The Art of Divine Contentment

A lower estate is less hazardous. The little Pinnace rides safe by the Shore, when the gallant Ship advancing with its mast and top-sail, is cast away. Homo victus in Paradiso, victor in stercore. Adam in Paradise was overcome, when Job on the dung-hill was a conqueror. Samson fell asleep on Delilahs lap: Some have fallen so fast a sleep on the lap of ease and plenty, that they have never awaked till they have been in hell^*. The worlds fawning is worse then its frowning; and it is more to be feared when it smiles, then when it thunders^*. Prosperity in Scripture is compared to a candle: Job 29. 3. When his candle shined upon my head. How many have burnt their wings about this candle; Segetem ubert as nimiae sternit, rami onere franguntur, ad maturitatem non pervenit nimia foecunditas^*: The corn being over-ripe sheds, and fruit when it mellows, begins to rot; ⟨p. 191⟩When men do mellow with the Sun of Prosperity, commonly their souls begin to rot in sin. How hard is it for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven^*? His golden weights keep him from ascending up the hill of God; and shall we not be content, though we are placed in a lower Orb? What if we are not in so much bravery, and gallantry as others? we are not in so much danger; as we want the honour of the world, so the temptations. Oh the abundance of danger that is in abundance! We see by common experience, that Lunatics, when the Moon is declining and in the wane, are sober enough; but when it is in the full, they are more wild and exorbitant: When mens estates are in the wane, they are more serious about their souls, more humble; but when it is the full of the Moon, and they have abundance, then their hearts begin to swell with their estates, ⟨p. 192⟩and are scarce themselves. Those that write concerning the several Climates; observe, that such as live in the Northern parts of the world, if you bring them into the South part, they lose their stomachs, and dye quickly; but those that live in the more Southern hot climates, bring them into the North, and their stomachs mend, and they are long-lived: Give me leave to apply it; bring a man from the cold starving climate of poverty, into the hot Southern climate of prosperity, and he begins to lose his appetite to good things, he grows weak, and a thousand to one if all his Religion doth not die;