The divine life in three treatises

Review the experiences of the choicest servants that Christ hath had in the world, and you shall find enough to confirm you of the vanity of man, and the instability of the dearest friends. How highly was Athanasius esteemed? and yet at last deserted and banished even by the famous Constantine himself! How excellent a man was Gregory Nazianzene, and highly valued in the Church? and yet by reproach and discouragements driven away from his Church at Constantinople whither he was chosen: and envied by the Bishops round about him. How worthy a man was the eloquent Chrysostom, and highly valued in the Church! And yet how bitterly was he prosecuted by Hierome and Epiphanius; and banished, and dyed in a second banishment, by the provocation of factious contentious Bishops, and an Empress impatient of his plain reproofs? What person more generally esteemed and honoured for learning, piety and peaceableness then Melanchthon? and yet by the contentions of Illyricus and his party, he was made aweary of his life. As highly as Calvin was (deservedly) valued at Geneva, yet once in a popular lunacy and displeasure, they drove him out of their City, and in contempt of him some called their dogs by the name of Calvin; (though after they were glad to entreat him to return.) How much our Grindal and Abbot were esteemed, it appeareth by their advancement to the Archbishopric of Canterbury: and yet who knoweth not that their eminent piety sufficed not to keep them from dejecting frowns! And if you say, that it is no wonder if with Princes through interest, and with people through levity, it be thus; I might heap up instances of the like untrustiness of particular friends: But all History and the experiences of the most, do so much abound with them, that I ⟨p. 315⟩think it needless. Which of us must not say with David that [all men are liars] Psal. 116. that is, deceitful and untrusty, either through unfaithfulness, weakness or insufficiency that either will forsake us, or cannot help us in the time of need?

Review the experiences of the choicest servants that Christ hath had in the world, and you shall find enough to confirm you of the vanity of man, and the instability of the dearest friends. How highly was Athanasius esteemed? and yet at last deserted and banished even by the famous Constantine himself! How excellent a man was Gregory Nazianzene, and highly valued in the Church? and yet by reproach and discouragements driven away from his Church at Constantinople whither he was chosen: and envied by the Bishops round about him. How worthy a man was the eloquent Chrysostome, and highly valued in the Church! And yet how bitterly was he prosecuted by Hierome and Epiphanius; and banished, and dyed in a second banishment, by the provocation of factious contentious Bishops, and an Empress impatient of his plain reproofs? What person more generally esteemed and honoured for learning, piety and peaceableness then Melanchthon? and yet by the contentions of Illyricus and his party, he was made aweary of his life. As highly as Calvin was (deservedly) valued at Geneva, yet once in a popular lunacy and displeasure, they drove him out of their City, and in contempt of him some called their dogs by the name of Calvin; (though after they were glad to intreat him to return.) How much our Grindal and Abbot were esteemed, it appeareth by their advancement to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury: and yet who knoweth not that their eminent piety sufficed not to keep them from dejecting frowns! And if you say, that it is no wonder if with Princes through interest, and with people through levity, it be thus; I might heap up instances of the like untrustiness of particular friends: But all History and the experiences of the most, do so much abound with them, that I