The Practice of Piety

3 God sendeth affliction, to wean our hearts, from too much loving this World and worldly vanities: and to cause us the more earnestly to desire and long for ^*eternal life. For as the Children of Israel (had they not been ill entreated in Egypt) would never have been so ⟨p. 827⟩willing to go towards Canaan: so (were it not for the crosses and afflictions of this life,) Gods Children would not so heartily long,² and willingly desire for the Kingdom of Heaven. For we see many Epicures that would be content to forgo heaven, on condition that they might still enjoy their earthly pleasures; and (having never tasted the joys of a better:) how loath are they to depart this life? whereas the ^*Apostle (that saw Heavens glory) tells us: that there is no more comparison twixt the joys of eternal life, and the pleasures of this world, then there is betwixt the filthiest dung and the pleasantest meat: ⁴or betwixt the ⟨p. 828⟩stinkingest dung-hill, and the fairest bed-chamber. As therefore a loving Nurse puts Worm-wood, or Mustard, on the breast, to make the child the rather to forsake the dug: so GOD mixeth sometimes affliction,⁵ with the pleasures and prosperity of this life; least (like the Children of this generation) they should forget God, and fall into too much love of this present evil world; and so by riches grow proud: by fame; insolent: by liberty, wanton: and spurn with their heel against the Lord, ⁶when they wax fat. For, if Gods children love the world so well, when (like a curst stepmother) she misuseth and strikes us; how should we love this ⟨p. 829⟩