghill, tofre them amouf Prin- ces ,and remake them inherit the fente o f lorie. So the Pfalmifl maketh this the chiefe caufe oftheruine ofthe wicked,when they were in the top of all their profperitie,becaufe the Lord had [et them inflipperie places, and easy them doline into della - tion. &u whether weconfider the chicle or in$rumentall cau- fes of this vnconllancie,fure we are that honors are moli mu- table and flitting,vncertaine to winter where they haue fum- mered, or to lodge where they haue relied ail day. And this mutable inconílancie the Wife man obferued;lhaue(faith he) feene feruants on her ¡es, and Princes as feratants walking. on the gìound. To which purpofe alto the Son ofSyrach no- tech, that many mighty men baste been broughttodi ¡:toner, and the honorable haue been deliuered into other mens hands, The which mutability commonly happeneth when men are mot/ fecure, and are puffed vp in pride, in regard that they alike themfelues of the confiant continuance ofthtir honors and preferments; their proudetl hopes yeelding nothing vnto them but Thane and difgrace. For fo the Wile man faith,that pridegoeth before deffruûion ; and an high nsind before the fall: and againe, when pride commeth, then commette (haine, bat with the lowly is wifdome. And therefore feting thefe worldly ho- nors are fo mutable and vnconflant, fo hardly gotten & eafi. ly loll, let vs not too much clleeme them, nor immoderately lote and fecke them, but rather let vs let our hearts vpon fa., wing wifdome and truc godlines; foras the Wife manfaith, Exult