True Contentment in the Gain of Godliness, Part 1

True Contentment in the Gain of Godliness · Part 1

p. 1THE FORMER PART. The Gaine of Godlineſſe.

THe Stoick Philoſophie, which aaAct. 17. 18.Acts 17:18Luke the Euangeliſt maketh mention of, bbLege Cicer. parad. & Lipſij … nud…ct.was famous for Paradoxes, ſtrange Opinions, improbable, and beſides common conceit, ccSeneca paſſion, & Arrian. in diſſert. & alij.admired much for them by ſome, ddPlu…. in Stoic. contradict. & quod Poet… Stoicis probabiliora la…antur.controlled and taxed for them by others. Howbeit not Stoiciſme onelyonly, but eueryevery art and profeſſion, eueryevery courſe of life and learning hath ſome Paradoxes or other; the p. 2world not a few, and▪ eeIn hic creber est Chryſoſtomus: quod notavit Six…ꝰ Sen: biblioth: l. 4.Chriſtianitie many more, as ſtrange, yea ſtranger, than any that the Stoicks euer held, and yet ffforeign Agatho. foreign. Ariſtot. rhetor. l. 2. c. 26. Veriſſima que ſunt non pauca, quae tamen ſunt minimè veriſimilia.no leſſe true than ſtrange.

A worldly Paradox the Apoſtle had mentioned in the verſe next before going, to wit, that ſome men ſhould hold Gaine to be Godlineſſe: vntounto which he oppoſeth a contrary Chriſtian Paradox in the words of my Text, to wit, that Godlineſſe is the onelyonly true Gaine.

For the former: It is a very abſurd conceit indeed, and though too too rife in the world, yet ſuch as few or none will be acknowne of, and either openly father, or ſeeme outwardly to fauor. But as God at the laſt day, when the wicked ſhall go about to excuſe and defend themſelues, he will not onelyonly take hold of their words, bbEx ore tuo indicab… te, ſerue nequā. Math. 25. 26. Luk 19 22.Matt 25:26Luke 19:22By thine owne mouth will I iudge thee, thou thriftles ſeruant; and aduantage of their actions, ccMath. 25. 42, 43.Matt 25:42Matt 25:43I was naked and yee clad me not, hungry and yee fed me not, &c. and thereſore had neither Faith nor LoueLove; but he will conuince them by their owne Conſciences too, ddRom. 2. 15.Rom 2:15Their ſecret thoughts ſhall either excuſe or accuſe them in that day: In like manner muſt we deale with thoſe that will ſeeme to abhorre and deteſt this Opinion, and yet do thoſe things that maintaine and vphold it.

eePſal. 14. 1. & 53. 1.Ps 14:1Ps 53:1…he …oole ſaith i… … heart, There is no God; and that is ſufficient to proue him an Athe… though he neuer openly maintaine any Poſition of Atheiſme. And there be ſome that ffTit. 1. 16.Titus 1:16profeſſe they know God, but denie him in their deeds: and ggQuieſcat lingua, loqua… vita. Aug. in 1. Ioan. hom. 3. foreign. E…ſ…h. prepar E…a g. l. 1. c. 1. Efficacius est vita teſtimonium quā lingue▪ Cypriā. do dupl martyr▪ Et … v… …peris quàm …. …ern. in C…nt.that is enough to proue them irreligious, though they neuer vtter that their impietie in ſpeech. So in this caſe, the Couetous p. 3mans heart ſaith it, and his practiſe proclaimeth it, that hhDiuites facultatibus ſuis alligates mag… aurum conſueuiſſe ſuſpic…re quàm coelū. Minut. Octav. Quid f…cisti quod iuſſit Deus? quid nō facis quod auaritia iubet? Aug. de diuerſ. 12. …uam ſi ſacrificem ſummo Jovi, At que in manibus exta teneam vt porriciam, intereà loci. Si lucr… quid detur, potius r…m diuinā deſerā. Plaut. Pſeud. 1. 3.his Gold is his God, and that his Gaine is his Godlineſſe; and that is ſufficient to proue him an Idolater, though he neuer outwardly bow his knee to an Idoll. In regard whereof, the Apoſtle expreſly pronounceth iiColoſſ. 3. 5.Col 3:5Couetouſnes to be Idolatry, and the kkEpheſ. 5. 5. Lege Chryſ ad Eph. hō. 18Eph 5:5Couetous man an Idolater.

To reaſon then in this point, as our Sauiour himſelfe doth: llVbi theſaurus, ibi & cor. Math. 6 21. Nemo enim potest niſi cogitare de theſauro ſuo, & quodā cordis itinere diuitias ſuas ſequi. Aug. de diuerſ. 44.Matt 6:21Where a mans Treaſure is, theire is his Heart; and where a mans heart is, there is his happineſſe; and where his happineſſe is, that is his God. Since the couetous man therefore mmPſal. 62. 12.Ps 62:12ſetteth his heart on his riches; nnPſal 49 6. Job. 31. 24.Ps 49:6Job 31:24putteth his trust in his treaſure: and whereas ooPro. 18. 10. foreign. Baſil. in Pſal. 45.Prov 18:10Ps 45the faithfull make the name of God their ſtrong towre, wherevnto they reſort in time of trouble for ſafetie, ppPro. 18. 11.Prov 18:11the worldly rich man maketh his wealth his bulwark & fence, wherevpon he repoſeth himſelfe and wholy relyeth: It muſt of neceſſitie follow herevpon, that as the Apoſtle ſaith of the fleſhly-minded man, that qqPhil. 3. 19. Rom. 16. 18. Clem. p…dag. l. 2. c. 1. foreign. ventrē colūt, quē pro Deo habent. Cypr. de dupl. Martyr. Quibꝰ Deꝰ venter est, & pulmo tēplū, & aqualiculꝰ altare, & ſacerdos cocꝰ, & Spiritus ſanctꝰ nidor, & codimēta chariſmata, & …uctꝰ prophetia: agape in cacab… fervet, fi… in c…l…i… calet, ſpes in ferculis iacet. Tertull. de i…iun. Whoſe gut their God, whoſe luſt their law. Sylveſt. week. 2. day. 1. Viſe Euſeb praepar. l. 7. c. 2.Phil 3:19Rom 16:18his belly is his God; ſo of the worldly-minded man, that rrforeign Theog…. foreign Euripid. foreign. Antiphan. foreign So phoel. Creuſa. Quod autem quiſque prae caeteris colit, id ſibi Deum conſt…iſſe probatur Bern de bonis deſer. Ergo vt voracium Deus venter est; ita cupidorum pec… Deus iuſtiſſ…mè dicitur. Hieron. in Epheſ.his money, or p. 4his penny is his God: And if his Money be his God; his Gaine muſt needs be his Godlineſſe.

But the Apoſtle here telleth vsus a quite contrary tale, and learneth vsus here a flat oppoſite leſſon; that, howſoeuer worldly men may thinke that Gaine is Godlineſſe; yet in deed and truth it is not ſo; but Godlineſſe rather is Gaine, and great Gaine.

So that the Apoſtle doth foreign, propoſitionem invertere; he turneth the propoſition cleane backward, and bringeth it about, as it were. Gaine is Godlineſſe, ſaith the worldly man. Nay, Godlineſſe is Gaine, and great Gaine, ſaith the Apoſtle, and the Spirit of God by him.

But this peraduenture will ſeeme a Paradox as ſtrange as the former. As very few that will outwardly avow the former; ſo as few are there that are inwardly perſwaded of the latter. It ſeemeth a Paradox with the moſt.

For, Godlineſſe great Gaine? may ſome man ſay. The contrary rather ſeemeth vndoubted and vndeniable, to wit, that rrIſto t… pauperes, cùm nimis ſanctè pius. Plaut. Rudēt. 4. 7. Varro, reguſtatum digito terebrare ſal…num contentus perages, ſi vi…ere cum love te…di… P…rſ. ſat. 5.Godlineſſe is a great enemie to Gaine. Balaam loſt great wealth and honor, becauſe he would not diſobey the word of God: ſſNum. 24 11.Num 24:11I had thought, ſaith Balak, to hauehave aduanced thee, and made thee a great man; but thy God hath kept thee from honour. Michah might hauehave bin a great man in Ahabs bookes, and very richly and royally reward…d by him, if he would hauehave ſpoken but two words onelyonly, as ſome other did; if he would but hauehave ſaid, ttforeign Aſcende in pace. 1 King. 22. 12, 13.1 Kgs 22:121 Kgs 22:13Goe vp in peace. But his Godlineſſe hindred his Gaine; and not ſo onelyonly, but was a meane to bring him into much trouble. So that it may ſeeme, p. 5that Godlineſſe is altogither gaineleſſe, and Vngodlineſſe the more gainefull of the two.

