Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Rejoice not immoderately in wisdom; That and Learning languish with Age. A wound in the head may impair that which is the Glory of a Man. If an Organ be out of frame, Folly may succeed, and all a mans Prudence be wound up in an irrecoverable Dotage. Nebuchadnezzar was no Fool, yet by a sudden hand of God he became not only a Fool or a mad Man, but a kind of Brute. Rejoice not in strength; that decays, and a mighty Man may live to see his strong Arm withered, and a Grass-hopper to become a Burden. ^*The strong men shall bow themselves, and the Grinders shall cease because they are few. ^*Nor rejoice in Children; they are like Birds upon a Tree, that make a little chirping music, and presently fall into the Fowlers Net. Little did Job expect such sad news as the loss of all his Progeny at a blow, when the Messenger knocked at his Gate: And such changes happen oftentimes, when our expectations of comfort and a contentment in them are at the highest. How often doth a string crack when the Musician hath wound it up to a just height ⟨p. 237⟩for a Tune, and all his pains and delight marred in a Moment? Nay, all these things change while we are using them, like Ice that melts between our fingers, and Flowers that wither while we are smelling to them: The Apostle gave them a good title, when he called them uncertain riches, and thought it a strong argument to dissuade them from trusting in them. ^*The wealth of the Merchant depends upon the Winds and Waves; and the revenue of the Husbandman upon the Clouds; and since they depend upon those things which are used to express the most changeableness, they can be no fit Object for trust. Besides, God sometimes kindles a Fire under all a mans Glory, which doth insensibly consume it^*; and while we have them, the fear of losing them renders us not very happy in the fruition of them; we can scarce tell whether they are contentments or no, because sorrow follows them so close at the heels. 'Tis not an unnecessary exhortation for good men; the best men have been apt to place too much trust in them. David thought himself immutable in his Prosperity; and such thoughts could not be without some immoderate outlets of the heart to them, and confidences in them: And Job promised himself to dye in his Nest, and multiply his days as the Sand without any interruption