A Bird that you have in a Cage, you have kept it perhaps many months, and upon some advantage gets out and in a moment she is gone, suddenly, and then she goes away swiftly that you cannot follow her, and then Irrecoverably ⟨p. 223⟩that you can never take her. All outward glory is uncertain; 1in Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? 2Certainly riches they make to themselves wings, and fly away as an Eagle into Heaven; fly away like a Bird,3 and that Bird, the Eagle, that flies so swiftly that there is no getting her again: How many lately in Ireland, and in our own Land, that have had estates in the evening, and all hath been gone away swiftly like a bird before the morning? They have been rich in the morning and have been even beggars in the evening. Let us take our hearts off from glorying in all outward excellencies, and seek that glory that is abiding, that is constant, that is everlasting: We should look upon all outward comforts now as upon the wing; if ever you had cause to look upon all the outward comforts in the world as upon the wing, you are to do it now, never make account of any settlement in any comforts in the world, at this day they are all upon the wing; we cannot reason thus, We have enjoyed such prosperity thus long, and therefore we shall still enjoy it longer: No, all outward comforts flies away like the bird: that comes in one moment that before came not in many years.4 In Jer. 9. 23. Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, 5neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth, glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise, loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight saith the Lord. 6Your delights are in other vain things, in estates, in bravery; but in these things I delight, saith the Lord God, and if you will glory, do you glory in those things that I my self delight in; your glory in the midst of your prosperity which flies from you like a bird, but the Lord that is the glory of his in the midst of their adversities, flies to them like a bird: (I say) the glory of the wicked in the midst of their prosperity flies from them like a bird, and the Lord God who is the glory of the Saints flies ⟨p. 224⟩to them in their afflictions like a bird.
A Bird that you have in a Cage, you have kept it perhaps many months, and upon some advantage gets out and in a moment she is gone, suddenly, and then she goes away swiftly that you cannot follow her, and then Irrecoverably ⟨p. 223⟩that you can never take her. All outward glory is uncertain; 1in Prov. 23. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? 2Certainly riches they make to themselves wings, and fly away as an Eagle into Heaven; fly away like a Bird,3 and that Bird, the Eagle, that flies so swiftly that there is no getting her again: How many lately in Ireland, and in our own Land, that have had estates in the evening, and all hath been gone away swiftly like a bird before the morning? They have been rich in the morning and have been even beggars in the evening. Let us take our hearts off from glorying in all outward excellencies, and seek that glory that is abiding, that is constant, that is everlasting: We should look upon all outward comforts now as upon the wing; if ever you had cause to look upon all the outward comforts in the world as upon the wing, you are to do it now, never make account of any settlement in any comforts in the world, at this day they are all upon the wing; we cannot reason thus, We have enjoyed such prosperity thus long, and therefore we shall still enjoy it longer: No, all outward comforts slies away like the bird: that comes in one moment that before came not in many years.4 In Jer. 9. 23. Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, 5neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth, glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise, loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight saith the Lord. 6Your delights are in other vain things, in estates, in bravery; but in these things I delight, saith the Lord God, and if you will glory, do you glory in those things that I my self delight in; your glory in the midst of your prosperity which flies from you like a bird, but the Lord that is the glory of his in the midst of their adversities, flies to them like a bird: (I say) the glory of the wicked in the midst of their prosperity flies from them like a bird, and the Lord God who is the glory of the Saints flies
- 1Pro. 23. 5.
- 2illustrated.
- 3Applic. to England. and Ireland.
- 4Jer. 9▪ 23.Ier. 9▪ 23.
- 5illustrated▪
- 6Wealth (wicked mens glory) flies from them in prosperity, God (the Saints glory) flies to them in adversity.Wealth (wicked mens glory) flyes from them in prosperity, God (the Saints glory) flyes to them in adversity.
