Like him that wished for a thousand Sheep in his flock, and when ⟨p. 209⟩he had them, he wished for other Cattle without number. When Alexander had all the Crowns and Sceptres of the Princes of the world piled up at his Gates, he wishes for another world to conquer. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor 1the ear with hearing. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase. 2There is enough and enough in silver, in abundance of silver to vex and fret the soul of man, but not to satisfy the soul of man. God himself is the only centre of centres, and as the soul can never rest, till it return to him (as the Dove 3to the Ark) so it can never be filled, stilled, or satisfied, but in the enjoyment of him. All the beauty of the world, is but deformity; all the brightness of the world, is but blackness; all the light of the world, is but bitterness: and therefore 'tis impossible for all the bravery and glory of this world, to give absolute satisfaction to the soul of man. Solomon the wisest Prince that ever sate upon a Throne, after his most diligent, curious, critical and impartial search into all the creatures, give this as the summa totalis, and product of his enquiries, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. And how then can any of these things, yea, all these things heaped up together, satisfy the soul of man. H•b. 2. 5. He enlargeth his desire as Hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all Nations, and heapeth unto him all people. This is spoken of the King of Babylon, who though he had gathered to him all Nations and people; yea, and all their vast Treasures also, Isa. 10. 13. I have robbed their treasures. ver. 14. And my hand hath found as a nest, the riches of his people: and as one gathereth Eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. And yet for all this, was his desire enlarged as Hell, and could not be satisfied. The desires of worldlings are boundless and endless, and there is no satisfying of them. 'Tis not all the Gold of Ophir, or Peru, nor all the Pearls or Mines of India: 'tis not Josephs Chains, nor Davids Crowns, nor Hamans Honours, nor Daniels Dignities, nor Dives his riches, that can satisfy an immortal soul.
Like him that wisht for a thousand Sheep in his flock, and when ⟨p. 209⟩he had them, he wisht for other Cattel without number. When Alexander had all the Crowns and Scepters of the Princes of the world piled up at his Gates, he wishes for another world to conq•er. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor 1the ear with hearing. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase. 2There is enough and enough in silver, in abundance of silver to vex and fret the soul of man, but not to satisfie the soul of man. God himself is the only centre of centers, and as the soul can never rest, till it return to him (as the Dove 3to the Ark) so it can never be filled, stilled, or satisfied, but in the enjoyment of him. All the beauty of the world, is but deformity; all the brightness of the world, is but blackness; all the light of the world, is but bitterness: and therefore 'tis impossible for all the bravery and glory of this world, to give absolute satisfaction to the soul of man. Solomon the wisest Prince that ever sate upon a Throne, after his most diligent, curious, critical and impartial search into all the creatures, give this as the summa totalis, and product of his enquiries, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. And how then can any of these things, yea, all these things heaped up together, satisfie the soul of man. H•b. 2. 5. He enlargeth his desire as Hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all Nations, and heapeth unto him all people. This is spoken of the King of Babylon, who though he had gathered to him all Nations and people; yea, and all their vast Treasures also, Isa. 10. 13. I have robbed their treasures. ver. 14. And my hand hath found as a nest, the riches of his people: and as one gathereth Eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. And yet for all this, was his desire enlarged as Hell, and could not be satisfied. The desires of worldlings are boundless and endless, and there is no satisfying of them. 'Tis not all the Gold of Ophir, or Peru, nor all the Pearls or Mines of India: 'tis not Josephs Chains, nor Davids Crowns, nor Hamans Honours, nor Daniels Dignities, nor Dives his riches, that can satisfie an immortal soul.
- 1Eccles. 1. 8.
- 2Chap. 5. 10.
- 3Gen. 8. 9. The poor Heathen could say, I desire neither more nor less than enough. For I may as well dye of a surfeit, as of hunger.
