London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…

they will not go with us into another world; and therefore why should the want of such things, either trouble our thoughts, or break our hearts. The whole world is but a Paradise for fools: 'tis a beautiful, but deceitful Harlot: 'tis a dreamed sweetness, and a very Ocean of Gall. There is nothing to be found in it, that has not mutability and uncertainty, vanity and vexation stamped upon it. And therefore he can't be happy, that enjoys it; nor he miserable, that wants it. And why then should not he be contented, that has but but a little of it? The greatest outward happiness, is but honied poison: and therefore don't shrug nor faint, because thou hast but little of the world. All thy crosses and losses shall be so tempered by a hand of Heaven, as that they shall become wholesome Medicines; they shall be steps to thy future glory; they are thy only Hell, thy Heaven is to come. And therefore be contented in the midst of all thy sorrows and sufferings. Remember that many times they who have most of the world in their hands, have ¹least of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, of Grace, of Heaven in their hearts. And remember that a man w•re better to have much of God with a little of the world, than to have much of the world, with a little of God. God alone is a thousand thousand felicities, and a world of happiness, the only life and light. Algerius the Martyr, being swallowed up in a sweet fruition of God, found more light in his Dungeon, than was without in all the world. O Sirs if upon casting up of your accounts for another world, you find that Heaven is your home, the world your footstool, the Angels ⟨p. 173⟩your Attendants, your Creator, your Father, your Judge, your Brother, the Holy Spirit your comforter; if you find that God is ever with you, ever before you, ever within you, ever round about you, and ever a making of provision, more or less for you, why should you not be contented with your present condition, with your present proportion, be it more, or be it less? But,

they will not go with us into another world; and therefore why should the want of such things, either trouble our thoughts, or break our hearts. The whole world is but a Paradis• for fools: 'tis a beautiful, but deceitful Harlot: 'tis a dramed sweetness, and a very Ocean of Gall. There is nothing to be found in it, that has not mutability and uncertainty, vanity and vexation stampt upon it. And therefore he can't be happy, that enjoyes it; nor he miserable, that wants it. And why then should not he be contented, that has but but a little of it? The greatest outward happiness, is but honied poison: and therefore don't shrug nor faint, because thou hast but little of the world. All thy crosses and losses shall be so tempered by a hand of Heaven, as that they shall become wholesome Medicines; they shall be steps to thy future glory; they are thy only Hell, thy Heaven is to come. And therefore be contented in the midst of all thy sorrows and suerings. Remember that many times they who have most of the world in their hands, have