The Resolved Christian Exhorting to Resolution, Book 1 · Chapter 1
Chap. I. Of the miſerie of Man.
Of the miſeries and calamities of this life. Sect. I
IF they be miſerable, thataLuc. 16.19 luc. 19.42 ſee not their owne miſerie: howe muchbLuc. 6.24.25, 26 more miſerable are they that are ſo farre in louelove with this mortall and tranſitory life, that were they ſure to liue alwayes in this worlde, they would not ſet acMat. 6.21 luc. 12.19 poynt by the kingdome of God! Theſe be they,dPhil. 3.19 whoſe end is damnation, whoſe God is their belly, and whoſe glory is to their ſhame, which mind earthly things: Theſe be they,e1. Lo 2.16 whom the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, do rather allure tof2. Tim. 4.10 louelove & like this world, than thegLuc. 16.25 pains of euerlaſting miſeries to come, may cauſe to abhorre & loathe it: And theſe be they, who neuer taſted ithPſalm. 34.8 how ſweete the Lord is, nor theiCor. 2.14 ſpirituall conſolation and ioy of the godlyk2. Pet. 2.12 But as naturall bruit beaſts led with ſenſualitie, and made to bee taken and deſtroyed, ſpeake euill of thoſe things which they knowe not, and shall perish through their owne imagination. lPſal. 50.22Oh conſider this ye that forget God, lest he teare you in peeces, and there be none that can deliuer you. mRom. 3.2God is true and righteous; if you will not turne,nPſal. 7.12 he hath whet his ſworde, he hath bent his bow, and made it readie: oPſal. 68.21Surely God will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairie pate of him that walketh in his ſinnes: pPſal. 9.17The wicked shall turne into hell, and all nations that forget God; qZeph. 1.18 ezech. 7.19.neither shal their ſiluer or gold, be able to deliuer them, in the day of the Lords wrath, but that theyrZeph. 3.8 shall be deuoured by the fire of his iealouſie. Away then with prophaneſSyrac. 19.5 pleaſure, deſpiſe theſetEccl. 1.2 vaine delights, & contemne thisu2. Pet. 1.4 wretched worlde: of whoſex1. Io. 5.19 miſerie,y1. Theſſ. 5.2 vncertaintie,z1. Cor. 7.31 frailtie,aIona. 2.8 changes and chances, not onelyonly the ſacred Scriptures doe crie out againſt, but alſo many wiſe and learned Philoſophers, though Pagans and Ethnikes, hauehave left ſufficient teſtimony.bIam. 4.4 The amitie of the worlde is the enimitie of God: whoſoeuer therfore will be a friend of the world, maketh himſelfe an enemie of God. cEccl. 1.14I hauehave conſidered (ſaith Solomon) all the works that are done vnderunder the Sunne, and beholde, all is vanitie, and vexation of the ſpirite. For proofe hereof to inſiſt onelyonly in the beſt creature in the worlde, for whoſe ſake all things were made, to wit MAN,dGen. 1.27 created after Gods owne image: who when hee hadeGen. 3.6. renounced his former integritie, into whatfRom. 3.16 calamities and miſeries he fell, it is impoſſible to vtter. For Nature being fallen through the offence of the first Man, and defiled through Sinne, the puniſhment thereof hath redounded vntounto allgRom 5.18 poſterities the ſeede of Adam: So that Nature, which at the firſt washGen. 1.27 made good, perfect, & righteous, is now become ſoiGeneſ. 6.5 vaine, ſokIam. 4 9 miſerable, ſolPſal. 62 9 fraile, and ſom1. Cor. 15.42 corrupt, in as much as the motion left vntounto it, tendeth alwayes vntounto euill and inferior things.
