2 Inward. The godly on earth is (as it were) in the suburbs of heaven;1 whose kingdom consists, not in meat and drink, but righteousness, peace of conscience, and joy of the holy Ghost. Could his life be as full of sorrows, as ever Lazarus was full of sores, yet he is blessed. The Sun-shine of mercy is still upon him; and the blessing of GOD makes him rich. Let the air thunder, and the earth quake, and hell roar; yet He that walketh uprightly, 2walketh surely. Qui vadit plane, vadit sane. I have read it storied of a young Virgin, that at a great Princes hands had the choice of three vessels. One whereof should be freely given her, even that she should choose. The first was a vessel of gold, richly wrought, and set with precious stones; and on it written. Who chooseth me shall have what he deserveth. The second was of silver. superscribed thus. Who chooseth me shall have what nature desireth. The third was of lead; whose motto was this. Who chooseth me, shall have what God hath disposed. The former pleased her eye well, but not her understanding. It offered what she deserved. She knew, that was just nothing: therefore refused it. The second considered, offered what Nature desires. She thought that could be no solid good; for Nature desires such things as please the carnal lust. This she also refused. The third had a course outside, but ⟨p. 96⟩the sentence pleased her well; offering what God had disposed. So she faithfully put her self upon Gods ordinance, and chose that. This Virginis mans soul. The golden vessel is the worlds riches; contentf•ll to an avarous eye. Too many choose this: but being opened, it was full of dead mens bones, and a fools babble. To testify them fools, which cleave to the world: and at last all their hopes shall be rewarded with a babble. Neither is this all. Though their inward thought be, that their houses shall continue for ever; yet they shall be laid in the grave like sheep, 3and death shall feed on them. The silver-vessel is the lusts of the flesh; those fond and vain delights, which concupiscence seeks. So saith the Motto: It gives what nature desireth: but corrupt nature affects nothing, but what gives complacency to the flesh. This vessel opened was full of wild fire, and an iron whip.
2 Inward. The godly on earth is (as it were) in the suburbs of heauen;1 whose kingdome consists, not in meate and drinke, but righteousnesse, peace of conscience, and ioy of the holy Ghost. Could his life bee as full of sorrowes, as euer Lazarus was full of sores, yet he is blessed. The Sunne-shine of mercie is still vpon him; and the blessing of GOD makes him rich. Let the ayre thunder, and the earth quake, and hell roare; yet He that walketh vprightly, 2walketh surely. Qui vadit plane, vadit sane. I haue read it storied of a young Virgin, that at a great Princes hands had the choise of three vessels. One whereof should be freely giuen her, euen that she should chuse. The first was a vessell of gold, richly wrought, and set with precious stones; and on it written. Who chooseth me shall haue what he deserueth. The second was of siluer. superscribed thus. Who chuseth me shall haue what nature desireth. The third was of lead; whose motto was this. Who chuseth me, shall haue what God hath disposed. The former pleased her eye well, but not her vnderstanding. It offred what she deserued. She knew, that was iust nothing: therefore refused it. The second considered, offred what Nature desires. Shee thought that could bee no solide good; for Nature desires such things as please the carnall lust. This shee also refused. The third had a course outside, but ⟨p. 96⟩the sentence pleased her wel; offering what God had disposed. So she faithfully put her selfe vpon Gods ordinance, and chose that. This Virginis mans soule. The golden vessell is the worlds riches; contentf•ll to an auarous eye. Too many chuse this: but being open'd, it was full of dead mens bones, and a fooles bable. To testifie them fooles, which cleaue to the world: and at last all their hopes shall bee rewarded with a bable. Neither is this all. Though their inward thought be, that their houses shall continue for euer; yet they shal be layd in the graue like sheep, 3and death shall feed on them. The siluer-vessell is the lusts of the flesh; those fond and vaine delights, which concupiscence seeks. So saith the Motto: It giues what nature desireth: but corrupt nature affects nothing, but what giues cōplacency to the flesh. This vessell open'd was full of wild fire, and an iron whip.
- 1Rom. 14. 17.
- 2Pro. 10. 9.
- 3Psal. 49. 11. 14.
