630 TheFolly ofhazarding Vol. II. I. The purchafe is inconfiderable. Our Saviour here puts the cafe to the great- eft advantage on the purchafer's fide, and makes the very heft of it, he fuppofeth the gain much greater than any man ever made, he putsa cafe next to an impofiì- bility, that a manAnil gain the whole world, which no man ever did , or was in any probabilityof doing. Alexander bid faireft for it, and becaufe he overruna few great Countries, is called aConqueror of the world : but let a man Purvey the Globe, and he will loon fee how finali a part of the world he had mafter'd ; it was but inconfiderable in comparifon of the reft of the then known world ; and much lefs if we take in thofe vaft and fpacious regions , which have fince been difcover'd ; fo that if he had underftood either the world, or hiwfelf better, he might have (pared his crying for want of more to fubdue. But fuppofe a man could gain all the world, and commandall the conveniences and pleafures of it, yet all this, if it be duly weighed, will be found to be no great purchafe, efpecially if we confider thefe three things. J. If we had it all, yet the great uncertainty of holding it, or any part of it. 2. The impoffibiliry of ufing and enjoying it all. 3. Ifwe had it, and could ufe it all, the improbability of being contented with it. If a man had the whole world, 'tisuncertain whether he could hold it, or any part of it for any time; if he fhould hold it, it is impoffible he fhould ufe and en- joy it all ; if he could ufe it , 'tis probable he would not be contented with it : and what a goodly purchafe is this ; when it is all of it uncertain ; and the great- eft part of it ufelefs to us ; and when We have it we are as far from fatisfaélion, as if we were without it. All thefe confiderations mutt needs mightily fink the valueof this purchafe, and take us off from our fondnefs ofa fmall part, when the whole is fo inconfiderable. . I. If we had it all, the uncertainty of holding it; or any part of it. The very fuppofitionofgaining the world doth imply, that it is loft from thofe that had it be- fore ; which thews the poffefGon of thefe things to be uncertain, and that they are not fure to continue in the fame hand. When Alexander conquer'd Darius, and took his Kingdoms, juft fo much as Alexander got, Darius loft; fo that if a man could gain the whole word from thofe, who are now the Lords and Poffeffors of it, the verygaining of it from others, mull needs be a demonftration to himof the ficklenefs and uncertainty of thefe things. No man is fure ofany thing in this world for his life, or for anyconfiderable part ofit; and if he were, yet no man is lure of his life for one moment. How many ways bath theprovidence ofGod tochange the greateft profperityof thisworld into the greateft mifery and forrow, and in an inftant tooverturn thegreateft fortune, to throw down the proudeft afpirer, to impoverifh the wealthieft Prince, and tomake extremelymiferable, the molt happyman that ever was in this world. This change of fortune may be made by the rapine of our enemies, or the treachery of our friends ; by a ftorm at fea, or a fire at land ; by our own folly, or by the malice of others, or by the immediate hand of God. Nay all the outward Circumftances of happinefs may continue firm and xnfha- ken, and yet a man may be extremely miferable by the inward vexation and dif- content of his own mind ; and if riches and greatnefs, and profperity wouldRick by us, we our felves are fickle and uncertain. Our life is a vapour eafily blown away, and tho' it be the foundation of all other enjoyments in this world, yet it is as frail and inconftant as anyof them ; fo that if a man could gain the whole world, yet this great purchafe would be clogged with a double uncertainty, either of lofing it, or leaving it; either of having thefe taken from us, or our felves fnatch'd from them. 2. Suppofe a man had gained the whole world, and were fure to keep it for a confiderable time, yet it is impoffible he fhould enjoy it all. Tho' no man yet ever had, yet it is poffible he may have a title to the whole world, and a great deal of care and trouble to fecure that againft the violence and ambition of others,: but.a title to a thing is one thing, and the real ufe of it another. There ateïa gileak,i a,-, ny things in the world, ofwhich noman ever yet underftood the true nature..awl proper ufe ; to thefe a man may have a title, and be aftually poffeft of,them -, yyt a no
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