[ 1539] Not to be disquieted at the Prosperity of the Wicked.
IT is S. Augustine's instance of One,* 1.1 that considering himself to be cast into Prison, and there to be carefull to do the works of Righteousnesse, whilest he that laid him there, lay wallowing in the abundance of outward Pleasures and delights, though he lived in all kind of excesse in Sin; the consideration whereof caused him to vent such or the like expressions, Deus! quare tibi servio? &c. O God,* 1.2 why do I serve thee? Why do I obey thy voice? I think the Wicked please thee, and that thou lovest those that work Iniquity: Such a Spirit as this hath from time to time possessed the best of the Sons of Men; but David came off well,* 1.3 when he said; O Lord, how great are thy works, and thy thoughts are very deep. Deep indeed! so deep, that no humane plummet can fathom such a bottom, as that the Wicked should flourish,* 1.4 and the Godly suffer tribulation; yet by way of direction, let us not suffer our selves to be seduced with the Felicity of the Wicked, not to be taken with the flower of the grasse, nor gaze so much upon them who are happy for a time, and (it may be) eternally miserable.