Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of…

2. From the confidence which worldly men place in their enjoyment of the things of the world: If once they prosper, they presently grow high, and proud and self-conceited, though formerly they carried themselves low and humble: yea, now they begin to be become regardless of convictions, and too good for reproofs; yea, they are strongly confident, and presumptuously take up their rest here: They are upon this account called their strong City, Pro.18.11.

3. From the miserable complaint which they make when they lose these things: they are presently undone, their gods are taken from them, their hopes vanish, and they begin to despair; they now think all joy is departed, and they must never expect to see good day more; their bladders are pricked, and now they sink: And did not men lean their weight upon those things, they would not so anxiously perplex their souls at the loss of them.

3. From the miserable complaint which they make when they lose these things: they are presently undone, their gods are taken from them, their hopes vanish, and they begin to despair; they now think all joy is departed, and they must never expect to see good day more; their bladders are prickt, and now they sink: And did not men lean their weight upon those things, they would not so anxiously perplex their souls at the loss of them.

Reason. 1. From the sensuality which possesseth ⟨p. 129⟩the heart of every natural man: Man is become a slave to his sense, whence it comes to pass that he is persuaded to judge these things to be most suitable for him: sin having thrown all out of order; sense is now gotten above reason; hence, as swine run after husks, because they suit their nature, and are proper for their kind, so natural men find and taste a sensitive sweetness in the things of the world, and that makes them to say, Happy is the People that is in such a case