For the uuNehem. 13. 16.Neh 13:16Merchants of Tyre and Zidon for lucre and gaine ſtraine courteſie with Gods commandement, to vtter their fiſh and wares on the Sabbath. And no doubt of it, **Facilē eſſe cui… ad diuitias viam, quo die bon… mentis poenituerit. Demetrius apud Senecam natur. queſt. l. 4. pr…fat.Gods children, if they would not be ſo ſtrict and ſtrait laced; if they would not ſtand vponupon nice points and termes; if they would not ſticke to lye and diſſemble with xxAct. 5. 1, 2.Acts 5:1Acts 5:2Ananias and Sapphira; to belye and beguile, as Ziba, Mephiboſheths man did his Maſter; to ſweare and forſweare,y 1 Sam. 16. 1, 2.1 Sam 16:11 Sam 16:2 with zz1 Macc. 1. 61, 62.1 Macc 1:611 Macc 1:62prophane Antiochus; to ſteale and purloine with yong aaIudg. 17. 2.Judg 17:2Micah of Mount Ephraim; to oppreſſe and murther, when they hauehave ius in manibus, the law in their owne hands, with bb1 King. 21.1 Kgs 21wicked Ahab, and curſed Iezabel; they might as well come to wealth, as many worldly men do, that ſcrape and gather much goods togither by theſe meanes. But they may well ſay, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, ccPſal. 67. 7. Eu… qui ſit iuſtus ac bonus, ſtultum eſſe. Carneades apud Ci…. de repub. l. 3. Viſe Lactant. inſtitut. l. 5. c. 12. 14.Ps 67:7For thy ſake, O Lord, are we counted fooles; becauſe we ſtand ſo much vponupon matter of conſcience.

dd1 Cor. 9. 15. 23.1 Cor 9:151 Cor 9:23Holy Paul ſaith he might hauehave done this and that, but he would not, becauſe he would not make the Goſpell euill ſpoken of. And the keeping of a mans word turneth oft-times to his loſſe. The eePſal. 15. 4.Ps 15:4godly man ſweareth and faileth not, though it be to to his owne hindrance: that which a worldly man will not willingly do. So that it may ſeeme then that Godlineſſe is rather a great enemie to Gaine, and Vngodlineſſe a great deale the more gainfull.

But thoſe that define Loſſe and Gaine on this wiſe, do not try them by the right touch-ſtone, do p. 6not weigh them out in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie, at the Beame of Gods word: and therefore no maruaile, if they take the ffL…k. 16 11. Diuitie nec vere nec veſtr…. Aug. de verb. Dom. 35. & de diuerſis. & Bern. de bon. deſer.falſe Riches for the true Treaſure.

For ggGeneſ. 2. 19.Gen 2:19man indeed had auctoritie giuen him to name the Creatures, and he hath named worldly Wealth, Gaine: But God that is aboue man, and that gaue man this auctoritie, he hath named Godlineſſe, Gaine, and not Wealth. As the Apoſtle therefore ſaith, hh2 Pet. 3. 9.2 Pet 3:9God is not ſlacke, as men count ſlacknes: ſo Godlineſſe is not Gaine as men count Gaine, but as God counteth Gaine. For ii1 Sam. 16. 7.1 Sam 16:7man ſeeth not as God ſeeth; kkEſai. 55. ….Isa 55nor thinketh as God thinketh. But as llLuk. 16. 15.Luke 16:15thoſe things that are pretious in mans eyes, are abominable in Gods ſight: ſo mm1 Cor. 1. 28. Pſal. 51. 17.1 Cor 1:28Ps 51:17thoſe things that are contemptible in the eyes of man, are nn1 Pet. 3. 4.1 Pet 3:4of high account many times in the ſight of God. And eueryevery thing is, not as man valueth it, but as God eſteemeth it; not as man reckneth it, who is ooPſal. 62 9. & 39. 5.Ps 62:9Ps 39:5vanitie it ſelfe, and therefore may eaſily be deceiued, yea ppGalat. 6. 3. Jam. 1. 26.Gal 6:3Jas 1:26oft-times deceiueth himſelfe; but as God rateth it, qqTit. 1. 2. Si v… lunt in…enire, quod … non poteſt, habent prorſus, …entiri non poteſt. Aug. de ci…it. l. 22. …. 25. Potenter hoc non poteſt. Idem de Trinit. l. 15. c. 14. Magna potentia mentiri non poſſe. Ibid. 15.Titus 1:2who neither doth deceiue any, rrGalat. 6. 7.Gal 6:7nor can by any be deceiued, being ſſIob. 14. 6.Job 14:6Veritie and truth it ſelfe.

Either then we muſt ſay as God ſaith, or we muſt ſay as the World ſaith. Either we muſt ſay, that Godlineſſe is no Gaine, or elſe we muſt ſay, that Gaine is no Gaine, when Godlineſſe and Gaine ſhall ſtand forth togither, either in way of compariſon the one with the other, or in way of oppoſition the one vntounto the other.

Now, when Godlineſſe and Gaine ſhall in this manner contend, that Godlineſſe ought to hauehave p. 7the day of it, will euidently appeare, if it may be ſhewed vntounto vsus:

Firſt, that Godlines is Gaine rather than Gaine: and

Secondly, wherein this Gaine of Godlineſſe doth conſiſt.

For the former, to wit, that Godlineſſe is rather to be accounted Gaine, than Gaine, may be proued to vsus by theſe three Arguments.

Firſt, Godlineſſe may doe a man good without gaine, but worldly gaine can do a man no good without godlineſſe. As the Heathen Orator ſaith of bodily might, that ttforeign. Iſocr. ad Demonic.ſtrength of bodie ioyned with diſcretion and wiſdome, may do a man much good; but without it, it is but uuforeign. Plut. de muliebri diſciplina apud Stob. tō. 2. c. 90.as a ſword in a child, or in a mad mans hand, rather a meanes to miſchiefe a mans ſelfe than otherwiſe: as we ſee an example in Milo Crotoniates, the ſtrongeſt man of his time, xx- viribus ille cō …ſus perij…, admirandiſque lacertis. Iuvenal. ſat. 10. Legatur Gellius l. 15. c. 16. & Val. Max. l. 9. c. 12. Qui concludit, Nimio robore memb…o…ū …igorem mentis hebeſcere, quaſi abnu…nte natura vtriuſque boni largitionē, ne ſupra mortalem ſit foelicitatē, eundem & valentiſſimum eſſe & ſapientiſſ… mum.who vnwarily aſſaying, on truſt of his ſtrength, to riue a peece of timber with his hands, which ſome others with wedge and beetle could not cleaue, was caught faſt by the fiſts, and ſo deuoured by Wolues. So Riches ioyned with godlineſſe and good Conſcience, are the yyOmnia iſta bon… ſunt, ſed vnde…acias be…e, non quae te faciant bonū. Aug. de temp. 238.good bleſſings of God, a meanes zzDeus b…nadat, vt b…nos faciat. Salvian. de prouid.of good to our ſelues, and of doing good vntounto others: but being ſeuered from godlineſſe and the true feare of God, are rather aaforeign. Euripid. Ple…ſthen. foreign Menand. …opes iritamenta malorum. O…d. Metam. l. 1.occaſion of euill than otherwiſe, rather bbforeign Iſcer ad Demon. foreign Eurip. Phaethon. Magna cognatio vt rei, ſic nomi…s, diuitijs & vitijs. Eucher. ad Valer.an inſtrument of vice, than any furtherance to virtue, a meane to make as our ſinnes the greater here, ſo p. 8our condemnation accordingly the more grieuous hereafter.

So that as the Heathen man ſaith, that ccDamnū non lucrum eſt cum mala fama lucrū. P. Syr.Gaine gotten by loſſe or hazard of a mans good name, is no gaine but loſſe; becauſe a man looſeth therein more then all his gettings can counteruaile: ſince that ddProu. 22. 1. foreign Iſocr. ad Dem…. foreign. Menād.Prov 22:1A good name is (as Salomon ſaith) aboue riches and treaſure; of greater worth than any wealth. So Gaine gotten with the breach or hazard of a good Conſcience, when it is eeLuk. 16. 9.Luke 16:9mammona iniquitatis, the Mammon of iniquitie, or ffIud. 11.Judg 11merces iniquitatis, the wages of wickedneſſe, it is **foreign. titulus ſine re. Chryſost. in Pſal. 111.Ps 111no Gaine, but loſſe indeede: It is, as the Greekes ſay of ggforeign. Heraclit. apud Euſtath. ad Iliad. ….a Bow, Life in name, but Death indeede; ſo Gaine in name, but Loſſe in deede: (hhforeign. Heſiod. … foreign. Chilo. foreign. Peri…d. foreign. Eurip. Cyclope. foreign. Idem Ant…gon. foreign. Me…and. Periculoſum ſemper reputa…i lucrū. Ph…drꝰ fab. 85. Heathen themſelues ſo eſteemed it; not iiNemo habet i…ſ… lucrū ſint iuſte dān…. Aug. de temp. 215. Lucra in…i…ſta putes iuſtis aqu…li… dam…. Dū …tura per… per male parta peris. G. Goodwi…. Luc…ū improbè partūm…rū eſt in…. R… ter….Chriſtian men onelyonly:) Since that a man doth in theſe caſes but, as that Romane Emperor had wont to ſay, kk…s qui mi… c…da nō minime ſectarētur diſcrimine, ſi…iles ai…bat eſſe … …r… piſca…tib…, … nulla c…p…r… penſari poſſet. S…et…n. Auguſto …. 25.fiſh with a golden hooke, and that for a googeon: llforeign. De…tr. Phal…r. apud. Athen. l. 6.he hazardeth more than his whole prey, though he catch it, and mmforeign. Democrit. Turpe lucrum vi…u eſt de…rime…um. Ambr. in Pſal. 118. Plus in ipſa ini…ri… detrimenti eſt, quàm in … rebus …. Ci… …e …ib. l. …. Neque tantum eſt co…d… quia … dip…ſ… ſe p…, quantum … ac…rſat. Ambroſ. offic. l. 3. c. 4. ver… itaque Antipha…s, foreign.Ps 118he may miſſe of his purpoſe therein too, can make amends for it, if it miſcarry, be p. 9that he get and gaine neuer ſo much. And for a man to get and gaine neuer ſo much one way, if by the compaſſing of it he looſe far more an other way, it is in truth no Gaine at all.

