Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

38 Of the darageroHfs et of worldly profgeritie. will reckon of forne few,who had their profperitie tempe. red with a great meafure of aflliélion, which as an antidote expelled the poyfon of the other,and like a cold frofl nip. ping their rancknes, made them to becomemore fruitful', Mow many haue we read and heard of, that haue valiantly refilled the all'aults of aduerfiçie,and haue patiently endured pouertie,and that which is worfe, lofffeofwealth, ficknefl'e and difeafes, banifhment, and imprifonment, yea death it felf,and horrible tortures much werfe then death? But Phew me enow to intitle a number, of tholewho haue by worldly profperitie,riehes,honours,and pleafures, been made more religious and zealous in Gods feruice, more vertuous,wife, humble,temperate,and more careful' & watchful ouer their waits, that they might not offend God the author of their welfare.Yea fhew me almoll man,thathath not by world lyprofperitie bin made worfe,more forgetful) o£Cod,more negligent in Chrifiian duties, & vicious in his whole courfe and connerfation. Whereas conerariwife a whole age were too little to reckon vp thofe who haue come out of the fire of allhi6lion more purified, profited vnder this fchoolema- fier,and by there fatherly chailifements haue increafed in their loue towards Cod, and in their care to pleafe himby their hole obedience. §;Sec .$. Yea let vs if you will obferuc the fame men,and you !hall The great duff?. fee them not the fame,but exceedingly differing from them. rence breweene feluesin thefe different ellates : look vpon Sax! in his meane tree i meta co,udition,and you lali fee him modefily hiding himfelfe, wdaerfttie as vnworthie co be King ; but being once feared in, throne, a.Sam.to.aa, and fwefedwith drinking this royal! poyfon, how proud he is and infolent, difobedient and rebellious, louing his kingdome better then his God, and againil his knowledge and coufcience,making warte with heauen,rather then bee would not haue it continued to him and his polleritie, though he were iuflly depofed for his finne. See allo how in s.Sam.z i,t 3, the entrance into his raigne he fpareth his enemies,and deli. uereth offenders from defeated pun ifhments,but afterwards t.Saat.12 4, with deadly and implacable maliceperfecuteth his friends, and tyrannically murtbereth the guilticfïie and innocent, But