The other Text that describeth the life of a mere natural man, is, Psalm 39. 6. to which you may join, Psalm 73. 20. The former saith, [Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted, or make a tumult and stir in vain.] Though the brevity of life it self may be something here intended, yet that seemeth not to be all: but also the vanity of it as it is a worldly life, and employed merely about transitory creatures: For even on earth our Spiritual life of Grace, and Communion with God in Christ by the Spirit, is not vain. The word which we translate a vain show, signifieth the image, or shadow, or appearance, or figure of a thing: a thing that is nothing, or not the thing it seems to be, but the show of it; or as the Prophet himself expoundeth it, a dream: Men do but seem to live, that live only on and to the creature; they do but seem to be Rich, that have no other Riches; and seem to have Pleasure, that have no higher Pleasures; and seem to be Honourable, that have but the Honour that comes from man. A great stir they make in the world, to little purpose. They thrust themselves into tumults, and quarrel, and fight, and some are conquered, and others conquerors, and some lament, and others rejoice, some walk dejectedly, and others domineer; and all is but a vain show or thing of nought. Its but like children's games, where all is done in jest, and wise men account it not worthy their observance. Its but like the acting of a Comedy, where great persons and actions are personated and counterfeited; and a pompous stir there is for a while, to please the foolish spectators, that themselves may be pleased by their applause; and then they come down and the sport is ended, and they are as they were. The life of a worldling is but like a Puppet-play, where there is great doings to little purpose: Or like the busy gadding of the laborious Ants, to gather together a little sticks and straw, which the spurn of a mans foot will soon disperse. Thus do all worldly ⟨p. 20⟩sensual men, walk in a vain show. By separating the creature from God, they make it nothing: and then they study it, and dispute of it, and seek, and run, and labour for it, when they have in a sort annihilated it. I speak still of their Objective separation in esse cognito & volito: for a real separation is impossible, but as a real annihilation may be so called.
The other Text that describeth the life of a meer naturall man, is, Psalm 39. 6. to which you may joyn, Psalm 73. 20. The former saith, [Surely every man walketh in a vain shew; surely they are disquieted, or make a tumult and stir in vain.] Though the brevity of life it self may be something here intended, yet that seemeth not to be all: but also the vanity of it as it is a worldly life, and imployed meerly about transitory creatures: For even on earth our Spiritual life of Grace, and Communion with God in Christ by the Spirit, is not vain. The word which we translate a vain shew, signifieth the image, or shadow, or appearance, or figure of a thing: a thing that is nothing, or not the thing it seems to be, but the shew of it; or as the Prophet himself expoundeth it, a dream: Men do but seem to live, that live only on and to the creature; they do but seem to be Rich, that have no other Riches; and seem to have Pleasure, that have no higher Pleasures; and seem to be Honourable, that have but the Honour that comes from man. A great stir they make in the world, to little purpose. They thrust themselves into tumults, and quarrel, and fight, and some are conquered, and others conquerors, and some lament, and others rejoyce, some walk dejectedly, and others domineer; and all is but a vain shew or thing of nought. Its but like childrens games, where all is done in jest, and wise men account it not worthy their observance. Its but like the acting of a Comedy, wheregreat persons and actions are personated and counterfeited; and a pompous stir there is for a while, to please the foolish spectators, that themselves may be pleased by their applause; and then they come down and the sport is ended, and they are as they were. The life of a worldling is but like a Poppet-play, where there is great doings to little purpose: Or like the busie gadding of the laborious Ants, to gather together a little sticks and straw, which the spurn of a mans foot will soon disperse. Thus do all worldly ⟨p. 20⟩sensual men, walk in a vain shew. By separating the creature from God, they make it nothing: and then they study it, and dispute of it, and seek, and run, and labour for it, when they have in a sort annihilated it. I speak still of their Objective separation in esse cognito & volito: for a real separation is impossible, but as a real annihilation may be so called.