Of the miſerable Nature and Condition of Man. Sect. II
RIppe the whole condition and ſtate of Mankinde, and then you ſhall partely perceiue the frailetie thereof. Man isaGen. 2.7 made of the earth,bPſal. 51.5 conceiued in ſinne, andcIob 5.7 borne to paine. Man isdEccl. 9.3 euill eRom. 7.24.wretched, fIob 15.16filthie, gPſal. 14.1corrupt and abhominable, doing nothing that is good, hRom. 6.12mortall,iPſal. 62.9 vaine and kEſa. 9.17vnprofitable,mPſal. 62.12 vanitie, altogether lighter than vanitie,n1. Kin. 8.46 ſinfull,o1. Cor. 15.19 miſerable,pGen. 18.27 dust and aſhes,q1. Cor. 15.42 43 ſowne in corruption, diſhonor and weakeneſſe,rIer. 17.9 deceitfull,ſIob 1.21 naked,tEccl. 9.3 ſubiect to death,uEpheſ. 2.1 dead in ſinne,xRom. 3 4 a liar,yEſay 9.17 an hypocrite,zRom. 8.7 an ennemie vntounto God, a creature that aIob 15.16drinketh iniquitie like water, a bGen. 47.9pilgrime,cEſay 40.6 graſſe,dIob 8.9 ignorant, a e1. Chro 29.15ſtranger and ſoiourner, of fIob 14.2no continuance,gPſal. 18 5 compaſſed with the ſnares of death, h2. Sam. 14.14water ſpilt on the ground.iIob 25.4 By birth vncleane, a kEpheſ. 2.3child of wrath, a lLuc. 13.27worker of iniquitie,mRom. 3.13 an open ſepulchre,nIob 25.6 a worme, theoEſay 51.8 meate of wormes,p1. Mac. 2.62 doung and wormes,qRom. 3.23 depriued of Gods glorie, arIob 7.7 winde,ſGen. 27.2 ignorant of the time when he came into the world, and when he ſhall depart, a tIere 10.14beaſt by his owne knowledge,uGen. 6.5 from whom nothing can proceede but that which is corrupt, a xEſay 14.19rotten carkaſſe,yPſal. 146.3 in whom there is no help,zRo. 7.18 in whom dwelleth no good thing. Man is compared vntounto the aPſa. 49.12fooliſh beaſts, to bEſay 51.12graſſe, to a cIob 14 2floure that fadeth, to a dEſay 41.2ſcattered ſtubble, to a eIob 14.2ſhadowe, to fIob. 8.9yesterday and to gPſalme 62.9vanitie. The hPſalme 89.45daies of his youth are ſhortned, and he is couered with ſhame.iPſalme 60.11 His helpe is vaine,k1. Corinth. 3.20 his thoughts are vaine, his lPſal. 146.4thoughts perish: His mIere. 17.9heart is wicked and deceitful,nEccl. 9.3 ful of euil and madnes. His oPſal. 39.11beautie conſumeth as a moath: his pRom. 3.13throat is an open ſepulchre; he vſeth his tongue to deceit, the poiſon of aſpes is vnderunder his lippes: his qRom. 3.14mouth is ful of curſing and bitternes; his rRom. 3.15feete are ſwift to ſhed bloud; The … feare of God is not before his eies;ſRom. 3.18 he ſhall tEſay 40.6vaniſh as the graſſe. The u1. Pet. 1.24glorie of man is as the floure of graſſe, that xIob 14.2vanisheth as a shadow, the yEſay 51.8moath shall eate it vp: his zEſay 64.6righteouſnes is as filthie clowtes. His aWiſd. 2 1life is short and tedious, it bWiſd. 2.4paſſeth awaie as a trace of cloude, as the mist, as acWiſd. 5.9 poſt that paſſeth by,dWiſd. 5.10 as a ſhippe that paſſeth ouer the waues of the water; as aeWiſd. 5.11 bird that flieth through the aire, as anfWiſd. 5.12 arrow that is shot,gWiſd. 5.13 as ſoone as wee are borne, we beginne to drawe towards an end.hWiſd. 2.4 Our name shalbe forgotten in time, and no man shall hauehave our workes in remembraunce. Mans iIob 7.1daies are as the daies of an hireling, ask1. Chro. 29.15 a ſhadow, as lPſal. 78.39a winde that paſſeth and commeth not againe, as amPſal. 103.15 floure of the field, as anPſal. 39.5 ſpanne long, as aoIob 20.8 viſion of the night, as a dreame, they pEſa. 64.6fade like the leafe,qIob 7.6 ſwifter than the weauers ſhuttle; they are rIob 14.1full of trouble, ſGeneſ. 3.17full of ſorrow, tIob 7.16vanitie,uIerem. 17.9 deceitfull, xEſay 40.17nothing, yea leſſe than nothing: whereuppon Solomon ſayd well, yEccl. 4.2The dead are better than the liuing.
