It is in vain therefore to expect happiness from what is so uncertain. All the comforts of it are but like fading flowers, that while we are looking on them, and smelling to them, die, and wither in our hands. Is it pleasures we seek? These must vary: For where there is not an intermission, it is not pleasure, but a glut and surfeit. And hence it is that they who are used to hardships, taste more sweetness in some ordinary pleasures, than those who are accustomed to a voluptuous life, do in all their ⟨p. 77⟩exquisite and invented delights. Do you pursue Honour and Applause in the world? This hangs upon the wavering tongues of the Multitude: To follow this is but to pursue a puff of wind, and of all winds in nature the most fickle and changeable. The Peoples Hosanna, and Crucify are oft pronounced in the same breath. And besides that it is ano great matter that those should think or speak well of thee, who have but too much reason to think ill of themselves; besides this, consider how soon public Fame grows out of breath. Possibly an Age or two may talk of thee, but this brute is but like successive Echo's, that render the voice still weaker ⟨p. 78⟩and weaker, till at length it vanisheth into silence. Yea, couldst thou fill whole Chronicles with thy story, yet time or moths will eat thee out: And the bfresher remembrance of other mens actions will bury thine in Oblivion. Is it riches you desire? These too are uncertain, 1 Tim. 6.17. Charge them that they trust not in uncertain riches. Uncertain they are in getting, and uncertain in keeping when got. All our treasures are like quick-silver, which strangely slips between our fingers when we think we hold it fastest. Riches, (c saith the Wise man) make themselves Wings, and fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven; and it were a most strange ⟨p. 79⟩folly dto fall passionately in love with a Bird upon his wing, who is free and unconfined as the Air in which he flies, and will not stoop to thy call or lure. Believe it Miser, all thy angels are winged, and if thou dost not, yet some or other of thy heirs will set them flying. How much better were it, since they will fly, for thy self to direct their flight towards Heaven, by relieving the necessitous servants and members of Jesus Christ. Then will their flight be happy and glorious, when they carry on their wings the prayers and blessings of the poor whose bowels thou hast refreshed.
It is in vain therefore to expect happiness from what is so uncertain. All the comforts of it are but like fading flowers, that while we are looking on them, and smelling to them, die, and wither in our hands. Is it pleasures we seek? These must vary: For where there is not an intermission, it is not pleasure, but a glut and surfet. And hence it is that they who are used to hardships, taste more sweetness in some ordinary pleasures, than those who are accustomed to a voluptuous life, do in all their ⟨p. 77⟩exquisite and invented delights. Do you pursue Honour and Applause in the world? This hangs upon the wavering tongues of the Multitude: To follow this is but to pursue a puff of wind, and of all winds in nature the most fickle and changeable. The Peoples Hosanna, and Crucifie are oft pronounced in the same breath. And besides that it is ano great matter that those should think or speak well of thee, who have but too much reason to think ill of themselves; besides this, consider how soon publick Fame grows out of breath. Possibly an Age or two may talk of thee, but this bruit is but like successive Echo's, that render the voice still weaker ⟨p. 78⟩and weaker, till at length it vanisheth into silence. Yea, couldst thou fill whole Chronicles with thy story, yet time or moths will eat thee out: And the bfresher remembrance of other mens actions will bury thine in Oblivion. Is it riches you desire? These too are uncertain, 1 Tim. 6.17. Charge them that they trust not in uncertain riches. Uncertain they are in getting, and uncertain in keeping when got. All our treasures are like quick-silver, which strangely slips between our fingers when we think we hold it fastest. Riches, (c saith the Wise man) make themselves Wings, and flie away as an Eagle towards Heaven; and it were a most strange ⟨p. 79⟩folly dto fall passionately in love with a Bird upon his wing, who is free and unconfined as the Air in which he flies, and will not stoop to thy call or lure. Believe it Miser, all thy angels are winged, and if thou dost not, yet some or other of thy heirs will set them flying. How much better were it, since they will flie, for thy self to direct their flight towards Heaven, by relieving the necessitous servants and members of Jesus Christ. Then will their flight be happy and glorious, when they carry on their wings the prayers and blessings of the poor whose bowels thou hast refreshed.
- a[Greek or Hebrew]. Ant. l. S. Sect. 44.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Ant. l. S. Sect. 44.
- b[Greek or Hebrew]. Id. l. 7. S. 23.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Id. l. 7. S. 23.
- cProv. 23.5.
- d[Greek or Hebrew]. Id. lib. 6. Sect. 11. The same with that of Solomon, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not, &c.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Id. lib. 6. Sect. 11. The same with that of Solomon, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not, &c.
