And thus we see that Carnal security depriveth us of all good in this life and the life to come. But besides this privation of good, it doth also expose us positively to all evil. As first, it maketh us subject to all dangers, and that in divers respects. First, meritoriously and deservedly it being just with God, that they should not be shaded under the wings of his providence, who have no awful respect of his presence, but are careless and unconscionable in all their ways. Secondly, because they are improvident and negligent in the using of any means, whereby they may be prevented, either prayer unto God for his protection, or repentance for sin, which hath endangered them to Gods Judgements, or Christian prudence, in fore-casting what evils may befall them, or if they happen, how they may prevent them. In ⟨p. 59⟩which regard, it is no more strange for secure men to fall into mischief, then to see a man, who having blind-folded himself, and runneth he careth not whither with head-long haste, or that walketh in his sleep, to stumble at blocks in his way, or to fall into Pits and Ditches. Thirdly, because they always lye open unto their spiritual enemies, and encourage them with their secure carelessness to set upon them, because before the assault they are sure of victory. Fourthly, because giving themselves to sloth and ease, they neglect to buckle the Christian Armour upon them, whereby they might be enabled to resist their enemies in the day of conflict. And lastly, because they who through security are destitute of the fear of God, endanger themselves to all things else which are to be feared; and howsoever they are void of all fear in the time of prosperity; yet when the things they never feared fall upon them, they are so amazed and astonished with approaching dangers, and so deprived of all courage to resist, or counsel to avoid them; that they do through excessive fear inevitably 1fall into many of them, which they might have escaped, if they had feared seasonably, and providently fore-seen them before they happened. In which respect, one saith, that our prosperity ought never to be secure; because security is more dangerous to our mind, then adversity to our body. For things prosperous do first corrupt us, before those which are adverse, can break and hurt us.
And thus we see that Carnall securitie depriueth vs of all good in this life and the life to come. But besides this priuation of good, it doth also expose vs positiuely to all euill. As first, it maketh vs subject to all dangers, and that in diuers respects. First, meritoriously and deseruedly it being just with God, that they should not bee shaded vnder the wings of his prouidence, who haue no awfull respect of his presence, but are carelesse and vnconscionable in all their wayes. Secondly, because they are improuident and negligent in the vsing of any meanes, whereby they may be preuented, either prayer vnto God for his protection, or repentance for sinne, which hath indangered them to Gods Iudgements, or Christian prudence, in fore-casting what euils may befall them, or if they happen, how they may preuent them. In ⟨p. 59⟩which regard, it is no more strange for secure men to fall into mischiefe, then to see a man, who hauing blind-folded himselfe, and runneth he careth not whither with head-long haste, or that walketh in his sleepe, to stumble at blocks in his way, or to fall into Pits and Ditches. Thirdly, because they alwayes lye open vnto their spirituall enemies, and encourage them with their secure carelesnesse to set vpon them, because before the assault they are sure of victorie. Fourthly, because giuing themselues to sloth and ease, they neglect to buckle the Christian Armour vpon them, whereby they might be inabled to resist their enemies in the day of conflict. And lastly, because they who through securitie are destitute of the feare of God, endanger themselues to all things else which are to bee feared; and howsoeuer they are void of all feare in the time of prosperitie; yet when the things they neuer feared fall vpon them, they are so amazed and astonished with approching dangers, and so depriued of all courage to resist, or counsaile to auoid them; that they doe through excessiue feare ineuitably 1fall into many of them, which they might haue escaped, if they had feared seasonably, and prouidently fore-seene them before they hapned. In which respect, one saith, that our prosperitie ought neuer to bee secure; because securitie is more dangerous to our mind, then aduersitie to our body. For things prosperous doe first corrupt vs, before those which are aduerse, can breake and hurt vs.
- 1Nunquam secura debet esse foelicitas, quia periculosiora sunt animo secura, quam corpori aduersa &c. Aug. in Sent. T. 3. c. 1059. Qui praesumit minus veretur, minus praecavet, plus periclitatur, &c. Tertul. de cultu Foemin. pag. 407.Nunquam secura debet esse foelicitas, quia periculosiora sunt animo secura, quam corpori aduersa &c. Aug. in Sent. T. 3. c. 1059. Qui praesumit minus veretur, minus praecauet, plus periclitatur, &c. Tertul. de cultu Foemin. pag. 407.
