CHAP.l. upon the Epiftle of J A ·M Ii s. ' V Ji R. s . I o. we dream of acot9tinued[Hccrflion in our name and family : But alafs, this inward t!.lought isbut avain thought; a forry refuge by which man would make amtnds for the lofs of the tr11e eternity , but inva-in, for we perilh and our efl:ate too, both your perfons and your crmditioiJ are tranfitory; the Ap?file fa~rh,.He {hall pa_(s awaj Jik.f the florrcr of the grafs: Man h1mfelf IS lt!e.! the grafs, foon withertd; his condition islike theflower ofthe grafs, gone with a puffofwind. .: Soi Pet. 1.24 · Alljlefhugrafs, and the glory9f m.m .u the ·~ower rJf the g rafs : Many times the flower is gone when rhefta/k,remaineth ; ~ fo man feeth all that he bath been ga– theringalong time foon dilllpated by the breath of providence, and he, like a wi thered rotten fialk, liveth fcorned and riegktlcd : The Scriptures make ufeof both thefe ArgLtments, fometimes our owntran(itorinejs, asLu~ 12. 19. Thou fool, thin:ighi{hallt~y foul be requirc·d of thee: Here men toyl, and b:at their brains, and tire their fpirits, and rack their confciences, and when they have done :.tll, iik.JJillz.worms they dye in their work.,, and God takeeh thtmaway ere t hey can roafl what they get in hunting: Some– times. the tranjitorinefs of thcfe outwa' d things, if we do not' leave. thrm, they may leave Us ; _as many a man bath fu..vived his happinefs; and lived fo long as ro fee himfelf, when hu flower u gone, to be cafi out upon the dunghil of fcorn and contempt : and truly 'tis a madnefs to be proud of that, which m~y perijb biforc we pr:ri.fh, as 'tis the worjt ~f miferies to out-live o;tr own happi– nefi.: The ApoHie faith, I Tim. 6. 17. Charge rich men that they be not high rninded, and trujf not in uncertairt riches: Trufl: tbould have a Iure object, for 'cis the quiet repofe of the Soul in the bofom ofan immutable good; · therefore rha:c whtch is uncer– tcJin cannot yeelda ground of Truft: you may em:ertain it with jettloujic, but not wich tru/f. So 'Prov . 23. 5. Wi.lt thtJu jet thin~ eps ttpon rh.tt '.~;hich u not ?. Outward riches are fo far from being thet :.ftrhings, thatt~ltyratherarenot anything at all ; Solomon calletn rhun, that '! h,ec·h t6 not, and who ever loved nothing f' and wouldbe proud ot t!:at wrJich u not? . 73 . ) . T he.u,rJcertainty of worldly enjoyments may be well refemUed Obfo·vat. 5· bJ_ a~owa ;. be"1uttful, bmfading : The fimiltrude is elfewherc ukd ; l gav~ you places m the Expofition, lttt me add a few more; , See 'PJa-!· 103. 15; 16. A s for m.m, hu dvt:ys are .u grafs ; t~..s a fl_owfr of thefieid~Jo he flourifouh: For the windpaj[eth ovtr it, L · and ' . ·l. .•.' ~
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