Of the miſeries incident to the ſeuerall ages of Man. Sect. III.
THe Prophet Ieremie crieth out,aIere. 20.18 How is it that I came forth of the wombe, to ſee labour and ſorrow, that my daies ſhould be conſumed with shame! How much more cauſe hauehave we,b1. Cor. 15.19 (miſerable creatures) to crie out of ourcRom. 3.16 calamities, who weredPſal. 51.5 conceiued and borne in ſin, ſeeing Ieremy complaineth ſo much, beingeIere. 1.5 ſanctified in his mothers wombe? OhfPſal. 62.10 vaine, miſerable, and vnhappy Men! Before we ſinne, we are ſtraitgRom. 5.12 faſtened to ſinne, and before we can offend, we are faſt bound with offence.hEzech. 18.2 Did not our Fathers eate the ſower grape, and are not the teeth of the children ſet on edge therewith? Conſider, O Man, from whence thou cameſt, bluſh whither thou goeſt, and feare where thou liueſt; we are begotten iniPſal. 51.5 vncleanes, brought forth withkGen. 3.16 throbs and throwes, and nouriſhed inlEpheſ. 6.12 darkenes: we began our tragedy withmWiſd. 7.3 nakednes & weeping; we continue our parts, withnSyra. 40.1 paine and vexation, and with ſorrow and miſerie wee muſt take our farewell; our beginning isoGen. 3.16 lamentable, our continuancepEccl. 9.3 wretched, and our departure greuous. The whol life of man, is beſet and encountred with three capitall enemies, qIob 14.1Paine,rRom. 7.24 Care andscor. 10.12 Sorrow; painetHeb. 12.11 pincheth vsus, careuSyra. 30.22 conſumeth vsus, and ſorrowx2 Cor. 7.10 Miſeries of Infancy. ſhortneth our daies. There is no age of Man free from affliction and miſerie.ſIoh. 16.20 In his Birth; Intollerable is the Mothers paines, and infinite are the Infants miſeries; who commeth into the world, crying & weeping, poor, naked, weake and miſerable, without ſpeech, knowledge or ſtrength to go: no ſooner is the babe borne, but ſtrait he is bound hand and foote, and caſt into a cradle as into a priſon, prefiguring the ſeruitude that hee is to ſuffer. Then entreth he into Childhood, Miſeries of Childhood.and beginneth to warre with the lacke of reaſon, and to fight againſt his owne follie; not knowing what he is, where he is, whence, nor for what he came. Nowe muſt hee be kept vnderunder the feare of the rod, and learne ſome liberall ſcience, or ſome mechanicall art, whereby to maintaine his life heereafter. Then commeth Youth, raſh,Miſeries of Youth. headlong, venterous, voluptuous, fooliſh, prodigall, paſſionate; In this age he commeth into great dangers, fighting againſt the deſires of the fleſh, againſt fond affections, and vaine imaginations, which cauſe the mind to wauer, to be vnconſtant, and to be carried away with ſundry phantaſies; In this age hee becommeth a drunkard, a gamſter, a quarreller, and oftentimes to be caſt into priſon, to be hanged, to looſe his goodes, and to cauſe his Parentes to end their dayes in ſorrow. Then hath hee to encounter with Manhoode; Miſeries of Manhood.to this age is incident the charge of wife & children, the maintenance of family and care of poſterity. Sometimes he is beſieged with deſire and couetouſneſſe, ſometimes with feare to looſe his goods, and other infinit ſuch vanities and afflictions. Then laſtly commeth Old-age ſtealing on,Miſeries of Old age. vnperceiued, wherein Man receiues many incurable woundes, as baldneſſe, bleared eies, deaf eares, wrinkled browes, ſtinking breath, trembling handes, faint ſpirites, leane cheekes, corruption of ſtomacke, gowty legges, with many more miſeries innumerable, which neuer leaue to vanquiſh the body, to diſquiet the minde, & to wound the conſcience. And thus are wee toſſed all the dayes of our life with griefe, cō paſſed with cares, and ouer-whelmed with calamitie. Our Infancie is but a dreame; our Childhoode but follie; our Youth madneſſe; our Manhoode a combate; our Age a ſickeneſſe; our Life miſerie; and our Death horror: we lament in the firſt minute, and rue to the laſt moment. Which way can we caſt our eyes, but that we ſhall finde cauſe of lamentation and heauineſſe? If wee beholde the heauens, from thence, for our ſinnes, we were iuſtly baniſhed; If we looke vponupon the earth, there we are impriſoned; on the right hand, we hauehave the Saints, whoſe ſteps we hauehave not followed; on the left hand, the wicked, whoſe race wee hauehave purſued: before vsus, wee hauehave our death ready to arreſt vsus; behinde vsus, our wicked life ready to accuſe vsus; aboue vsus, Gods iuſtice ready to condemne vsus; and vnderunder vsus, hell fire ready to deuoure vsus.
