The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 2 · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Of the mutability and vnconstancie of all worldly things.
ANd thus hauehave I shewed that all things in§. Sect. 1. That all things in heauen and earth are subiect to change and alteration. the world are momentany and corruptible. Now we are also briefly to shew, that as they are momentany in themselues, so they are mutable and vnconstant in respect of vsus. For though they bee but of short continuance, yet if they were friends for life, and would not forsake vsus till either they perished, or we died, they might bee thought more worthie our louelove, if not for their vtility and profit, yet at least for their fidelity and constancie; whereas now they are not so momentany as they are mutable, being ready to leaue and forsake vsus eueryevery day of their short continuance, like fickle flatterers, of whose fauour and louelove there can bee no certainty or assurance. And no maruell that these earthly things vponupon which men dote are so subiect to change, seeing all things in the world are obnoxious to mutability: the heauens themselues are not free from alterations; the sunne and moone hauehave their eclipses; the times varie and change one with another; the day with night, and night with day; winter with summer, and summer with winter, and neuer stand at a stay; the elements hauehave continually their transmutations one with another, and by maintaining continuall warre among themselues, procure a peacefull harmonie, and well agreeing temperature in sublunarie and inferiour bodies, vntill one of them hath vanquished and ouercome all …he rest, with whose victorie their peace and harmonie endeth. Thus also Monarchies and States, cities and townes hauehave their changes and alterations, the same nation one while imperiously commanding, and another while seruilely obeying; and the same city at one time flourishing in stately buildings, profitable merchandise, and abundant riches; and at an other time dispeopled, decayed, burned, and buried in it own… …u…nes. Thus you shall see the Assyrian & Babylonish monarchy for a time ouertopping all, and then stouping to the monarchy of the Medes and Persians; and this for a while welding the scepter ouer al the neighbor countries, & soone after casting it down at▪ he feet of the Grecian monarch, and this also after it hath had his turne and commanded in his course, conquered and ouerthrowne, and the Romane monarch, raised out of it ruines. And finally, though this were stronger and more durable then all the rest, yet it had his period as well as his beginning, and though it had none stronger to ouercome it at once, yet it was at length ouerthrowne by it owne power, perished piece-meale, and came to ruine, not because it wanted strong props to vphold it, but because it selfe was ouer burthensome. Thus also wee shall see a change in citi…s and townes: as for example, in famous Babylon, Niniue, Tyre, Carthage, Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Ephesus, yea in Ierusalem it selfe the glory of the world.
And therefore if these great alteration ares to be obserued§. Sect. 2 That we communicate with all creatures in their mutability; besides the changes vntounto which our owne estates are subiect. in things more durable, there is no maruell if they be more frequently seene in humane estates and conditions, which are innumerable times more fickle and vnconstant in themselues, and are also subiect to partake with all the rest in their changes anh alterations. For when the sunne and moone are eclipsed, we suffer in their defects; whē they go their iourney from the East to the West, we also trauell with them towards the setting of our life; onelyonly this difference th…re is, that they goe and returne againe; but after our set there is no rising, vntill by the power of our Iudge we rise …o iudgement: So time though winged cannot haste so fast away, but we either by a voluntarie or forced motion, equall it speed, and beare it companie till we rest at death. The elements are subiect to continuall change, and we are partakers with them in their alterations: and when in the conflict which they hold in our bodies the naturall fire hath deuoured, and as it were conquered the airie water, it selfe also hauing no other food but it enemies prouision, is ouercome in conquering, and we with them both doe fall in the battell, and die of their wounds. And finally, there can be no change in States, monarchies and cities, where we inhabit, but wee likewise hauehave a share in their alterations, laughing in their mirth, and weeping in their mourning. No maruell therefore if the estate of man be changeable, seeing he hath a great part in the alteration of all other creatures, and besides hath in himselfe innumerable internall causes of variable mutation. In regardSenec. epist. 