Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

3. Thirdly, if they do promise to themselves any thing of the care of God towards them, and relieve themselves thereby, as they often do on one account or another, (especially when they are driven from other holds) all their relief is but like the dreaming of an hungry man, who supposeth that he eateth and drinketh, and is refreshed; but when he awaketh, he is empty, and disappointed. So are they as to all their relief, that they promise to receive from God, and the support which they seem to have from him. When they are awaked at the latter day and see all things clearly, they will find that God was their enemy, laughing at their calamity, and mocking when their fear was on them.

3. Thirdly, if they doe promise to themselves any thing of the care of God towards them, and relieve themselves thereby, as they often doe on one account or another, (especially when they are driven from other holds) all their reliefe is but like the dreaming of an hungry man, who supposeth that he eateth and drinketh, and is refreshed; but when he awaketh, he is empty, and disappointed. So are they as to all their reliefe, that they promise to receive from God, and the support which they seem to have from him. When they are awaked at the latter day and see all things clearly, they will find that God was their enemy, laughing at their calamity, and mocking when their feare was on them.

So is it with them in trouble. Is it any better with them in §. 16 their prosperity? This indeed is often great and is marvellously described in Scripture, as to their lives and oftentimes quiet peaceable ends. But have they any true consolation all their days? They eat, drink, sleep, and make merry, and perhaps heap up to themselves: but how little do these things make them to differ from the beasts that perish? Solomons advantage to have the use, and know the utmost of these things much beyond any of the sons of men of our generation, is commonly taken notice of. The account also that he gives of them is known: They are all vanity, and vexation of Spirit. This is their consolation; a crackling of thorns under the pot, a sudden flash, and blaze, that begins but to perish. So that both Adversity and prosperity slayeth them, and whether they are laughing or crying, they are still dying.