For this cauſe as the Apoſtle asketh the Queſtion; nnRom. 6. 21.Rom 6:21Quid profuit? What profit had yee then of thoſe things, whereof you are now aſhamed? nay, ooSi ſecundū merita tibi daret, dā naret te. Aug. in Pſal. 102.Ps 102for which now you ſhould be damned, if you had your deſert; for the end of ſuch things is death: And the damned Spirits demand of themſelues; ppWiſdom. 5. 8.Wis 5:8Quid prodest? What profit hauehave we now of all our profits and pleaſures, that we enioyed in the world, when we are hurled headlong into hell? So our Sauiour himſelfe asketh, qqMatth. 16. 26.Matt 16:26Quid proderit? What will it profit a man to winne the whole world, rrLuk 9. 35.Luke 9:35and deſtroy himſelfe, ſſMark 8. 36, 37.Mark 8:36Mark 8:37or looſe his owne ttIſte omnis huius queſtus ſeculi animarum diſpendium est. Ambroſ. epist. 44. Caue itaque ne dum acquiras pecuniam, perdas animam. Aug. de temp. 215.ſoule? uuNon poteſt vlla compendij cauſa cō ſistere, ſi conſtet animae diſpendium intervenire. vbi ſalutis damnum, illic vtique iam nullum lucrū eſt. quo enim lucrū capiatur, niſi capiendi ſedes inconcuſſa ſeruetur? Eucher. ad Valer. O ſi lucreris totum, quid proderit, orbem, Dum iacturam anima feceri… ipſae tuae. Tale tibi foe… fert lamentabile fun…: Hic que illex quaſtus queſtus & …ſtus erit. Ne perdas perdenda, animam, ſtultiſſime, perdes: Nunc ſanum inſan… ſynciput opto tibi. G. Goodwin.to get all the world beſide himſelfe; but by gaining it to looſe himſelfe: for xxAnimus cuiuſque ipſe est quiſque. Cic. de amicit.eueryevery mans ſoule is eueryevery mans ſelfe: to doe as yyJona. 1. 12.Jonah 1:12Ionas, zzAt contra Ariſtippus in nare piratica agen… cùm aurum in mare proieciſſet, foreign. Laert. Et Crates miſſo in mare, auro, Abite, inquit, peſſum mala cupiditates, mergam vos, ne mergar à nobis. Hieron. in Iovin. l. 2. Pereat mundi lucrum ne fiat anima damnum. Aug. in Pſal. 103. Perde ne pereas. Idem de verb. Dom. ſerm. 35.Ps 103that ſuffred himſelfe to be caſt ouerbord into the ſea, that the ſhip with her lading, when he is loſt, may come ſafe to the ſhore.

On the other ſide, as another ſaith, aaPecuniam in loco negligere, maximum interdum eſt lucrum. Terent. adelph. 2. 2. Non ego omninò lucrum omne eſſe vtile homini exiſtimo: Eſt etiam vbi profecto damnum praeſtet facere, quàm lucrum. Plaut. Capt. 2. 2.For a man handſomely to refuſe money, and forgo gaine, it is no ſmall gaine ſometime. So for a man in ſome caſe to forgo his gaine, to refuſe gold, to neglect his owne p. 10good, though bbQuis niſi mentis in…ps oblatum reſpuat aurum?ſo to do may ſeeme …olly, when Game and Godlineſſe will not agree togither, when ccAug. de tēp. 215.lucrum in arca facit damnum in conſcientia, and ddAmbroſ. in Pſal. 218. ſer. 5.lucrum pecuniae diſpendium …it animae; when profit in a mans purſe would procure a broach in his Conſcience, and the gaine of gold proue the break-neck of his ſoule; **foreign Georg. Pr…id. de vanitat. vita.ſuch refuſall of gaine is the greateſt Gaine that can be. For ſaith an ancient Father well, eeQuan…ūlibe… magna amittere, vt m…iora acquiras, nō eſt damnum ſed negotiatio. Bern. de bon deſ.To let goe, though neuer ſo great a matter, for the compaſsing of a greater, is no looſing bargaine, but a gainefull negotiation. To which purpoſe the Apoſtle Paul hauing related, what a great man he might hauehave bin among his owne People, had he held on in Iudaiſme as he began; he concludeth at length, that he deemed all ffPhilip. 3. 7, 8, 9.Phil 3:7Phil 3:8Phil 3:9that, and all elſe, but as ggforeign.loſſe, and as hhforeign.droſſe and donge; as ſome Grammarians expound the word there vſed, as iiforeign.Dogs-meat, or as others rather, as Dogs-donge, in regard of the aſſurance of Gods ſauour toward him in Chriſt, the hold he had of him, his conformitie with him, and his intereſtk foreign H…ych. foreign. …yolog. foreign. in him.

Secondly, Worldly … may be a… occaſion of euill to vsus from others; God…eſſe …r but of good. Riches, I ſay, proue o…t their owners owne bane, his vtter … and o…row. llEccleſ. 5. 12. Sed pl…r…s … conge… p…n…a …ura …, & cun… ex…p…r…n… pa… …enſus. I…v…n ſat. 10. Quanti e verſi ſunt per …, pr…da forti…ribus facti? Aug in Pſal. …3. foreign. Plut▪ P… …g.Eccl 5:12Ps 3I hauehave ſeene riches, ſaith Salomen, reſerued to the hurt of him that hath them. mmforeign Di…gen…s apud …a…rt. … ▪ ma…ꝰ Do…ꝰ, pr…di…r ſerv…t nemo … habet, niſi qu… ſemper abſcondi…; in …. Aug. de verb. A… 26.They make their owners life oft-time to p. 11be laid for. It was the Heathen mans obſeruation, that Tyrannies deale with their ſubiects and ſeruants, as men are wont to do nnforeign. de Diony…io Diogenes.with bottles, which they let ſtand vnderunder the tap till they be filled, and hang them vp ſo ſoone as they be full: or as ooProcuratorē rapaciſſimum quem que ad officia amplior… ex induſtria pr… movebat, quo lo…upletiores mo… condemn…ret, & pr… ſpongijs v…eretur, quos ſicco… madefacimꝰ, …umen…es exprimimus. de Veſpaſian… Su…on. c. 16. Idem de popule Athen. Ariſtophan. Equitib.with Spunges, which they ſuffer to lye ſoaking, till they hauehave ſucked in ſome good ſtore of water, and then ſquize them out againe. pp1 King. 21. 1, 2. Exitialu erat apud principem hui… laxior dom…, illi am…nior villa. Plin. pa…egyr.1 Kgs 21:11 Kgs 21:2Naboth might well hauehave liued longer, had it not bin for his vineyard: but that was it that ſhortned his dayes, and brought him to an vntimely death. And qqPro…. 1. 19. Acceſſit vt ſauiti… cauſ… auariti… praeberet, & modus culpae ex pecuniae modo conſtitueretur; & qui fuiſſet locuples fieret n…cens, fieret ꝙ quiſque merces mortis ſu…. Velleius hiſt. l. 2. Diviſa percuſſoribus occiſorum bona, v… etiam de ſu… perirent. Senec. ad Mart. …. 20.This, ſaith Salomon, is the courſe of eueryevery one that is greedy of gaine, to come by it, he would take the life away of thoſe that are poſſeſſed of it. rrPirat… navigijs vacuis non inſidiantur, mercibus …nuſta vi omni invadunt. Chryſost. de Ozia ſerm. 3.It is not empty barks, or poore fiſher-boats, but ſhips returning with treaſure, that Pyrates ſeeke to ſurprize. ſſP…ucula ſi portes argenti vaſcula puri, N…c…e i…er ingreſſus, gladium contumꝰ, timebis: Cant…bit vacu… coram latr…ne viator. Juve…. ſat. 10. Si… …im…t inſidi…, qui ſe ſcit ferre viator Quod time at, tutum carpitinanis iter. Ovid. Nuc….It is the fat Graſier, or the rich Clothier, Nudū latro tranſmittit: etiam in obſeſſa via pauperi pax eſt. Sen. de pauper…. ex epiſt. 14.not the poore pedler, or the bare paſſenger, that is in danger of looſing lim and life in his owne defence againſt theeues.