59 whereof one saith, that none of vsus are the same in our age that we were in our youth; no man is the same to day that he was yesterday▪ but our bodies are caried in a continuall motion, like vntounto riuers, and all we looke vponupon doth run away with time, nothing remaining the same to morrow as wee now see it; yea euen I (saith hee) whilest I speake of changing, am my selfe changed. Neither are our bodies more mutable then our estates, which through the whole course of our liues are daily subiect to alterations, and nothing continueth firme and permanent in them, but as the traueller is sometimes on the high hils, and sometime in the low valleies, and sometime walking on euen ground: so wee in our pilgrimage are one while aloft in the mountaines of prosperitie, and soone after in the low dales of aduersity, and sometimes in a meane and euen condition betweene both; or like vntounto those that are sailing on the sea, who are one while lifted as it were to the clouds, and in an instant buried in the deepe; one while becalmed so as they cannot goe forward, and by and by hurried with a boisterous tempest; now in danger of rushing one against another, and soone after of dashing against a rocke; sometimes suffring shipwracke, and alwaies fearing it; neither are they euer secure, and at rest, till they be arriued in the hauen: for so in this life wee are sometime aduanced, and sometime abased, one while sluggish with too much prosperity, so as we cannot moue in any good and christian courses, and another while tossed and turmoiled with the blustring stormes of aduersity, whereby though we make a more speedy progresse, yet not without many troubles, and much danger. In regard whereof the saying of the sonne of Syrach is verified, that no man is to be iudged happie Ecclesiasticu… 11. 28.before his death, because a pleasant beginning, hath often a sorrowfull progresse, and a worse ending; yea sometime he who hath acted his part well in the rest of his life, spoileth all in the last scene, concluding an happie life in respect of worldly prosperity, with a shamefull and miserable death. Neither in truth is it any maruell that our worldly estatesOmnia mundana fluxa sunt, & velut in calculorum ludo atias ad alios i… ctantur. Greg. Nazianz. de pauperum amore. should bee so variable and vnconstant, seeing the ground whereupon they stand is so moorish and deceitfull; for euen the world it selfe is fickle and false; and therefore as it is impossible to stand firmely on a dancing quagmire, or steadily and immoueably in a tottering ship, when it is tossed with surging waues in a tempestuous storme; so is it alike impossible to ground an vnchangeable estate on this mutable world, or not to be moued with this worldly earthquake. Yea euen those things in the world which chiefly intitle prosperity, are most variable and subiect to change, and like vntounto the dust raised by the wind, they are tossed to and fro, and from one to another, as it pleaseth Gods prouidence to dispose of them; or vntounto shadowes and apparitions, which vanish away and slip betweene the hands, when a man thinketh to take surest hold. So that this idoll of worldly prosperity when it doth most gloriously▪ shine must needs bee continually in danger of falling and breaking, seeing both the matter thereof is (as it were) of brittle glasse, and the base or foundation whereon it standeth rotten and vnconstant. And yet such is the follie of worldly men, yea sometimes also of Gods dearest seruants, that when they hauehave this e…le in their hand they thinke they can hold it fast, and arePsal. 30. 6. ready to say in their prosperity that they shall neuer bee moued. And as Eue thought that her son Cain would hauehaveGen. 4. 1. been a sure possession, though he proued a runnagate; so they imagine that these births of their carefull braines, and fruits of their labours, will bee constant and permanent; whereas the euent sheweth, that (like beggers brats) they will not stay long in any place; and that like run-away seruants almost eueryevery monethmonth they change their master. In which respect the constancie of humaine affaires if fitly comparedPlutarch. Consol. ad Apol. to the mouing of the cart wheele; the lowest part being within a while vppermost, and soone after as low as it was before. So that they who thinke to find sure footing on this vnstable ground, are like vntounto those who hauing no commandement or promise, will presume by sole vertue of a miraculous faith to walk vponupon the waters; who (as one saith) areMundani tantò magi… in profundum mergūtur▪ quanto magis videntur esse foelices: fallax enim foelicitas ipsa est maior in foelicitas. August. in Psalm. 129. so much the deeper plunged into the gulph of misery, by how much the more securely they presumed of their permanent prosperitie, there being no greater miserie then a false happines. For there is no constancie or stedfastnes in these worldly things, but they are continually ready to remoue themselues from one to another, at the least becke of the great Creator, and to alter the estates of worldly men by their comming and departure, as Hannah in her song notablie obserueth: The Lord (saith she) is a God of knowledge, and by him enterprises 1. Sam. 2. 3. 4. 5.are established: the bow and the mightie men are broken, and the weake hauehave girded themselues with strength. They that were full are hired out for bread, and the hungry are no more hired, the barren hath borne seuen, and she that had many children is feeble: the Lord killeth and maketh aliue, bringeth downe to the graue, and raiseth vp, &c.
