CHAP. XXVIII.
Yet he enjoyeth not as yet a perfect union unto him; but hath a perpetual combat with many other false joyes, and griefs, and fears:
WHen once I shall be united to thee and inhere in thee with all my self, then shall I no more suffer any sort of these greifs and labours; and then my life shall be truely alive, when totally full of thee. But now; since all that are filled with thee are also elevated by thee, therefore am I still such a burden to my self, because I am not yet full of thee. My vain joyes, to be deplored, con∣tend still, in me, with my wholesome sorrows to be much joyed in: and to what side the victory inclines, I know not. Wo is me! My Lord Have thou pitty on me. —Again, my evill sorrows contend, within me, with my holy joyes; and to which side the victory inclines, yet I know not. Wo is me my Lord, have thou pitty on me Wo is me! Behold I conceal not my wounds from thee. Thou art a Phisician, I am sick: Thou art full of mercy, I of misery; is not mans life upon the earth a continuall temptation? And who is there that can be in love with such troubles, and difficulties? Thou commandest, that they should be suffered, but not, that they should be loved. No Man loves what he suffers, though he loves to suffer. For though he joyes that he can tollerate and suffer it, yet he would chuse, there were no such thing for him to suffer.
In adversities I long for prosperity; in prosperities I apprehend and dread adversity. And what midle stati∣on can there be found between these two, where this Life may not be a Temptation to us? There is a Woe to the prosperities of this World; once and a∣gain, 1. For the many fears, in them, of adversity. 2. And, for the many miscarriages and misbehaviours in them, of our joyes. — And there is a Woe to the adversities of this World once; again; and a third time. 1. From the impatient longing we have in them after missed prosperity. 2. From the pain, and sufferings of