Life eternalLife eternall

First if this be so, then every creature is, and must be changeable, and if so, then take heed, that you do not expect more of the creature,¹ then is in it, for this will raise our affections to the creature, and so cause grief and vexation in the end: and indeed the forgetfulness of this changeableness in the creature, and unchangeableness in GOD is the cause of all our crosses and sorrow in outward things we meet with. There be these degrees to it.

First if this be so, then every creature is, and must be changeable, and if so, then take heed, that you doe not expect more of the creature,¹ then is in it, for this will raise our affections to the creature, and so cause griefe and vexation in the end: and indeede the forgetfulnesse of this changeablenesse in the creature, and unchangablenesse in GOD is the cause of all our crosses and sorrow in outward things we meet with. There be these degrees to it.

1. 1Look on the creatures as mutable, and expect not much from them.Looke on the creatures as mutable, and expect not much from them.

For, first, The forgetfulness of the mutability ⟨p. 104⟩of the creature causeth us to expect more from it then is in it. Secondly, This expectation raiseth our affections unto the creature: hence it is, that we set our affections too much upon them, and delight too much in them. Thirdly, Strong affections, when they are set upon the creature, do always bring forth strong afflictions: for what is the reason of all the grief, that we undergo from day to day? Is it not, because our affections are set upon changeable objects, upon the creatures? And therefore when they are changed, then there is a change in the mind: whereas if thou didst look alone upon the unchangeable GOD, this would keep thee from worldly care and sorrow, this would preserve in thee evenness and aequability of mind. Therefore take heed of forgetting this, that to be unchangeable, is proper to God alone; Therefore set thy affections upon none but him: and if thou wilt do so, thou shalt always enjoy a constant security of mind, as if a man were in the upper region, where there is no change of weather, when as below here, there is one day foul, another fair; so that if a man could live with GOD, and walk with him, and have his conversation in heaven, he should not be subject to such change: whereas if a man set his mind upon earthly things, he shall be still subject to perturbations and unevenness. All grief of mind comes from hence, that thou lookest for unchangeableness from the creature, where it is not to be had. If thou wouldest look up to God,