Ohad, verf.3,4 Hana'<.2..9;2 o. zek.x8,:7. ?eph,2,44 Pfal.S8.g, 118.12. Eeclef,z,z2,23. The rexatiorl of the S pirir. prefl'eth it. Let a man in atempef} g,oe to a thorne for fhel- ter, and he fhall light upon a theefe in !lead of a fence, which tivill teare his flefh in !lead of fuccouring him, and doe him more injury than the evill which he fled from ; and fuch arc the Creatures of themfelves, fo farre are they from proteeling, that indeed they tr.npt, and betray us. The pride of thin.! heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwelleft in the Clefts of theRockes, thou that fayeft in thine heart, Who {hall bring me down ? I will bring thee dowse, faith the Lord to Edom. Laf} ly, they arc vanifhingYhornes,nothing fo apt, no- thing fo eafie to catch fire, and be prefently extinguifhed. They are quenched like a fire of T horses. To confider yet more diflinCtly the Vexation of the Creature, we will obferve firft the .Degrees; fecondly, the Grounds of it ; and thirdly,the Vfes which we fhould put it to. Five 2)egreeswe (hall obferve of this Vexation. Firft, the Creatures are apt to molefi the Spirit in the procuring of them, even as Thornes will certainly prick in their gathering. They make ä11a mans dayes forrow, and his travell griefe, they fuller not ht heart to take reft in the night, as the Wiic-man fpeakes. What paines will men take? what hazards will they run to procure their de- fires ? Paincs of bodie, plotting of braise, confli:is of paflîons,, biting of confcience, dif- reputation among& men, ícourge of tongues, any thing, every thing will men adventure, to obtaine at lau} that which it may be is not a competent reward for the fina Ilef} of thefe Vexations. How will men exchange their Salvation, throw away their owne mercie, make themfelves perpetual! drudges and fervitours to the times, fawne, flatter, comply, couple in with the ini?ruments or authors of their hopes, hazard their owne blood in defperate undertakings, and flame their confciences with the bloud of others, to fwimme thorow all to their adored haven. e/4dorare vulgus, ja- cere
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