But Godlineſſe is neuer an occaſion of any euill, but of all good to him that hath it. It is ttforeign Tyri… Ma…. …r…t. …. murus aheneu…. Nil conſcire ſibi. Horat. epiſt. 2. lib. 1. Ier. 1. 18.Jer 1:18the ſureſt fort and fence, it is uuEpheſ. 614. foreign, Chryſoft in Epheſ. hō. 24.the firmeſt armour of proofe againſt all euils that may be. For, Who will harme p. 12you, ſaith the **1 Pet. 3. 13. Et in hoc ſeculo quis nocebit nobis plenis charitate? Aug. in 1. Ioan. Tract. 9.1 Pet 3:13Apoſtle, if you follow that that is good? Who will harme you? Nay, **Tu ipſe tibi …i aliquid faciat, malus quid faciat? Aug. homil. …9.Who can harme you? For ſome would it may be, if they could; ſo peruerſely and malitiouſly-minded, that they hate the godly, euen for this cauſe becauſe they be godly, and yyPſal. 38. 20.Ps 38:20becauſe they follow that that is good. But zzRom. 8. 31. Pſal. 27. 1, 2. Ier. 1. 18, 9. Act. 18. 10. foreign S…. tom 2. …. 9.Rom 8:31Ps 27:1Ps 27:2Jer 1:18Jer 1:9Acts 18:10if God be with them, who can be againſt them? who can hurt them? who can harme them? aaS…it… Sim…catus epiſt. 40. foreign.Men may attempt to wrong them, and wrong themſelues while they thinke to wrong them; but them they cannot wrong. Though others may ſeeme to wrong them, yet bbforeign. S…mo…. foreign. Tyr. Max. orat 2. Sio …, foreign.are they not wronged, ccforeign Occidere …, lad…re non poſſ…nt. S…rates a … Epictetum Enchi…id… …. & Tyr. Max. Orat. 2.no not when they are murthred, becauſe they are nouer a whit the worſe for their wrongs. No hurt therefore, ddLuk. 21. 18. Illi de animab… ſuia pertimeſceba…, Chriſtu…tiam … ſ…uritatem ipſi… d…bat. quid … p…reat, cui … Aug. … Pſal. 96. & 109. … ▪Luke 21:18Ps 96not an haires harme can be fall a man for being good, or by being godly; 44Nihil accidere bon… wire … poteſt. S…n… ▪ de provid. c. 2.no euill can accrew vntounto any by it.

No euill can; but much good may; yea all good ſhall. For eeRom. 8. 28.Rom 8:28All things worke togither, and conſpire in one, for the good of the godly, of theſe that louelove God, and ff….whom he loueth. gg… Dr… l. 13. 6. 8.Omnia? What? all things? ſaith an ancient Father, as if he could hardly beleeue it, or made ſome doubt of it: Etiam mala … what? euen euills and afflictions too? Mala …. Yea (ſaith he) euen euills and afflictions; ⁵ bonis bona, malis mala: though euill to the wicked, yet good they p. 13are, yea exceeding good to the godly. For, Audi Apostolum, audi vas electionis; Heare what the Apoſtle ſaith, heare what the elect veſſell of God ſaith: hhforeign. 2. Cor. 4. 18.2 Cor 4:18This light and momentanie affliction, that is but for an inſtant; procureth vntounto vsus, iiforeign.an exceeding exceſsiue eternall weight of glory. He moueth the queſtion the ſecond time, as not fully reſolued: Omnia? what? all things? etiam peccatum? euen ſpirituall euils? euen ſinne it ſelfe too? And he maketh anſwer againe: Etiam peccatum ipſum, tametſi non bonū, tamen in bonum. Yea, euen ſinne it ſelfe, though it be not of it ſelfe good, yet it tendeth to their good, kkVide e…nd. Aug. de corrept. & grat. cap. 9.to the good of all Gods elect. For heare what the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe: ll2 Cor. 12. 7.2 Cor 12:7There was a mmforeign. … in carne. Beza.ſplint left in my fleſh to humble me, that I might not be puft vp with pride. nnNonne cooperatur nobis in bon…m, vnde & humiliores & cautiores efficimur? Bern. in Pſ. 90.Ps 90His infirmities were a meane to make him the more humble; and ooQuant… quis humilior in ſe fuerit, tanto apud Deu… maior erit. Aug. de temp. 213. & Greg. de paſt. p. 2. cap. 6. & mor. l. 18. c. 22.as the more lowly in his owne eyes, ſo the more gracious with God. He asketh yet a third queſtion, as the vpſhot of all: Omnia? etiam mors ipſa? What? all things? euen death it ſelfe, pp1 Cor. 15. 26.1 Cor 15:26the vtmoſt enemie of all? And he anſwereth himſelfe as before, or rather further than before; **Mors bonis b…n; plurimum confort. Aug. ad Bonif. l. 4. c. 4.Etiam mors vel maxime: Yea, death as much as any thing, nay most of all. For ſo ſaith the ſame Apoſtle againe; qqPhilip. 1. 21. foreign Quod … prim… exp… fur…e Ad…ur. A… ray in Philip. …ct. 17.Phil 1:21Chriſtus mihi vita, & mors lucrum; as he readeth the words; Chriſt is my life, and Death is my gaine. That rrPro…. 11. 7.which is the greateſt loſſe that can be to the worldly man; is ssPhilip. …2. 3.Phil 2:3the greateſt matter of gaine that can be to the godly.

Thirdly, Wordly wealth abideth with vsus but for a ſhort time: whereas Godlineſſe and p. 14ttIllud ſolum eſt lucrum, vbi fructus perpetu…s, vbi merc…s…st … …na. An… … …eſt …, … quod habet ſecum … poteſt. quod enim hic … noſt…m, ſed ali…num eſt. …. epiſt. 9.the Gaine of it will ſticke by vsus, & ſtay with vsus for euer. This worlds wealth, I ſay, can laſt but a while with vsus, & muſt needs therfore leaue vsus after a while. uuNon ſunt … diui…i… … … poſſiden… deſerunt, … poſſident… deſeruntur. …. in Eccloſ. ….Either it will leaue vsus, …r we must leaue it: xxFinā … iſta … ſuum. Bern, de b…, deſer. Habebūt ſuū, non tuum, finē. Sen. …atur qu…ſt. l. 3.either it will hauehave an end of vsus, …r we an end of it. yy1 Tim. 6. 17. foreign Ch…yſoſt. to…. …. ſer. 19.1 Tim 6:17Riches are vncertaine: zzforeign. Ibid. ſerm. 18. foreign Ihid. 19.there is no hold of them: they are ſlippry ware; aaPro…: …. 24. foreign Ch…yſoft. ſ…rm. 18.the faſter we gripe them, the ſooner they ſlip oft out of our hands; bbforeign. Ibid.they are fugitiue ſeruants, ready to runne away from their maſter, whom they leaue many times, by their meanes, depriued, not of liuing onelyonly, but of life too: ccPro. 23. 6.Prov 23:6they take them wings, ſaith Salomon, like an Eagle that flieth vp into the ayre, & get them a way from vsus far out of our reach, and beyond all hope o…re…oueri.

But though they hauehave al as aquilinas, great Eagles wings to flie from vsus withall while we are here; yet hauehave they ne paſſerin as quidem, not ſo much as litle ſ…r…wes wings to flie after vsus, and follow … when we go hence. dd… ▪ Tim. 6. 7. Nihil … & ibi…. 41.As when we came into the world▪ we brought them not with vsus; ſo when we goe out of the world againe, we cannot beare them away, but eeCede… … …, & dom…, Villaque; -Cedes: & …tructis in altum Divit…s … … res. H…rat carm. …. 3. … …, …, & …, & …, quas c…lis, …. Ibid. 14. … ad ….muſt leaue them behind vsus. ff… ▪. 16, 17. …Admire not the p. 15man that is riſen ſodninely to great riches and honour, ſaith the Pſalmiſt. No? why, who would not admire one that liueth in ſuch ſtate and pomp as ggNihil eſt inſolentius noviti diuite. Sen. lib. 2. controv. 1.ſuch are vſually wont to do? **Vides viu…ntem: c…gita mori…tem. quid hic habeat, a… tendis: quid ſecum tollat, ar…ēd…. Aug. & Ruffin. in Pſ 48Ps 48Yea but, when he dieth, he ſhall carrie none of that his wealth away with him; nor ſhall his pompe and ſtate deſcend with his corps. hhEccl…ſ. 5. 14, 15.As he came naked, ſo ſhall he go naked againe, and leaue all that by his care and induſirie he had raked togither and heaped vp, behind him; and in all reſpects goe euen as he came.