But let vsus briefly consider the mutability of worldly things§. Sect. 3. Of the mutabilitie and vnconstancie of honors and preferments. in the speciall instances. And first, what can be more vnconstant and variable then honors and preferments? seeing those who are thus aduanced, do continually walk in slipperie places, where they are still ready to catch a fall; and borrowing their glory in a great part from the vnconstant opinion of the sickle multitude, which like the weathercocke turneth with eueryevery wind, their fame and reputation must needs be exceeding variable, resting it selfe vponupon such an vnstable ground.Plin. lib. 2. cap. 99. In which regard worldly men are fitly compared to shelfish, which depending vponupon the Moone, are subiect to al her changes, encreasing as she encreaseth, and decreasing, as she inclineth towards the waine; for so their honor standing at the deuotion of the vncōstant multitude, altereth and changeth, riseth and falleth, according to the ful or waine of their variable conceits. The world promiseth indeed perpetuitie of honors to those who will set their hearts vponupon them, and prefer them before the glory of God, and the saluation of their own soules, but he dealeth sometime vnfaithfully with his fauourites, treacherously betraying them vnderunder shew of louelove, and lifting them vp, whom he meaneth to ouerthrow with the greatest downefall: wherin the world and the Prince thereof, vse ambitious men as the crow the shel-fish, carying them aloft vntounto the highest places, that from thence casting them downe, they may bruise them with the fall, and so more easily prey vponupon thē. But as they deale thus with their own friends, sometime because they will not, and sometime because they cannot prefer them; so much more falsly and vnconstantly with those who neglect and contemne their deceitfull honors, being readie to magnifie and disgrace them with the same breath, when as they cannot allure them to bite at their bewitching baits. An example whereof we hauehave in Paul and Barnabas, whom the vulgar people (admiring their miracle)Act. 14. 11. 14. 19. would needs deifie; which honor whē they had refused, and perswaded them to returne all the glorie vntounto God, they presently vponupon a groundlesse information, laid violent hands vponupon them and stoned them, now thinking that they deserued capitall punishments, whom ere-while they esteemed worthie diuine honor. Thus others shewed the like vnconstancie, whilest one while they condemned Paul, as a malefactor,Act. 28. 4. and presently after were readie to adore him as their idoll. But most notablie doth the mutabilitie, and fickle vnconstancie of the variable multitude appeare in their cariage towards our Sauiour Christ; whom one day they sought afterMatth. 21. 8. 9. with cap. 27. 22. to make him a King; and soone after reiecting him, preferred before him an Heathen, yea a hated Monarch: one while they flocked about him, to giuegive him all louing and respectiue entertainment, strawing greene boughes in his way, and (because they thought them not good enough) spreading also their garments, euen vnderunder his Asses feet; and another while mocking and reuiling him, buffetting and spitting vponupon him, whipping and crucifying him, & in stead of bestowing their garments vponupon him, they take from him his owne: this day they meet him with ioy, and salute him, saying, Hosanna the Sonne of Dauid, blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest; but within a few daies after they crie out with an vniuersall consent, Away with him, away with him: crucifie him, crucifie him. Which as it notablie▪ sheweth the mutabilitie of honors, and the vnconstancie of the common people, so also the malice of Satan, who would (as oneBernard. in Ramis Palmarum Serm. 2. saith) hauehave his procession go immediatly before his passion, these honors, before those disgraces, and this high exaltation before his lowest downefall, that by this sudden alteration he might be the lesse prouided, & his passion made more bitter and intollerable: although the Lord who disposed of all hadMatth. 21. 5. another end, namely, that the Scriptures might be fulfilledQuoniam sublimiora grauius corruunt, gaudet princeps superbiae, cos quos potuerit sua impulsione prosternere, adcelsiora creuisse. Ambros. in Psal. 48. §. Sect. 4. The causes why honors are so variable and vnconstant. which testified of his Son, to the further conuincing of the Iewes, and the iust condemnation of all, who would not beleeue: and therefore if our Sauiour Christ who was worthie of all honor, found this sudden and vndeserued alteration, what constancie can they hope for, who come infinit degrees short of his excellencies?
