Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of theJhortneffeandfrailtyofmanslife. 547 `r fottifh loue of there earthly vanities : for though we may pro- vide lafling lands,yet not enduring lines; though our poflc(lï- ons would remaine for euer,yet our feluesare but ofmomenta- nie and (boa continuance, curry day ready to bee taken from them; and though the world would make vs beleeue, and our owne deceiuing hearts are apt to perfuade vs, that our poffetli- onsare fee- fimples,andour lands and houles inheritances for e- uer, yet the truth is we are but tenants at will, holding all %\'ee enjoy at our great Landlords pleafure: and ' w hen we haue got- ten the bell affurance that we can,yet we are more fitre,that we (hall hold nothing longe: then onely for rearme oflife ; for as we brought none ofthefe thingswith vs when we were borne, fowe(hall take nothing 4th vs at our burial], but as we found them all in the world,fo when we depart, to the world we muff leave them. And this holy lob coufeffcth; Naked(faith he)came lob /out of my mothers wombe, andnaked(ball I returneagasne: to which theApoflle alluding faith, that wee brought nothing into r.Titn.6.7. the rvorld,and it is certaine that we can carrie nothing out: and the Preacher ifpeaking indefinitely of all men, faith, that as man EccicI..r4. came forth of his mothers bellte,he!ball retnrne naked to roe as bee came,andlhall Beare away nothing ofhis Iabour,which he harp cast - fed to paffe by his hand. And howfoeuer there is great difference in mens elates whildl they continue here,fome lining in prof_ perity,and fomein aduerfitie;fotne in plenty,and fome in want; yet(as the authour ofthebooke of Wifedome affirmeth,all men Wifd.7:E. haue one entrance vntolife,and alike going our. And this wee may cleerely perceive in the looking glaflé of common experience: for how many houfes and lordfhips do we fee, that haue(them_ felues remaining) turned their owners out ofdoores,and chan- ged themfor others,not onely ofthe fame kindred and pofieri. ty, but for firangers to the former family? How many haue we (with the Pfalmifl)obferuedwho haue beene flrongin their Plal.37.35.36° profperity, fpreading themfelues like a greenebay tree, who are now gone, and though we fhould feeke them, yet we can- not find them ? How many haue wee feene honoured, and in high places, who are now laid low in the graue,and troden vn- der their feet,who not long lince bowed vnto them, yeelding them at the 6rí1 fightthe reuerence ofcap and knee ?How ma- ny who haue before time abounded in gold and filuer, houfes T t 4 and