Though I am somewhat soberer to day, I have been (I confesse) as mad as they, Who think those men, that large Possessions have, Gay Clothes, fine Furnitures, and Houses brave, Are those (nay more, that they alone are those) On whom, the stile of _Rich_, we should impose. But, having, by experience, understood His words, who sayd, _his troubles did him good_, I, now perceive, the _Worldly-rich_ are poore, Vnlesse of _Sorrowes_, also, they have store. Till from the _Straw_, the _Flaile_, the _Corne_ doth beat; Vntill the _Chaffe_, be purged from the _Wheat_, Yea, till the _Mill_, the _Graines_ in pieces teare, The richnesse of the _Flowre_, will scarce appeare. So, till mens persons great _Afflictions_ touch (If _worth_ be found) their _worth_ is not so much, Because, like _Wheat_, in _Straw_, they have nor, yet, That value, which in _threshing_, they may get. For, till the bruising _Flailes_ of GOD’S _Corrections_, Have threshed out of us our vaine _Affections_; Till those _Corruptions_, which doe misbecome us, Are by thy _Sacred-spirit_, winnowed from us; Vntill, from us, the _straw_ of _Worldly-treasures_; Till all the dusty _Chaffe_ of empty _Pleasures_; Yea, till his _Flaile_, upon us, he doth lay, To thresh the huske of this our _Flesh_ away; And, leave the _Soule_ uncover’d; nay, yet more, Till _God_ shall make, our very _Spirit_ poore; We shall not up to highest _Wealth_ aspire: But, then we shall; and, _that is my desire_. _Though =Fortune=, hath a powerfull =Name=, Yet, =Vertue= overcomes the same._ [Illustration: VICTRIX FORTVNÆ SAPIENTIA. ILLVSTR. XLVII. _Book. 2_]