It is with vsus in this world, as it was in the Iewiſh fields and vineyards; iiDeut. 23. 24, 25.Deut 23:24Deut 23:25plucke and eat they might what they would, while they were there, but they might not pocket or put vp ought to carry away with them: Or kkMund' iſte gardinus eſt, nos p…ri, mors ia…t …. &. Gvil. Pariſ. ſumma de vi…ijs, & Al…o…. Carpent. deſtruct. vit: p. 4. …. ….as with boyes, that hauing gotten by ſtealth into an Orchard, ſtuffe their ſleeues and their pockets full with apples and peares, well hoping to get out with them, but when they come to the dore, they finde one there that ſearcheth them, and taketh all their fruit away from them, and ſo ſendeth them away with no more than they brought in: Or llGuil. Pariſ. & Alex. Carp. ibid.as poore men, that invited to a rich mans bord, hauehave the vſe of his plate to drink… in, and ſiluer ſpoones to eat with while they are there; but if any of them preſume to put vp a peece of plate or a ſpoone, there is ſearch made by the Porter, ere they are let out, for what is miſſ…ng among them, and ſo are they turned out againe as they came in: In like manner is it with vsus in regard of theſe temporall bleſſings; we hauehave free libertie to vſe them as we will while we are here; but when we are to goe hence, mmMors mund… … ſor; qui oues elus in … …, & a…conſas … mū dam …. Iacob. …e…, do…n. 2. poſt Pa…th. ſerm. 1. …ors … eſt, qui … o… … … …. …. …. mort. tract. 1. …. 6, … … tos. Chryſoſt. in Pſat. 4….there is one waiting on vsus, p. 16that will be ſure to ſtrip vsus, and ſuffer nothing to paſſe with vsus, vnleſſe it be ſome ſory ſheete, or a ſeare rag to rot with vsus, nnNon magis h…c ad defunctum pertinent hominem, quàm ſecundae ad editum infantem. Sen. epiſt 92. Iſtud non ſentienti ſupervacuum eſt, ſentienti onus. Nō defunctorū cauſa, ſed vivorum, inventa eſt ſepultura, vt corpora viſu & odore foed… amorerentur. Idem de remed. fortuit. Exhibentur iſta nō ſentienti: tanquā or…atꝰ dormie…ti, qui in pannis eſſe ſ… ſomniat. Aug. in Pſal. 48. Sed & vnguentum accipis diues, poſtquā mortuus es, & foetidus es. Perdis alienam gratiam, nec acquiris tuam. Ambr. de Nabuth. c. 1.Ps 48that which yet we ſhall hauehave no ſenſe of, nor be any whit at all the better for, than if we were wholy without it.

But Godlineſſe, and the gaine of it, will abide by vsus for euer. ooSicut charitas 1. Cor. 13. 8. ſic pi…t… non excidit. Ier. 32. 40. Pſal. 85. 8. H… ſunt vere diviti…, quas cum habuerimus, …dere non … ▪ Aug, de verb …. 76.1 Cor 13:8Jer 32:40Ps 85:8It is a grace that we cannot looſe or fall from; ppforeign Pl…t. d…thi…. virt. foreign. Pl…t. de p…dag. foreign. … poteſt vnquam: …, … que … nec, …. 6.a benefit that we cannot be abridged or bereaued of by any. As qqJo…. 1. …. Heb. 13. 5.Heb 13:5God will neuer forſake thee; ſo Godlineſſe will neuer leaue thee, if thou beeſt once ſoundly and ſincerely religious. rr… ad …, ad …. Viſe Cicer. T…ſ. … 5.It will goe vp with thee to the wheele, it will goe downe with thee to the rack: it will keepe with thee while thou liueſt; ſſApoc. 14. 13.Rev 14:13it will away with thee when thou dieſt. For ttProv. 11. 7. Iob. …7. 8. ….Prov 11:7Job 7:8when the worldly man dieth, his hope dieth with him; uuProv. 14. 32. Iob. 13. 15, 16. … ▪Prov 14:32Job 13:15Job 13:16but the godly hath hope euen in death. And … ▪the Feare of God, that is Godlineſſe, and yy….the righteouſneſſe of it, in zz…. 19. … ▪the reward of it, that is the gaine that commeth by it, endureth for euer, and extendeth it ſelfe to all eternitie, laſting not onelyonly paſt this liues end, but paſt the whole worlds end, with which all worldly wealth and gaine; muſt needes hauehave an end.

This world is compared to a Fiſhing; the aa… 1…. …7.end of it, to the drawing vp of the nets: while the nets are downe, there is nothing ſaid to be caught; for p. 17the nets may breake, and the Fiſh eſcape. But at the end of the world, when the nets are drawne vp, it will then euidently appeare what each man hath caught. And then thoſe that hauehave fiſhed here for riches and gaine, may ſay with Peter, bbLuk. 5. 7.Luke 5:7Domine, tota hac nocte laboravimus, & nihil cepimus: Lord, all this night hauehave we laboured, and caught nothing at all. For ccPraeſentia amantes praeſentibus indormiunt, theſaur…s ſomniant, tantiſper divites, quamdiu non vigilent: vbi transijt delectabilis ſ…mnus iſte, nihil in manibus ſuis inv… niunt. Aug in Pſ. 76. 5.Ps 76:5the worldly rich, when they awake out of their preſent ſleepe, wherein they dreame of gold and gaine, ſhall finde nothing in their hands. But thoſe that hauehave here fiſhed for Godlineſſe, may ſay, as ddLuk. 5. 7, 8.Luke 5:7Luke 5:8he might afterward hauehave ſaid; Domine, in verbo tuo retia demiſimꝰ, & cepimus: Lord, at thy word, hauehave we let downe our nets, and hauehave caught, yea we hauehave caught abundantly: we hauehave fiſhed for Godlineſſe, and hauehave gotten Life eternall. For eeRom. 2. 7.Rom 2:7VntoUnto thoſe that by patience and perſeuerance in well doing hauehave ſought for glory and honour and immortalitie, will the Lord giuegive eternall life in that day.

But let vsus ſift out, and ſee ſomewhat more particularly, wherein this ſpirituall Gaine conſiſteth.

Firſt then, the ſpeciall Wealth in this World, is that which commeth by Inheritance. ffProv. 19. 14.Prov 19:14Riches and poſſeſsions, land and liuing, ſaith Salomon, come from a mans aunceſtors. And among thoſe things that may make a man happy, the Heathen man putteth this in the firſt place, as the chiefe, ggRes non parta labore, ſed relicta. Martial. l. 10. epig. 47.Wealth and goods, not earned with ones hands, but left a man by his friends.

But as hhVirtus nō eſt h… redit…ia▪ ſed nec pieta…. Philoſophia non eſt res benefici…ia. Senec. ep. 90.Virtue, ſo Pietie is not haereditarie. The one commeth not by kinde; neither is the other left by will: It is a greater legacie, than the mightieſt Monarch that is, can bequeath to his heire. p. 18For iiPſal. 16. 5.Ps 16:5God himſelfe is the inheritance of thoſe that hauehave it.

kkPſal. 111. 5.Ps 111:5God (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) hath giuen a portion to them that feare him. If a Rich man giuegive one a Childes part, it is like to be a matter of ſome worth: Much more then if God giuegive a man a Childes part. But more then that, llPſal. 142 5.Ps 142:5he himſelfe is the portion that he giueth vntounto his. mmPſal. 119 57.Ps 119:57Portio mea ipſe es, Domine; ſaith Dauid; O Lord, thou art my portion. And, nnQui dedit me mihi, d dit & ſe mihi. …rn in Pſal. 90.Ps 90He that beſtowed my ſelfe vponupon me, hath beſtowed himſelf alſo vponupon me, ſaith Bernard. And if ooDeut. 10. 9. & 18. 2.Deut 10:9Deut 18:2the Levites neede hauehave no inheritance among their brethren, becauſe God is their portion; (it is ſufficient, they hauehave him, that is, ppforeign G neſ. 17. ….El ſhaddai, God all ſufficient;) and yet that was but in a temporall manner: Much more then is the godly man wealthy enough, though he hauehave nothing in the world, though he hauehave no part among worldly men; ſeeing God is his portion in a ſpirituall manner, in a much better ſort. He whoſe portion God is, cannot be poore.

We vſe to ſay, that, He cannot lightly want money, that is Maſter of the Mint: and he can neuer be poore, qqQui foreign, vt eſt in Prouerbio; &, cum Plauti Miſite, Auri mon…es, nō maſſas, habet.that hath a well-ſpring of wealth. rrPſal. 34. 9. & 84. 11. Beatꝰ home, cuius eſt Dominus ſpes eius, cui nihil deficit, quia Chriſtꝰ ei ſufficit. Petrus Bleſ. epiſt. 102 Quantumlibet ſis auarus, ſufficit tibi Deus. Etenim vult avaritia terrā poſſidere totam, adde & coelum; plus eſt qui fecit terram & coelum. Aug, in Pſ. 55. Deum habens, omnia habes. Aug. de temp. 146. Quid tibi ſufficit, ſi Deus non ſufficit. Idem ad fratr. in crum. 51. 2 Cor. 6. 10.Ps 34:9Ps 84:11Ps 552 Cor 6:10Much leſſe then can that man want ought that is good, who is poſſeſſed of God himſelfe, ſſIam. 1. 17. Omne enim bonū aut ipſe est, aut ab ipſe. Aug. de doct. Cor. l. 1. c. 31. …6. 11. 36.Jas 1:17the fountaine of all good. In regard whereof, Dauid hauing prayed for many temporall bleſſings in the behalfe of his people, ttPſ. 144. 12, 13, 14.Ps 144:12Ps 144:13Ps 144:14that their Sonnes might be …all and hardie like goodly yong Cedars; and their Daughters faire and comely, like the curious caruings about the Temple; their Oxen ſtrong to labour, and their ſheepe fertile and fruitfull; that there might … nor foraine invaſion: p. 19at length he windeth vp all indeed with this Epiphonema or Concluſion, uuPſal. 144 15.Ps 144:15Bleſſed be the people that are in ſuch a caſe: but on the neck of it he commeth as with an Epanorthoma, or a Correction of his former ſpeech, Yea rather bleſſed are the people that hauehave Iehova for their God; that hauehave the Lord for their portion: This one bleſſing alone is better worth than all thoſe. So that as when the woman in the Goſpell cryed out to Chriſt, xxLuk. 11 27.Luke 11:27Bleſſed is the wombe that bare thee, and the paps that gaue thee ſuck: Our Sauiour, as correcting her ſpeech, (and yet yyLuk. 1. 48.Luke 1:48true alſo that was) ſaith, zzLuk. 11. 28. Beatier Maria percipiendo fidē Chriſti, quàm concipiendo car…em Chriſti. Luk. 1. 45. Inde foelix quia verbum Dei cuſtodivit. Luc. 2. 19. non quia in illa verbum caro factū eſt & habitauit in nobis; ſed quia cuſtodiuit Dei verbū, per quod facta est, & quod in illo caro factum eſt. Aug. in Joan tract. 10.Luke 11:28Luke 1:45Luke 2:19Bleſſed are thoſe rather that heare Gods word and keep it. So the Pſalmiſt haning pronounced them bleſſed that be in ſuch a caſe, as eating in and revoking his words againe, as if he had ſpoken otherwiſe than well, Yea bleſſed (ſaith he) are they rather whoſe God is the Lord: As if he had ſaid, That is indeed an happineſſe in ſome kinde, in ſome caſe: but yet that happineſſe is nothing to this bleſſedneſſe: for that is but externall, this is internall; that is but temporall, this is eternall.