Of the miſeries of all Estates. Sect. IIII.
AS Man in reſpect of his age isaPſal. 62.10 vaine &b1. Cor. 15.19 miſerable, ſo alſo is he, and that much more (if it were poſſible) in reſpect of the qualitie and condition of his life and calling. For there is no eſtate, calling or degree exempt and free from vanitie and miſerie; all arecWiſd. 13.1 vaine, all aredIoh. 16.33 vexed, all areeIob 14.1 tormented with worldly tempeſts, all dofEccl. 9.3 ſuffer the dolefull blaſts of calamitie. Beginne with the ſtowteſt Champion, the mightieſt Monarch, the greateſt Emperour or Prince that euer liued on the earth, & come down to the pooreſt wretch, and meaneſt miſer in the worlde, and you ſhall finde that all, of all ſortes, Poore and Rich, Seruant and Maiſter, Married and Singleman, Subiect and Prince; to conclude, the Bad and the Good, tormented with temptations, toſſed with tempeſts, diſquieted with aduerſity, and therefore moſt fraile, moſt miſerable, yea nothing but miſerie.Miſeries of the Poore. The Poore man, he is preſt with famine and thirſt, ſuppreſt with ſorrow and heauineſſe, and oppreſt with colde and needineſſe. He is in great diſdaine, hee is diſpiſed and contemned, buffeted and ſcorned; he lieth groueling at the Rich mens feete, and dying at their heeles, as they go in the ſtreets, and yet vnregarded. He is ſhunned of his brethren, loathed of his friendes, and hated of his neighbours. To aske for Gods ſake, he is oftentimes aſhamed, if he will not aske, he is pined, and therefore meere neceſſitie conſtrayneth him to begge. He accuſeth God of vnrighteouſnes and parcialitie, becauſe he diuided not the goodes of this world equally: He blameth his neighbour of vnmercifulneſſe and crueltie, becauſe he releeueth not his neceſſitie; he fretteth and fumeth, he murmureth and curſeth: whereupon it was ſaide,gSyra 40.28 Miſeries of the Rich. It is better to die than to begge. The Rich man, he is ouerthrowne in his aboundaunce, hee is puffed vp with vaineglory, hee putteth his truſt & confidence in his goodes and wealth, whereupon he braggeth and boaſteth: Hee ſwelleth with pride and diſdaine; and yet labour in getting, feare in poſſeſſing, and ſorrow in looſing, doth euer trouble and diſquiet his mind. ForhMatth. 6.21 Miſeries of Seruants. where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo. The Seruant, or Bondman is loaden with labor, wearied with watchings, and worne with ſlauery: He is beaten with ſtripes, ſpoyled of his ſubſtance, and burdened with ſorrow. The Maiſters offence is the Seruants paine, & the Seruants fault is the Maiſters prey: If hee hauehave wealth, he muſt ſpend it at his Maiſters pleaſure, if hee hauehave naught, then muſt his labour make a painefull purchaſe. O moſt miſerable and irkeſome condition of ſeruitude!iSyrac. 13.20 As the wilde Aſſe is the Lions prey in the wildernes, ſo are the poore men the meate of the rich. The Maister, Miſeries of Maſters.he euer liueth in feare leſt the treacherie of his ſeruants ſhorten his daies. If he be gentle, then is he contemned, if ſeuere, then is he hated; for Curteſie bringeth contempt, and crueltie breedeth hatred. The Singleman, Miſeries of Single-men.hee fighteth againſt fond deſires, and fleſhly luſt, for that vnquiet Iebuſite will hardly be reſtrained.kMatth. 