But in truth howsoeuer this vnconstancie of honors may be attributed to the mutabilitie and treacherie of the world, and the Prince thereof, in regard that they promise it to their followers, and faile in performance; & as they are made ye instruments of God, both in the conferring and taking away of honors; wherein they take occasion to shew their fawning in the one, and their malice in the other; yet the supreame and chiefe cause of these alterations in honors and preferments, is the wise prouidence of almightie God, who would hauehave these worldly honors variable and vnconstant, chiefely for his owne childrens sake, both for their triall and chastisement, and because he would not hauehave them to set their harts too much vponupon them, and so neglect that eternal glory of his heauenly kingdome; and secondarily for the iust punishment of the wicked, from whom he taketh away these honors after he hath aduanced them, because they abuse them to prideIud. 1. 7. and tyrannie. And thus Adonibezek of a great conquerer of Kings, became worse then a slaue, and equall to a dog, eating the offals vnderunder the table; wherein the Lord measured iustly vntounto him, according to that measure by which he had meted vntounto others. Thus Haman was one day the chiefe fauouriteHester 3. 1. with chap. 7. 8. 10. in court, and the next day hanged on his owne gallowes; because hee had abused his greatnesse to the ruine of Gods Church: and thus Gods owne Church and people after they had receiued many testimonies of his louelove, and were by him exalted aboue all other nations; for abusing of these speciall fauours, were deiected and brought vntounto a base condition: for so the Prophet complaineth; Ierusalem hath grieuously sinned, Lament. 1. 8.therefore she is in derision; all that honored her, despise her, because they hauehave seene her filthines. No maruell therefore if the world be vnconstant in conserting these honors, seeing in truth it hath no power to continue them, more then that which it receiueth from God, who as he is the chiefe Author of these honors, so he giueth and taketh them away at his owne pleasure. Thus Hannah confesseth, that the Lord bringeth 1. Sam. 2. 7. 8.low and exalteth; he raiseth vp the poore out of the dust, and lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill, to set them among Princes, and to make them inherit the seate of glorie. So the Psalmist maketh this the chiefe cause of the ruine of the wicked, when they were in the top of all their prosperitie, because the Lord had set them in slipperie places, and cast them downe into desolation. Psalme 73 18.But whether we consider the chiefe or instrumentall causes of this vnconstancie, sure we are that honors are most mutable and flitting, vncertaine to winter where they hauehave summered, or to lodge where they hauehave rested all day. And this mutable inconstancie the Wise man obserued; I hauehave (saithEccles. 10. 7. he) seene seruants on horses, and Princes as seruants walking on the ground. To which purpose also the Son of Syrach noteth, that many mighty men hauehave been brought to dishonor, and Ecclesiasticus 11. 6.the honorable hauehave been deliuered into other mens hands. The which mutability commonly happeneth when men are most secure, and are puffed vp in pride, in regard that they assure themselues of the constant continuance of their honors and preferments; their proudest hopes yeelding nothing vntounto them but shame and disgrace. For so the Wise man saith, that pride goeth before destruction; and an high mind before the fall: Prou. 16. 18. and 18. 12. and 11. 2.and againe, when pride commeth, then commeth shame, but with the lowly is wisdome. And therefore seeing these worldly honors are so mutable and vnconstant, so hardly gotten & easily lost, let vsus not too much esteeme them, nor immoderately louelove and seeke them, but rather let vsus set our hearts vponupon sauing wisdome and true godlines; for as the Wise man saith, Exalt her, and shee shall exalt thee, shee shall bring thee to honour, Pro. 4. 8. 9.if thou imbrace her, she shall giuegive a comely ornament to thy head, yea shee shall giuegive thee a crowne of glory. And this honour shall be most constant and permanent, lasting as long as life, yeaPro. 10. 7. after death, for the memoriall of the iust shall be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot. Yea this honour of grace shall be but a step to aduance vsus to the honour of heauenly glory,1. Pet. 5. 10. the which shall continue not for a few yeeres onelyonly, but for euer and ouer, as being eternall and euerlasting; for so the Apostle telleth vsus, that the God of grace hath called vsus to his eternall glory, by Iesus Christ.
