2-he Vexation of the Spirit. 63 cere ofcula, &' omnia ferviliter pro imperio. The Hifforian fpeakes it of Otho that Roman eflbfalom, he woríhipped the people, difpenced frequently his courtefies and plau- fìbilities, crouched and accommodated himfelfe to the bafeff routs, that thereby. he might creepe into an ufur- ped honour, and get - himfelfe an hated memory in after ages. And that the like vexation is ordinary in the pro- curement of any- earthly things will eafily appeare, if we but compare: the difpofition of the minde with the obflacles that meet us in. the purfuite of them. Suppofe we a man importunately let to travell unto force place where., the certainty of force great profit or preferment attends his. comming , the way thorow which he mull. goe is intricate, deepe, unpaflible, the beaff that carries him lame and tyred, his acquaintance none, his inílru, li ons few, what an heavie vexation muff this needs be to the foule of that man to be croífed with fo many difficul- ties in foeager a defrre ? Jufi this is the cafe with pant rall men in the profecution of earthly things. Firff, the - defires of men are very violent (which the Scripture ufeth to exprefieby making hafe,greedie coveting, a pt rpofe to be Pr ©v 21[4, z64. rich ui Dives fieri volt, fieri, they that will be rich, cannot be quiet till their defires are accom- plifhed : and therefore wee finde ffrong defires in the Scripture-phrafe expreffed by fuch things as give intima- (tion of paine with them. The Apoflle defcribes them by groaning andfishing ; the Prophet David bypanting and RonvE. z3. z6. piping the Spoufe in the Canticles by fcknnffe, lam Pfa1.4z.1. fickle with love. This e/4mnon grew leane for the define Cant z. ;. of his filler, and was vexed and fiche; thus cflhab waxed =Sam.i .i heavie, and layed him downe on his bed, and turned .4- King..zt 4. way his face, and would not eat becaufe of Naboths. Vineyard. So that very .importunitie of defires is full of vexation in it felfe. But befides,therneanes for fulfilling thefe defires are very difficult, the inffruments very weak and impotent peradventure a rnáris wits are not futè- able
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