19.11 All men cannot receiue the gift of continencie, ſaue they to whom it is giuen. Satan kindleth the fire of Nature in them with the blaſt of fraile ſuggeſtion, wherby the feeble and weake minde is ſecretly ſawced with amorous deſires,Miſeries of Married men. and the body made prone to perdition. The Married man, he is at his wits end, as they ſay, euer burning in ielouſie: feare of looſing his goodes doth vexe him; loſſe of riches maketh him tremble; and the charge of houſhold doth diuide him diuerſly. He labors to diſcharge his wife, to prouide for his children, and to pay his ſeruants hire: And therefore the burden of wedlocke is greeuous & miſerable.Miſeries of Subiects. The Subiect, he dependeth vppon his Prince, hee muſt be carefull to obey; if his Soueraigne frowne, he muſt ſtoop & crowch; he muſt employ his goodes and his life alſo, in defence of his King, yea he muſt becom a martiall man, and liue in a miſerable moode, making his onelyonly felicitie, of other mens miſerie. The King, Miſeries of Kings and Princes.hee liueth in continuall feare of the treacherie of traitors; hee is ſet vponupon a hill as it were a marke; a ſmall warte deformeth a Princes face, and in a King an errour is deſperate; he eateth the bread of affliction, and his drinke is care and ſorrowe. Wherevppon an heathen Hiſtoriographer maketh mention of a King, to whom the Scepter and Crowne were offered, who before hee wore it, tooke the Crowne in his hand, and beholding it a while, cryed out ſaying; Oh thou golden Diademe, if man knewe the miſeries and griefes which thou bringeſt, there is none that would ſtoope to take thee vppe from the grounde! ſhewing thereby, that the life of Kings is leſſe happy, than that of the Subiect and Priuate manne. The Badde, they liue in miſerie;Miſeries of the Wicked. lEſay 48.22There is no peace ſayeth the Lorde vntounto the wicked. ThemEſay 66.24 mar. 9.44.46 and 48. deut. 26.65 worme of conſcience ſhall neuer die, and the light of Reaſon ſhall neuer be darkened. As they hauehavenEſay 1.2, 3 iere. 2.5 forſaken God, ſo hath GodoOſe. 4.6 forſaken them, andpRom. 1.24 1. theſſ. 2.11 delivered them vp into a reprobate ſenſe, that they might do ſuch things as bee not conuenient; for whome theqIud. verſe 13 Miſeries of Good men. blackeneſſe of darkeneſſe is reſerued for euer. The Good, they are, as it were, in a continuall furnace, by reaſon of perſecution and croſſes, they ſuſtainerHeb. 11.37, 38 mockes and ſtripes, fetters and impriſonments, ſome were ſtoned, ſome cut in peeces, ſome tempted, ſome ſlaine with the ſworde, &c. Looke Heb. 11.s2. Cor. 11.29 Who is weake and they are not weake? Who is offended and they burne not? To conclude then,tSyrac. 40.1 Great trauell is created for all men, and an heauie yoke vponupon the ſonnes of Adam, from the daie that they goe out from their mothers wombe til the daie that they returne to the mother of all things. Behold the miſerie of mortall men! behold their vanitie! thought conſumeth them, heauineſſe harmeth them, penſiueneſſe doth poſſeſſe them, terror doth turmoile them, feare putteth them out of comfort, horror doth afflict them, affliction doth trouble them, and trouble maketh them ſad and heauy.uIob 10.14, 15. If I hauehave ſinned (ſayth Iob) then thou wilt ſtraightly looke vntounto me, and wilt not hold me guiltleſſe of mine iniquitie: if I hauehave done wickedly, woe vntounto me: if I hauehave done righteouſly, I will not life vp my head being full of cenfuſion, becauſe I ſee my affliction.
