Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Oftheeiutiveils which;nerldly things bring to their owners. y t9 little extraordinarypaines,it is grieuous veto them, and the abfence of theirferuants whole miniflery they vfe,is as trou- blelome vnto them, as if they wanted their hands or feet : whereas the poore labouring man is not hurt either with the cold of winter,or heat offummer, but as it were dare th the nipping winds and fcorching Sun with his vncouered head, bare face and open brefl,being bell at eafe, and even tinging or whiffling to expreffehis inward ioy, when he is buuefl at his labours: which when they are ended, he cheerfully and with a good ffomacke feedeth on his courCe fare, and after fleepeth quietly in hisbard bed. And therefore feeing riches hauefo many infirmities attending on them, & fubieél thofe that haue them to fo many wants, from all which the poore elate ispriuiledged and exempted; there is no reafon why we should dote fo vpon them with immoderate loue, and Elie the other with fuch feare and hatred; feeing in this re- fpeélthe meane condition hath tuff preeminence:forthough it be goodto hauemuch,yet it is better to want nothing;fee- ing we come neerell to the eflate of the bleffed Saints & An- gels, not in poffefling worldly abundance, but in little nee - ding fuch fupplies. To which purpofe one faith, that how- foeuer a rich man may feeme great and happie, becaufe he hath horfes, coffly prouifion, leruants and attendance : and though he may feetnc to haue great power, becaufe he hath many at command, appointing to euery one their feuerall bufineffe; yet in truth thole words of command, (hew ra- mafeiix, verbs therinfirmitie and inlufficiencie, then abilitie and power; quaum ¡K- feting that which they cannot do themfelues, they are con- perbia ditunt Brained to do by theminifferie of others: and their great diuites.funtin- Rore and prouifion doch but argue the greatneffe of theirf'rmitatis.non want, and conlequently of their miferie; we being then a- fac tat:s.AU _ lonetruely bleffed when hauing all our fufficiencie in God,fcft.Paf<hz, wee nand in need of nothing. The like all() may befaidofTom..te> voluptuous pleafures, whichwhofoeuer haue inabundance, and let their hearts on them with immoderateloue, they are fo farre from being perfeóled by them, that they addemuch to their imperfeétion. For though at firfl they were but meere fuperfluities, yet being by cufome inured to them, they