Secondly, the greateſt wealth in this world is of a Kingdome: and therefore ſaid he ſometime in the prophane Tragedie, that aaforeign. Eteocles apud Eurip. Phoeniſſ. Nam ſi violandum eſt ius, regnandi gratia violandum eſt: alijs rebus pietatem …olas. Cic. offic. l. …. Nulla ſancta ſocietas, nec fides regni eſt. Enniꝰ apud eund l. 1. Nulla fides regni ſocijs. Lucan. l. 1.If a man might breake his word for ought, it ſhould be to atchieue a Crowne, to compaſſe a Kingdome. Yea not to be a King onelyonly, but to belong to a King in ſome place neere about him, is eſteemed a matter of great worth and dignitie, and ſuch as may proue a meane of much wealth and commoditie to one that can wiſely make vſe of it. cc1 King. 10. 8.1 Kgs 10:8They were held happy men that could get into Salomons ſeruice. And it is the greateſt matter that p. 20ddProu. 22. 29.Prov 22:29S…l…mon could promiſe the man that is diligent and induſtrious in the managing of his affaires, that he ſhall ſtand before, eeSic … Reg. 17. …. & Dan. 7. 10.Dan 7:10that is, attend vponupon Princes, and not ſerue or waite vponupon any meane man.

If it be held ſuch a matter then to retaine and belong to ſome one of the Princes of this world: **De… ſeruire regnare eſt. B…rn. de temp. 110. Nō maligno aut mundano princ…p…, …d Chriſt… vtique ſeruire regnare eſt. Idem, de bon. deſer.What is it to appertaine and belong to GOD, ffApoc. 19. 16. 1 Tim 6. 15.Rev 19:161 Tim 6:15the King of Kings, and ggApoc. 1. 5.Rev 1:5the Prince of Princes, hhPſal. 83. 18.Ps 83:18the highest Soueraigne iiLuk. 10. 21.Luke 10:21Lord of Heauen and Earth; kkDeponit reges, diſpouit regna Dan. 2. 37. & 4. 22.Dan 2:37Dan 4:22that depoſeth Kings and diſpoſeth of their Kingdoms at his pleaſure; that aſſign…th eueryevery earthly King the liſts and limits both of his regiment and of his reigne? That which the Apoſtle Paul therefore prefixeth as no ſmall credit before ſundry of his Epiſtles; and King Dauid as a great grace before ſome of his Pſalmes: llRom. 1. 1. Philip. 1. 1. Tit. … 1.Rom 1:1Phil 1:1Titus 1Paul a ſeruant of Ieſus Chriſt: and, mmPſal. 36. 1.Ps 36:1A Pſalme of Dauid the ſeruant of God: as if it were nnSanctitate maior quàm p…ſtate. Salnian, de prouid. l. 2. Quomodo de M. Ant…n…no Pe…rare. fam ep. 15 l. 7. Imperium adep…ꝰ philoſophi nomen ro…inuit, maiu… …ſtimās philoſoph… eſſe quā principem. Et de Theod…ſio Aug. de ciuit. l. 5. c. 28. Eccleſi… Dei ſe membrū eſſe magis quā regnare gaudebat.a greater dignitie to him, that he was Gods ſeruant, then that he was ruler and gouernor of Gods people.

But becauſe ooJoh 8. 35.John 8:35the Seruant is oft-times turned out at dores, whereas the Sonne abideth in the houſe for euer: And therefore the Father telleth his Sonne in the Goſpell; ppLuk. 15. 31.Luke 15:31Sonne, thou art euer with me: and all that I hauehave is reſerued for thee. The godly man is not onelyonly Seruant to a King, but he is qq1 Pet. 2. 9.1 Pet 2:9Sonne to ſuch a King, and rrLuk. 12. 3….Luke 12:3borne, or rather ſſIoh. 3. 3, 5.John 3:3John 3:5new-borne, to a Kingdome.

And whereas earthly Kings, if they hauehave many Sonnes, can leaue the Crowne but to one. tt… Chron. 21. 3.Iehoſaphat (faith the Holy Hiſtorie) gaue great gifts to his other Sonnes, but the Kingdome gaue he to …oram; becauſe he was the eldeſt God … uuApoc. 1. 6. & 10. 6.Rev 1:6Rev 10:6all his Sonnes p. 21Kings and xxApoc. 21. 7.Rev 21:7Heires alike. For yyRom. 8. 17.Rom 8:17if we be Sonnes, ſaith the Apoſtle, we are Heires too; euen coheires with Chriſt, zzHebr. 1. 2.Heb 1:2who is Heire of all.

But how can the Godly be ſo rich may ſome ſay, when he hath, as it may fall out, not a penny in his purſe?

Thirdly therefore: A man may truly be ſaid to be Rich in writing; the monied man, though he hauehave neuer a penny in the houſe, but aaHinc illud Pallade: foreign Et Po…iani illud; foreign apud Stob. tō. 2. c. 10all ou… at intereſt; and the landed-man, though he hold not his lands in his owne hands, but hauehave all let out and in the occupation of others, ſo long as he hath good ſecuritie for the one, and good euidence, if neede be, to ſhew, for the other. And as in Writing, ſo in Reuerſion. Great ſummes of money do many giuegive for the reverſions of offices, of lands and leaſes; and as much may they make them againe away for, if they will.

And in like manner may the Godly man be ſaid to be rich both in Writing, and in Reuerſion: yea in either kinde he is bbAffatim diues. eſt, qui cum Chriſto pauper eſt. Hieron. ad Heliodor. Diues pax, piet as, fides: fideli enim totus mundꝰ poſſeſſio eſt, Ambr. ep. 10. Quibus l…cis circumſcribitur, cui totꝰ mundus diuitiarū poſſeſſio eſt? Idem offic. l. …. c. 1.the richeſt man in the world. For he hath all in the world, yea ccforeign. Antiſtbenes & Zeno apud Laert. Vnꝰ eſt ſapiens, cuius omnia ſunt. Senec. de benef. l. 7. c. 3. Fideli l… mi…i totus mundus diuit… arū eſt: totus planè; quia tam aduerſ… quam preſper a … …què oīa ſeruiunt ei, & cooperantur in bonum. Bern… Cant. ſer. 21.all this world, and the next world confirmed and aſſured vntounto him by the word and promiſe of God, yea by his deede and bond vnderunder his owne hand and ſeale, who cannot goe from his word, or diſclaime his hand ddTit. 1. 1.Titus 1:1to lye, or ee2 Tim. 2. 13.2 Tim 2:13to denie himſelfe; though it be much of it in other mens hands yet for a while. For ff1 Tim. 4. 8.1 Tim 4:8Pietie or Godlineſſe hath the promiſes both of this life, and of the life to come, ſaith our Apoſtle. And againe; gg1 Cor 3. 22, 23.1 Cor 3:221 Cor 3:23Be it Paul or Apollos, or things preſent, or future, or this p. 22world; hhforeign. Diogeues apud Laert. foreign. Clem. Al. protrept. Oīa Chriſto tradita. Math. 11. 27. ten… eum per quem facta ſunt omnia, & cum ipſo omnia poſſidebis. Rom. 8. 23. a…are, ecce habes omnia. Omnia qu… …mas, vt non impendiaris à Chriſto, contemne, & ipſum tene in qu… p…ſſis omnia poſſidere. Aug. hom. 34. Viſe in Pſal 48.Matt 11:27Rom 8:23Ps 48all is yours, and you Chriſts, and Chriſt Gods. All the wealth both of this world, and of the world to come is theirs, (as iiforeign. 2. Cor. 6. 10. Auarus terrena eſ…rit, vt mendicu…; fidelis contem…t, vt dominus: ille poſſidendo mendicat, ille contemnend… poſſidet. Bern. in Cant. 21. Commune eſt omnibus Chriſti fratribus, quod de ſe Chriſtus dixit, Ioan. 1…. 32. quod ſi ita est; non putent diuites …uius ſeculi fratres Chriſti ſola poſſidere coel…ſti…; poſſident & terrena; & quidem tanqu…m nihil habentes, ſed omnia poſſidentes, non mendicantes vt miſeri, ſed vt Domini poſſidentes; …o pro cer…o magis Domini, quo minus cupidi. Bern. in Cant. 21. An non omnia poſſidet, cui omnia cooperantur in bon…? Idem be b…n. deſer.2 Cor 6:10John 1:32hauing nothing, ſaith the Apoſtle, and yet poſſeſsing all things) though it be kkRom. 8. 28. Solertir attende, quod non ad libitum famulari, ſed cooperari dicit ad bonum, neque enim ad voluntatem ſeruiunt, ſed ad vtilitatem, non ad voluptatem, ſed ad ſalutem, non ad votum, ſed ad ad commodū noſtrum. Idem de diuerſ. 1.Rom 8:28for their good alſo, with-held from them for a while.