The like mutability and vnconstancie is in riches. For§. Sect. 5. Of the mutability and vnconstancie of riches. though our riches corrupt not, nor wee die, yet there is no certainty in their possession, they are so flitting and mutable. For who seeth not that they doe often change their masters; he who ere while wanted, abounding, and he who not long since abounded, being now brought to want and penurie? Looke but to houses, lands, and coine, and consider how often they hauehave new owners, this day being in the possession of one, and to morrow of another, and not many moneths after, both being stripped of them, they are deuolued vntounto a third. In which respect Zophar compareth riches to the waters of riuers, which make no long stay in any place, and passe from land to land, and field to field, till at last they are swallowed vp of the sea. The increase (saith he) of his▪ house shall I…b 20. 28.goe away, and it shall flow away in the day of Gods wrath. For so riches runne from one to another, till in the end they lose their name, being corrupted, and (as it were) swallowed in the gulfe of destruction. In the same regard one of the ancientsOrigen. in Mat. 6. 16. Homil. 4. likeneth them to alluring harlots, which make louelove to many, but keepe faith with none. And to the same purpose another saith; that there is nothing more false and trecherous then riches; and that like a fugitiue and vngratefull seruant, they hauehave no honesty or fidelitie; for though thou bind them with innumerable bonds, they will goe away, and draw theirChrysost. ad pop. Antioch. Homil. 2. tom. 4 chaine after them. And for this cause oftentimes, they are kept and fast locked vp vnderunder the custodie of strong bolts, and fast barred doores, hauing besides many seruants as Iailors attending on them; but they oftentimes intice their keepers, and flee away together with them. So that there is nothing more vnconstant then these earthly moueables, which are eueryevery day subiect to change and alteration: in which respect one wittily saith, that money most fitly is stampedQuid tam incertum …am res volubili…? nec immeritò ipsa pecunta rutunda sig…atur, quia non stat. August. in. Psal. 83. round, to signifie by the very figure that it is rruely current, not standing still, but rolling and remouing from one to another. The which inconstancie and mutabilitie of riches, as it proceedeth instrumentally from the world, who is vnconstant in it fauours, aduancing those to wealth whom soone after it is ready to impouerish; so chiefly and principally from the Lord, who in his gracious prouidence made earthly riches mutable, because we should not fix our hearts vponupon such vnchangeable vanities, but vponupon those heauenly treasures which are immutable, and not subiect to any alteration; and that seeing eueryevery day they are ready to leaue vsus whether we will or no, wee might bee the rather willing to part with them to such good and charitable vses, as may glorifie God, and further ascertaine vsus of our eternall treasures. Whereas if hee had made them immutable and permanent, whom would they not hauehave bewitched with their louelove? For if now men hauing no security or assurance, to keepe them in their possession but one onelyonly day, doe notwithstanding dote so much in their louelove, that by right and wrong they lay violent hands vponupon them, and wring them vniustly out of others custodie, hazarding euen their soules to increase their wealth; what would they hauehave done if they had been constant and faithfull friends, that do all this, they being trecherous and deceitfull flatterers? What widow would they not hauehave robbed? what orphane would they not hauehave spoiled? what weake & poore man would they not hauehave oppressed, toChrysost. ad pop. Antioch. Homil. 2. tom. 4. get these perpetuities into their possession? To conclude, seeing these riches of the world are so mutable & vnconstāt, let vsus not set our hearts vponupon them; and (as one saith) let vsus not run a madding after these false fugitiues; for there is nothing more deceitfull, nothing more perfidious. To day they are on our part, but to morrow against vsus; arming enuious eyes against our safety; and strengthening malitious hands to vndermine our peace; so that they who hauehave them, are beset on eueryevery side with familiar and chamber foes, and inuironed with domesticall enemies: but rather let vsus fix our minds on those firme treasures reserued for vsus in Gods kingdome, which are permanent and perpetuall euen to eternity.
