Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Unhappy prosperity of the wicked. [ 1130]

IT is Davids observation,* 1.1 that the vvicked are in great prosperity, and flourish like a green bay-tree,* 1.2 vvhich is vvell knovvn to be green all the vvinter long, vvhen Oak-trees and Apple-trees, and all other far more profitable and fruitfull trees do wither, decay, and shed their leaves, stand naked and bare, and look as if they vvere rotten and dead;* 1.3 then it is, that the Bay-tree looks as fresh and green, as it vvere in the midst of the Spring. So fares it with all wicked men, in such vvinter-times of the vvorld as vve are novv in,* 1.4 they prosper, and God sends them no crosse, nor disease, nor judgment, to interrupt them, but lets them take their svving in the very height of their rebellions against him▪ vvhen many a ••oor Christian is fain to fast and fare hard, and go with many a hungry meal to bed:

then it is, that God suffers a company of flagitious villains, such as ar•• Mercatores humanarum calamitatum, that make merchandise of poor mens miseries, to have their will without controle, and to thrive, and have a great deal of outward un∣happy prosperity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 37. 35.
• * 1.2

  J. Gore Serm. at S. Pauls. 1633.
• * 1.3

  Prosperum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foelix scel••s. Sen.
• * 1.4

  Ple•• caec•• men∣••••s tume facta∣que crura sec••n∣dis. Silius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1.