llFidelis homini… totus mundus diuitiarum eſt: infidelis autem nec …b…lu…. Aug. Epiſt. 54. foreign. Pindarus apud Clement. padag. lib. 3. cap. 12.The wicked in right hauehave iuſt nothing, hauing made forfeiture of all, mmforeign. Dion. Chryſ. orat. 65.though it pleaſe God nnMat. 5. 45. Luk. 5. 35. Act. 14. 17.Matt 5:45Luke 5:35Acts 14:17not to take euer the aduantage of it inſtantly, & ooLegatur Fr. à Victoria relect. 5. § 1. n. 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.where he doth not, man may not. They are but ppHoc cert… alien… non eſt quod iure poſſidetur; hoc autem …ure, quod iuſte; & hoc iuſte, quod bene. Omne igitur quod malè poſſidetur, alie…m eſt, malè autem poſſidet, qu… malè vti…r. Aug. epiſt. 54. Re… quemque terrena rect… à quoquam poſſideri n… poteſt, niſi vel iure di…i…, quo c…cta i…ſterum ſunt, vel iure …, quod in poteſtate reg… eſt. Idem epiſt. 48.intruders vponupon and vſurpers of Gods goods, and ſhall one day anſwer for their vſurpation and abuſe of them: or qqGen. 39. 5. Exod. 12. 8. Act. 27. …4. M…l… …l… … D…; … … …a …: …tingunt … etiam malis, quia ſepar…ri non poterant. ſatiꝰ est autem prodeſſe etiam malis propter bones, quam bonis deeſſe propter malis. Sen… … benef. l. 4. …. 28.Gen 39:5Exod 12:8Acts 27:4entercommoners by ſufferance with Gods children and ſeruants, whom he principally intendeth p. 23them vntounto: or rrGen. 30 27, 30, 43. & 3…. 9, 16. Iſai. 45 2, 3, 4, 26, 28. Iob 27. 16, 17. Prou. 13. 22. Dei diſpe…ſator…s; non ſibi, ſed alijs diuites. quod de bonis Hi…rō ad Pelag. l 1.Gen 30:27Gen 30:30Gen 30:43Gen 3:9Gen 3:16Isa 45:2Isa 45:3Isa 45:4Isa 45:26Isa 45:28Job 27:16Job 27:17Prov 13:22Stewards and Treaſurers, as ofttimes, for the good of the Godly.

And for Reverſion; to omit what he hath in preſent poſſeſſion, beſides 111 Cor. 1. 5, 7.1 Cor 1:51 Cor 1:7ſpirituall riches, of worldly wealth, as much 22Math 6. 32, 33.Matt 6:32Matt 6:33as he hath neede of, & as much 33Pſal. 84. 12.Ps 84:12as it is good for him to hauehave: EueryEvery Godly man, as he is 44Iam 2. 5.Jas 2:5Rich in faith, ſo he is far richer by Faith. For 55Heb. 14. 1, 7. Iam 2. 5.Jas 2:5by it he holdeth and hath right to the reverſion of ſuch 661 Petr. 1. 4, 5.an euerlaſting inheritance, reſerued for him in the Heauens, as cannot be purchaſed with all the wealth of this world; and as goeth in worth farther beyond all the wealth of this world, than the pureſt gold doth the droſſieſt durt.

And thus hauehave we ſeene, both that Godlineſſe is gainefull; and wherein the Gaine thereof doth conſiſtſt.

Now the Vſe hereof is two-fold, for Exhortation, for Examination.

For Exhortation firſt; to ſtirre vp all men to labour and take paines to get Godlineſſe. ſſforeign.—Sophoc. Creuſa. foreign. Theogn. g…ō. foreign. Eurip. foreign. A…tiphanes. foreign. Demoſth Olynth. Totus populus in aliam diſcors, in hoc convedit: … ſuſpic… unt, hoc ſuis op…ant. Senec. epiſt. 115. quem viſe ſi….All men gape after Gaine. It is almoſt eueryevery ones ſong, that the Pſalmiſt hath; ttPſal 4 6. foreign. Theocr. idy…. 16. Prima fere vota, & cunct is notiſſima templis: Diuitiae vt …reſcant, vt opes. Iuve…al ſat. 10. Lucri bonus eſt odor ex re Qualibet illa tuo ſententia ſemper in ore Verſe…ur, Dijs at que ipſe love digna, poetae. Hoc monſtrant pueri… vetulae poſcentibus aſſem, Hoc diſcunt omnis ante alpha & beta puellae. Vnde habeas quaerit nemo, ſed oportet habere. Iuven. ſat. 14.Ps 4:6Quis oſtendet nobis boni aliquid? Who will tell vsus of any matter of gaine and commoditie? uuAudi…, … Adam, … rum & ambit…oſum genus. Bern. de tempor. 4.Hearken, ſaith one well, yee ſonnes of Adam, a couetous race, an ambitious brood: Here is Honor, and true Honor; here is Gaine, and true Gaine: ſuch as p. 24the xxPecuniam vt t… haberes, alius ante perdiderat. Sen. de remed. fort Bonum est, quod vt ad …e tranſeat, alius dare debet, alijs ami…tere? Idē queſt. nat. l. 3. pr…fat. Lu…rum ſine damno alterius haber… non potest. P. Syrius.world cannot ſhew the like; yySic ab omnibus capitur, vt nil ſingulis minuatur Ber. in Cant. 79.Gaine without any loſſe to, or hindrance of any: here is good Gaine, and great Gaine; here is infinite gettings. Labour for Godlineſſe; labour to get and keepe a good Conſcience: It is the gainfull'ſt Trade in the world. Who ſo followeth this Trade, ſhall not venture vponupon vncertainties, he ſhall be ſure to thriue, and to get infinite Gaine. For, zzProu 21. 21.Prov 21:21He that followeth after righteouſneſſe, as a man followeth a trade, ſhall finde Honour, and Life, true Honour, and eternall Life.

And here come there two ſorts of men to be admoniſhed.

Firſt, the Rich, that they content not themſelues with their worldly wealth, but that they ſeeke withall to get the true ſpirituall Riches, that aaAnimus hominis dives, non area appellari ſolet quamai… illa ſit plena dū te inanem videbo divitē non pu…abo. Cic. parad. 6. Ex anim… rem ſtare … quam puto, …ō animam exre. Auſon.themſelues may be rich, and not their purſe or their cheſt only; that they may not be bbLuk. 12. 21. Eſt…te Deo divites, nō …m facturi di…item, ſed de …o futuri divite…. Aug. de verb. Dom. 6.Luke 12:21rich to the world onelyonly, but rich alſo to God. Elſe their earthly Gaine will proue their loſſe; their worldly wealth will be but a meanes to hinder their happines by keeping them out of Heauen, where alone is true and entire happineſſe to be had. It is that which our Sauiour himſelfe ſaith of the worldly. Rich man, that hath nothing to truſt vntounto but his riches: (for ſo to his Apoſtles ccMark. 10. 24.Mark 10:24he expoundeth it himſelfe:) that ddMath. 10. 24. Mark. 10. 25. Luk. 18. 25.Matt 10:24Mark 10:25Luke 18:25It is eaſier for ^e a Camell; or, as ſome read the word, ffforeign Suid, Viſe …, & ….a cable rope, to paſſe through the eye of a Needle, than for ſuch a rich man to enter into the kingdome of Heaven. As if our Sauiour ſhould hauehave ſaid; It is as eaſie a matter, nay an eaſier, to thred a ſmall Spaniſh Needle with a thicke Cable, or a great Cart-rope, then to p. 25get ſuch a Rich man in at heauen gate: ggIn…pta enī ſunt, quae ex Lyra… Autor Dialogi inter Divitē & Pauperem, de portagarrit Hieroſ…lymitana, cui Acꝰ nomen, per quā Cameli, …iſi ſ…cinis prius depoſitis introire …eutiquam poſſent.That great bunched beaſt, a Camell, may as ſoone, yea ſooner be driuen through an needles narrow eye, than ſuch a rich man be drawne vntounto God, and be brought into the ſtate of Grace. For ſo the moſt and the beſt reade it; and it is an ordinarie by word both with Syrians & Greeks, when they ſpeake of a thing that they thinke altogither impoſſible, to ſay, hhforeign Caſaubou. in notis ad N…Teſt.An Elephant, or a Camell may as ſoone creepe through an Needles eye, as this or that come to paſſe. But not ſo ſoone, ſaith our Sauiour, but iiDifficilem dixerat, impoſſibilē iam di…cit. Hieron. in Math. 3. i…ò impoſſibili magis impoſſibilem. Euthym. in Math. c. 41.Matt 3ſooner may that be done, which kkMath. 19. 26. Mark. 10. 2….Matt 19:26Mark 10:2with man is altogither impoſſible, than ſuch worldly rich men attaine to true happineſſe. ll2 Cor. 8. 9. Diuilia illius quid nobis facturae, cuius paupertas no… divites fecit? Aug. de verb. Apoſt. 15.2 Cor 8:9Christ (ſaith the Apoſtle) became poore, to make vsus Rich. mmQuomodo pauper factus eſt? quomodo divites facit? Aug. de temp. ….How became he poore? ſaith one of the Ancients: … how maketh he vsus rich? The ſame Apoſtle (ſaith … ſheweth vsus, and expoundeth himſelfe, where he ſaith; nn2 Cor. ….He that knew no ſinne, for our ſake became ſinne, by taking vponupon him the guilt of our ſinne, that we might become the ooPuto quod Chriſti paupertas non pecuniam nobis attulit, ſed iuſtitiam & immortalitarē. Aug. ibid.Righteouſnes of God in him. And indeed, to ſpeake properly and preciſely, as the truth is, **foreign. Chryſoſt. tom. 6. ſerm. 78. de poenit. 2.not as the world, but as God reckneth, ppMai…r & miſerabilior egeſtas nulla eſt, quàm egere ſapientia, & qui ſapientia non eget, nulla re omni…ò egore poteſt. ſtultitia ergò egeſt at eſt. Aug. de beata vita diſput. 3. Paupertas in animo eſt, non in ſacoulo. Idem in Pſal. 131. Paupertas in inopia mentis eſt, non in quantitate poſſeſſionis. Greg in Ezech. l. 2. hom. 18.Ps 131the onelyonly pouertie is Sinfulneſſe, and qqIn animo diuitia ſunt, non inpatrimonio. Sen. ep. 108. Pa…u…ne divitia ipſa innocentia? ſi arcam plemā auro habueris, diues eris: ſi cor habueris plenum innocentia, pauper er…? Aug. in Pſal. 83.Ps 83Righteouſneſſe the right Riches. And the rich man therefore that hath p. 26not a religious heart, is but like rrApoc. 3. 17.Rev 3:17proud Laodicea, ſſQuid tibi proſunt exteriores diuitia, ſi te interior premit egeſtas? Aug. in Pſal 52. Tanto enī verius, quanto interiꝰ indigentes ſum…. Greg. M. mor. l. 21. c. 14.Ps 52a poore beggarly wretch in Gods ſight, and in the ſight of thoſe that ſee ſo as he ſeeth, howſoeuer he may ſeeme rich and glorious in worldly mens eyes.

