Five Degrees we shall observe of this Vexation. First, the Creatures are apt to molest the spirit in the procuring of them, even as Thorns will certainly prick in their gathering. They make all a mans days sorrow, and his 1travel grief, they suffer not his heart to take rest in the night, as the Wise man speaks. What pains will men take? what hazards will they run to procure their desires? Pains of body, plotting of brain, conflicts of passions, biting of conscience, disreputation amongst men, scourge of tongues, any thing, every thing will men adventure, to obtain at last that which it may be is not a competent reward for the smallest of these vexations. How will men exchange their salvation, throw away their own mercy, make themselves perpetual drudges and servitors to the times, fawn, flatter, comply, couple in with the instruments or authors of their hopes, hazard their own blood in desperate undertakings, and stain their consciences with the blood of others, to swim through all to their adored haven. Ad•rare vulgus, ⟨p. 63⟩jacere oscula, & omnia serviliter pro imperio. The Historian2 spake it of Otho that Roman Absalom, he worshipped the people, dispensed frequently his courtesies and plausibilities, crouched and accommodated himself to the basest routs, that thereby he might creep into an usurped honour, and get himself a hated memory in after ages. And that the like vexation is ordinary in the procurement of any earthly things will easily appear, if we but compare the disposition of the mind with the obstacles that meet us in the pursuit of them. Suppose we a man importunately set to travel unto some place where the certainty of some great profit or preferment attends his coming, the way through which he must go is intricate, deep, unpassable, the beast that carries him lame and tired, his acquaintance none, his instructions few, what a heavy vexation must this needs be to the soul of that man to be crossed with so many difficulties in so eager a desire? Just this is the case with natural men in the prosecution of earthly things. First, the desires of men are very violent (which the Scripture useth to express by making haste, greedy coveting, a purpose to 3be rich) Qui Dives fieri vult, & cit• vult fieri, they that will be rich, cannot be quiet till their desires are accomplished:
Five Degrees we shall observe of this Vexation. First, the Creatures are apt to molest the spirit in the procuring of them, even as Thornes will certainely pricke in their gathering. They make all a mans dayes sorrow, and his 1travell griefe, they suffer not his heart to take rest in the night, as the Wise man speakes. What paines will men take? what hazards will they runne to procure their desires? Paines of body, plotting of braine, conflicts of passions, biting of conscience, disreputation amongst men, scourge of tongues, any thing, every thing will men adventure, to obtaine at last that which it may bee is not a competent reward for the smallest of these vexations. How will men exchange their salvation, throw away their owne mercy, make themselves perpetuall drudges and servitors to the times, fawne, flatter, comply, couple in with the instruments or authors of their hopes, hazard their owne blood in desperate undertakings, and staine their consciences with the blood of others, to swimme through all to their adored haven. Ad•rare vulgus, ⟨p. 63⟩iacere oscula, & omnia serviliter pro imperio. The Historian2 spake it of Otho that Romane Absolom, he worshipped the people, dispenced frequently his courtesies and plausibilities, crouched and accommodated himselfe to the basest routs, that thereby he might creepe into an usurped honour, and get himselfe a hated memory in after ages. And that the like vexation is ordinary in the procurement of any earthly things will easily appeare, if wee but compare the disposition of the minde with the obstacles that meete us in the pursuite of them. Suppose we a man importunately set to travell unto some place where the certainty of some great profit or preferment attends his comming, the way through which he must goe is intricate, deepe, unpassable, the beast that carries him lame and tired, his acquaintance none, his instructions few, what a heavie vexation must this needs bee to the soule of that man to be crossed with so many difficulties in so eager a desire? Iust this is the case with naturall men in the prosecution of earthly things. First, the desires of men are very violent (which the Scripture useth to expresse by making haste, greedy coveting, a purpose to 3be rich) Qui Dives fieri vult, & cit• vult fieri, they that will be rich, cannot be quiet till their desires are accomplished:
- 1Eccles. •. 22. 23.
- 2Tacit. Hist. lib. 1.
- 3Prov. 21. 5. 26. 1. Tim. 6. 9.
