A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The fourth sign is, when being in worldly prosperity, we abuse it to pride and carnal presumption, saying with the Wicked, We shall ¹never be moved, nor ever see adversity. For what greater security then to presume of standing in such slippery places, in which we have seen ⟨p. 35⟩so many fall before us? to think that we can keep the Sea in one settled course, whose nature is to ebb and flow? to keep the Moon constant and always at the full, whose nature is to change, increase, and wane? or to think that we shall have for a long time firm fruition of these earthly vanities; when as both they and we are so mutable and momentany, as that every day we are in danger to be taken from them, or they from us? what greater security then to be proud of a flitting shadow, and to presume of our safety, which is no better backed then with the strength of a bubble? To think that we can constantly hold Gods gifts which in their own nature, are the wages of those that fear and serve him, when as by multiplying our sins, and especially our pride and presumption, we daily provoke his wrath and move him in his just displeasure to take them from us? Finally, what greater sign of extreme security, then to be proud of our Masters wealth committed to our keeping, as if it were our own? and because we are more indebted, and have a greater account to make then other men; as though we should never be called to a reckoning?