The plain mans path-way to heaven

From thence we may learn, that though we set our hearts neversomuch on any thing here below, yet at the last it shall be taken from us, or we from it. Therefore all worldly men do but weave the spiders web, and may fitly be compared to the silly spider, who toileth her self, and laboureth all the week long to finish up her web, that she may lodge her self in it as in her own house and free-hold. But, alas, at the weeks end, a maid, in a moment, with one brush of a broom, dispossesseth her of her inheritance, which she had purchased with great labour and much ado. Even so, when the men of this world have with much care and travel purchased great lands and revenues, and gathered all that they can: yet on the sudden death (with one stroke of his ••refull dart) will make them give up the ghost: and then where are they? It was prettily therefore said of a man in the light of nature,¹ No man hath ever lived so happily in this life, but in his life time many things have befallen him, for the which he hath wished rather to die ⟨p. 82⟩than to live. And assuredly, I think there was never any man lived any one day upon the face of the earth, but some grief or other either did, or justly might invade his mind ere night: either in the temptations of the World, the Flesh, or the Devil; or in regard of soul, body, goods, or name: in regard of wife, children, friends, or neighbours: in regard of dangers to Prince, Stay, Church, or Commonwealth: in regard of casualties, and loss by water, by fire, by sea, or by land. What a life therefore is this, that hath not our good day in it? Who would desire to dwell long in it? For it lieth open every day to manifold miseries, dangers, losses, casualties, reproaches, shame, infamy, poverty, sickness, diseases, colics, ague•, toothache, head-ache, back-ache, bone-ache, and a thousand calamities.

From thence wee may learne, that though wee set our hearts neversomuch on any thing here below, yet at the last it shall bee taken from us, or we from it. Therefore all worldly men doe but weave the spiders web, and may fitly bee compared to the silly spider, who toyleth her selfe, and laboureth all the weeke long to fluish up her web, that shee may lodge her selfe in it as in her owne house and free-hold. But, alas, at the weeks end, a maid, in a moment, with one brush of a broom, dispossesseth her of her inheritance, which shee had purchased with great labour and much adoe. Even so, when the men of this world have with much care and travell purchased great lands and revenues, and gathered all that they can: yet on the sudden death (with one stroke of his refull dart) will make them give up the ghost: and then where are they? It was prettily therefore said of a man in the light of nature,