A00665:1204
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written
A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas AdamsA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written by the blessed apostle St. Peter. By Thomas Adams
London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Jacob Bloome, 1633London: printed by Richard Badger and Felix Kyngston for Iacob Bloome, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Pleasure is not sure; alas nothing is more unsure. Not only in respect of continuation, but even of present fruition. It is a question whether the carnal man doth truly joy, when he smiles: or whether a merry heart he declared by a jesting language. For there is a joy like Romney marsh: in summer of prosperity bad, in winter of affliction mad, never good. Prov. 14. Verse 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful: and the end of that mirth is heaviness: gone, ere you can say, It is here.
Pleasure is not sure; alas nothing is more unsure. Not only in respect of continuation, but even of present fruition. It is a question whether the carnall man doth truely joy, when he smiles: or whether a merry heart hee declared by a jesting language. For there is a joy like Romney marsh: in summer of prosperity bad, in winter of affliction mad, never good. Prov. 14. Verse 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull: and the end of that mirth is heavinesse: gone, ere you can say, It is here.
Honour is not sure, it comes with a breath, and goes with a breath, and goes with a breath: as a boy that can blow up a bubble unto air, and presently blow it into air. Cesar goes an Emperor to the Senate, is brought a corpse home. Pompey was great, yet he was begged. Opiniative honours are like curious peals on the bells, rung with changes: there may be sweet music in the change, but they are presently out of it. The devil taking CHRIST up into a high mountain. Luk. 4.5. Showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. In a moment? How all the kingdoms of the earth should be shown in a moment, is a question and wonder; though one stood in the body of the Sun. Therefore this must be done by representation; which is indeed more capable of admiration, than of demonstration. But why in a moment? to teach us that all the glory of this world is but for a moment. In a moment of time there is neither Prius nor Posterius: and this is the term of all worldly glory. Dumb exaltarentur, dejecisti eos, saith the Psalm. In the midst of their lifting up, thou didst cast them down: not afterward, but even then: in articulo exaltationis Ostenduntur ista res, non possidentur: & dum placeant, transeunt, Sen. These things are only showed, not possessed; and while they please us they pass away from us.