Of mans three cruell Enemies which further and encreaſe his miſerie. Sect. V
MAn, beſides that he is exiled from Paradiſe, miſerable by nature, andaEpheſ. 2.1 vnable to ſtir either hand or foote, to get out of his miſerie, hauehave three cruell enemies, ſauage and bloudie Tyrants, that continually labour to captiuate him in his wretchedneſſe, yea, to bring him from temporall into eternall thraldome: Theſe are the Flesh, The three principall enemies of Man.the World and the Diuell; the Fleſh earthly and voluptuous, the worlde vaine and curious, and the diuell euill and malitious. Theſe three enemies aſſaile and tempt vsus, ſometimes couertly, ſometimes openly, but alvvaies malitiouſly. The diuell being the principall Captaine of this curſed crue, truſteth much vponupon the help of the Fleſh, becauſe a domeſticall enemie is apter to hurt: The Fleſh alſo hath entred league with the World, being her greateſt friend; and both hauehave ſhaken hands with the Diuell: and ſo do all three ioyntly conſpire our ſubuerſion. The Flesh beingbPſal 51.5 borne and nouriſhed in ſinne,The Fleſh. defiled from her beginning, but much more corrupted by euill cuſtome: ſhe eagerlycRom. 7.21 coueteth againſt the ſpirit, ſhe dayly murmureth againſt ſubiection, ſhe ſuggeſteth wickednes, diſobeyeth reaſon, and is not reſtrained with feare. A greeuous combate and great danger it is to wraſtle againſt our familiar foe, eſpecially we beingd1. Chro. 29.15 Strangers, and ſhe a Citizen; for ſhee dwelleth in her owne countrey, whereas wee are but pilgrimes and exiled perſons. The Worlde, The World.while witheSyrac. 19.5 pleaſures without it delighteth vsus, inwardly it deceiueth vsus; it killeth our ſoules while it flattereth our fantaſie: for when it mooueth vsus to ſettle our affections in theſe inferiour things, what doth it but perſwade vsus, with a golden hooke to fiſh in a filthy puddle, where nothing can be gotten but venomous vermine? and with Syrens ſweete notes wooe vsus into the ſalt ſea of perdition? All the fauours and friendly countenances which the worlde doth yeelde, are but the kiſſes of an enemie, that vnderunder a deceitfull ſweetnes it may ſhrowd moſt bitter poyſon. The Diuell that crookedfGeneſ. 3.1 ſerpent,The Diuell. the arch-enemie of man-kinde, vntounto the fleſh and the world ioyneth his force; them he helpeth, them he furthereth, them he vſeth, hauing no other deſire, buſineſſe, or ſtudie, but to entrap and to deſtroy our ſoules. This is hee that ſpeakes ſuttlely, that temptes guilefully, & deceiues malitiouſly; he inſinuateth euil motions, ſuggeſteth venomous cogitations, and procureth luſts; he ſtirreth vp broyles, foſtereth hatreds, and moueth deſires of Reuenge; he beateth vsus with our owne ſtaffe, bindeth vsus with our own girdle, laboring that our fleſh, which was giuen vsus for a helpe, might be the cauſe of our fall and ruine. Great is the hazard in ſuſtaining the continual incounters againſt the diuells deceitfull guiles; whom not onelyonly his ſuttle nature, but alſo the long practiſe and exerciſe of his malice hath made craftie. How little cauſe then hauehave we to ioy in this life, in which wee hauehave to ſtruggle hourely, with ſo mightie, peruerſe, and malitiousgEpheſ. 6.12 enemes, which can neuer be ſo ouercome, but that after a litle reſpite, they return, and bid vsus a new battaile, and that with ſuch varietie and change of forcible temptations, that they put vsus in contiuall anguiſh of mind?