Finally, there is no more constancie or lesse mutability in§. Sect. 6. That worldly pleasures are vnconstant, and subiect to change. worldly pleasures; for though there be alwaies worldly men and worldly delights, yet are they neuer ascertained the one to the other; but as men change their pleasures, so pleasures change men, and eueryevery hand while leauing the old, they are ready to betake them to new masters. Some waite not so much vponupon men themselues, as vponupon their age: as for example, some attend vponupon infancy, and leaue them in their youth; some delight them in their youth, and forsake them when they come to full maturity, and some accompanie them in their full strength, and will by no meanes stay the approch of old age. Others are tied to seuerall times of the yeere, as to spring, autumne, summer, winter, and bring great delight when they are vsed in their season; but failing herein they change their nature, and become irksome and tedious. And as for those pleasures which are vsuall and daily, delighting all persons, and at all times, we see vntounto what common mutation they are subiect, lasting no longer but for the present, and then degenerating into tedious molestations and cumbersome burthens. Thus meates and drinkes delight for the instant, but after surcharging the stomacke, they recompence an houres pleasure, with a whole daies paine. And thus pleasures of the flesh are but of momentanie continuance, and suddenly impaire the strength, and bring the body to many infirmities, and much weakenesse. Besides which losse of speciall delights, how many do we daily see, who abounding in all maner of sensuall pleasures, are soone after abandoned of them all, and spend the remainder of their daies in misery and mourning? and though they remaine in their iudgement and affection epicures still, making their bellie their god, and the world their paradise, yet find their idol whom they serue, so auerse towards them, that of necessity, whether they will or no, they are robbed of all pleasures, and passe their time in griefe, and sharpe affliction? And thus it appeareth that all these worldly things which men so fondly affect, are mutableMutabilitas est quaedam mortalitas: dum enim aliquid de praeterito in futurum mouetur, quasi praeterito moritur. Aug. de cognit. verae vitae, cap. 31. tom. 9. and vnconstant. The consideration whereof should moue vsus lightly to esteeme, yea carelesly to contemne these changeable and fickle vanities, in comparison of Gods spirituall graces and heauenly ioyes. For what is this mutability, but a certaine kind of mortality, seeing though they die not in themselues, yet they die vntounto vsus? yea in truth what is the continuance of these worldly things, but a kind of vnobserued corruptibility? for whilest any thing passeth from the present to the time to come, that which is past dieth and perisheth, God onelyonly is immutable, because nothing past taketh from him; nothing to come addeth to him, but whatsoeuer was, is, or shall be, is with him all present. And thereforeMal. 3. 6. despising these vnconstant and perishing trifles, let the Lord be our glory, treasure, and delight, in whom there is noIam. 1. 17. change or shadow of change; and let vsus set our hearts and affections vponupon his spirituall and sauing graces; for these gifts of God (as the Apostle telleth vsus) are without repentance; neuer wholly or finally failing those to whom they are once giuen. For being placed on this sure rocke of grace, we may securely contemne the dashing waues of boisterous malice, which in the sea of this world, are by turbulent men raised against vsus, seeing they shal be al broken into the some of their owne shame, and we in the meane time remaine vndamnified; for these immutable graces, giuen vntounto vsus by the immutable God, will make our peace and security al…o immutable. And let vsus chiefly affect and seeke those honours, riches and pleasures reserued for vsus in Gods kingdome, which cannot be altered by any accident, nor impaired by any enemie, but shall eternally remaine to our infinite ioy and comfort, firme and permanent.