Why God would hauehave our life to be ſo miſerable as it is. Sect. VI
THe cauſes of theſe calamities are many, and of many ſortes; but the maine cauſe is Sinne:aLam. 3.39 lam. 1.5 Man ſuffereth for his ſinne. Sinne the cauſe of miſerie.Yet the ſame cauſes of affliction are not alwayes found to be in the Servants of God, as are in the wicked. To ſpeake nothing in this place of the vngodly ſort; God correcteth his children in this worlde, andb1. Pet. 1.7 1. pet. 4.12 prooueth their faith by many and ſundry troubles, croſſes, afflictions and miſeries; partly, that knowing the calamitie & miſerie of this preſent life, they might bec1. Pet. 5.6 pſal. 30.7, 8 prouoked, the rather ſpeedily to flee to his merciemercy for ſuccour; and partly, that thereby they mightdColoſſ. 1.24 become like vntounto their Maſter & Head Chriſt Ieſus, and die to ſinne, and riſe vp to newneſſe of life, that hereafter they mayeRom. 8.17 2. tim. 1.8 liue and raigne with him eternally. Mothers and Nurces, when they would weane their ſuckling babes, vſe to annoynt their breaſts with bitter muſtard; euen ſo doth God powre muſtard, that is, miſerie, vponupon the breaſts of this life, vntounto which we are ſo much addicted, to weane vsus from it; that knowing the miſerie thereof, as by experience we are dayly taught; & conſidering the ſame, as of dutie we ought, we ſhould withdraw oureIob 31.24, 25 truſt from temporalities, and contemne tranſitorie trifles, raiſing vp our hearts to contemplate things morefPhil. 3.20 diuine and heauenly. Mariners, when they ſaile peaceably, the winde being proſperous, the weather ſeaſonable, and the ayre quiet and temperate, doe giuegive themſelues to banqueting and fables, and being careleſſe, voyde of feare and danger, doe paſſe the time, ſometimes by muſicke and play, ſometimes by reſting and ſleeping: But when a ſodaine tempeſt doth ariſe, then at laſt, doe they call for helpe from heauen, and inceſſantly they crie vntounto God for their deliuerie and ſaftie. Euen ſo we, rocked in the cradle of Proſperitie, doe giuegive our ſelues to idleneſſe and pleaſure, but being ſtricken with aduerſitie, we are warned of our dutie: which may be proued by the examples ofg2. Sam. 11.4 2. ſam. 24 10 Dauid andh2. Kin. 21.3 2. chron. 33.12 Manaſſes, who in proſperitie offended God greeuouſly, but in aduerſitie liued very godly and vprightly. And this is the reaſon why God would hauehave vsus in this vale ofiPſal. 23.4 miſerie, to bee ſokEſay 51.21 miſerable, ſol1. Tim. 6.7 needie, ſomApoc. 3.17 poore, ſonIob 1.21 beggarly, ſooRom. 8.37 weake, ſopPſalme 38.3 ſickly, and of noqIob 14.2 continuance; to withdraw and alienate our hearts and minds, from the inordinate affections, deſire and louelove, of this ſo loathſome a life, that we ſhould ſigh for the kingdome of heauen, as beingr1. Chro. 29.15 ſoiourners on earth, and no Cittizens, wayfairing men, and in continuallſIob 7.1 warfare: yet notwithſtanding there are not a few that be vnwilling to leaue this life, and to forſake the world, luſting ſtill like hogges to wallow in myre. But what would theſe do if all our whole life were ſweet and pleaſant? would they then, trow you, exchaunge it for heauen? would they contemne it for Gods ſake? or would they ſay with Paul:tRom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death? I deſireuPhil. 1.23 to be looſed & to be with Chriſt. No, no, they had rather whine after thexExodus 16.3 num. 11.14 fleſh-pottes of Aegypt, then paſſe through the deſart into theyExodus 3.8 land that floweth with milke and honnie. Oh thriſe happie is that man who viewing theſe worldly miſeries lifteth vp himſelfe aboue himſelfe! And indeede, what comfort can a man reape in that place, that iszIo. 12.31. gouerned by the Prince of darkneſſe, and (for the moſt part)aLuk. 16.25 peopled with his rebellious and contentious children? VVhere vice is aduaunced, vertue ſcorned, the bad rewarded, and the good oppreſſed? VVhat quietneſſe or contentment can be enioyde where theb1. Iohn 5.1… paines be infinit, common, and intollerable; thecIohn 16.33 pleaſures few, rare, and damnable? whered2. Chro. 20.37 familiaritie breedeth vexation to the mind, enmitie to the body, and daunger to the ſoule? where want is miſerable, plentie full of perill, and a man on eueryevery ſide aſſaulted with vnplacable enemies?