Yea to him that hath it too, that is both rich and religious, may we well ſay, as our Sauiour did to his Diſciples, when they vaunted at their returne from preaching the Goſpell, that euen the Diuels were ſubdued vntounto them; ttLuk. 10. 20.Luke 10:20Reioyce yee not herein, that the Diuels are ſubdued vnderunder you: ſo were they vnderunder Iudas too; but herein reioyce, that you hauehave your names entred in heauen. So **Viſe ſupra quod de Theodoſio Aug. deciuit. Dei l. 5. c. 22.reioyce not herein that thou art rich to the world, or that thou art great in the world, and haſt others vnderunder thee, and at thy command; that thou art clad gorgeouſly, and fareſt deliciouſly; (for uuLuk. 16. 19.Luke 16:19ſo did that reprobate Rich man in the Goſpell:) but herein reioyce that thou art rich vntounto God, and xx1 Pet. 3. 4. Verè diues, qui in Dei conſp…ctu poteſt diues videri. Ambr. epiſt. 10. ſed ſolum illum divitem D…us novit, qui ſit diues aternitati. Ibid.1 Pet 3:4in his ſight, that thou feareſt and ſerueſt God, and yy2 Cor. 1 12.2 Cor 1:12laboureſt to keepe a good conſcience, that thou art a zz1 Pet. 4. 10.1 Pet 4:10carefull diſpenſer and faithfull diſpoſer of that treaſure that God hath entruſted thee withall. Then thou art 555 Paulo ſap…e is omnis liber, 1 Cor. 7. 22. Peire etiam diues eſt. 1. Pet. 3. 4. Ambroſ. epiſt. 10 foreign Plato Ph…done. S lu… ſapient diues eſt Ci… parad. 6. & apud Apul de philoſ. foreign. &c. Philo de Nee. Qui pre…loſiſſi…a qu… ſunt poſſidet, is diues est. …iqui pretioſiſſi… res virtus eſt: hanc ergò cùm ſapions ſolus poſſideat; ſapions ſolus diues eſt. Empir adv. Mathem.1 Cor 7:221 Pet 3:4truely Rich, when thou art ſincerely religious, when thou art truly righteous.

Secondly, the poore, they are likewiſe to be admoniſhed, to labour for Godlineſſe: that though they be not aaLuk. 12. 21.Luke 12:21rich to the world, they may be rich yet to God; and their worldly pouertie ſhall be no hindrance to their ſpirituall preferment. For p. 27bbIam 2. 5.Jas 2:5God (ſaith the Apoſtle) hath choſen the poore of this world to be rich in grace, and heires of his kingdome.

And here is great comfort for the poore man, that liueth a godly life, and maketh Conſcience of his courſes, hath a care to pleaſe God and to doe his will in all things, and to approue himſelfe and his wayes to him, walking faithfully and painfully in the works of his calling, be it neuer ſo meane; that though he be neuer ſo poore and bare, though he liue but from hand to mouth, as we ſay; yea though he hauehave not one good rag to hang on his backe, or one good morſell of meat in a twelue-month to put in his mouth, though he hauehave not the leaſt patch of land in the world to ſuſtaine him, or the leaſt hole that may be to hide his head in; ccDiuites dicimus ſapientes, iuſtos, bonos; quibus pecunia vel parua vel nulla: magis enī ſunt virtutibꝰ diuites: pauperis verò auaros dicimus, ſemper inhiantes, ſemper egentes. Aug de ciu. l 7. c. 12. Pauper eſt pius? etiam ſic diues eſt. intus diues, foris pauper: pauper in cella, diues in conſcientia. arcam reſpicis auro inanē; conſcientia reſpice Deo plenam: non habet extrinſecus facultatem; ſed habet intrinſecus charitatem. Aug. in Pſ. 36. & de temp. 212 Inops auri, Deo diues eſt. quid hac virtute pauperius? quid hac pauperiate ditius? Math. 5. 3. Idem de verb. Ap. 26. Nemo apud Deum pauper est, viſi qui iuſtitia indiget: nemo diues, niſi qui virtutibus plenus eſt. Lactant. inſtit. l. 5. c. 14.Ps 36Matt 5:3yet is he a rich man for all that, richer than Craſſus or Croeſus, or the wealthieſt worldly man again in the world. For they hauehave but ddLuk. 16. 11.Luke 16:11the falſe Riches, he the true treaſure; they hauehave but the counterfait eeVitreum margaritum, non verum. Hieron. poſt Tertull.glaſsie pearle; he hath that precious orient pearle, which ffMath. 13. 46.Matt 13:46the wiſe Merchant, when he hath found, is content to ſell all that euer he hath to purchaſe it, to forgo all that euer he is worth for the compaſſing of it; and yet is he no looſer by the bargaine neither. For as he is a Merchant, ſo is he alſo a wiſe Merchant; and therefore knoweth well what he doth in ſo doing: he knoweth that in buying it, he buyeth himſelfe and his owne ſafetie, his own eternall ſaluation, togither with it.

Againe, this ſerueth to ouerthrow the opinion of ſuch perſons as thinke that there is litle or no Gaine p. 28to be gotten vnderunder God, litle or no good at all to be gathered in Gods ſeruice. So the worldly men in Iobs day; ggIob. 21. 15.Job 21:15Who is the All-ſufficient, ſay they, that we ſhould ſerue him? or what profit ſhould we hauehave by praying vntounto him? And the wicked in Malachies time; hhMalac. 3. 14.Mal 3:14It is but in vaine to ſerue God: there is nothing to be gotten by keeping his commandements, and walking humbly before him.

Yea but, may ſome ſay, ſure there be none ſuch now a-dayes, eſpecially among vsus that make profeſſion of Chriſtianitie; and therefore this vſe of the point might well be ſpared.

If it be ſo with vsus, iiQuieſcat lingua, loquaturvita. Aug. in 1. Ioan. Efficaciꝰ eſt teſtimonium vita quam lingua. Aut…r de dupl martyr.let our Actions anſwer for vsus; let our practiſe proue it: And ſo we will turne the Vſe from Reprehenſion to Examination, from Confutation to Conviction.

Let eueryevery one by theſe Notes then examine himſelf, whither he be of this Opinion or no.

Firſt, did men deeme Godlineſſe to be a matter of Gaine, they would neuer thinke they had enough of it. For kkforeign Euſebius apud Stob. t…m. 2. c. …0. …quantūlibet improba, Creſtant diuitiae, tamē Curtae neſci… quid ſemper abeſt rei Hor…a…m. 3. 23. foreign. Epictet. enchir. c. 61. Eccleſ. 6. 7. Nemo eſt cui foelicit… ſ…, etiāſi curſu veniat, ſatisfaciat. Senec. Epiſt. 115. non poteſt expleri cupiditatibus, et…am…i expleatur diuitus. Ambr. de bono mert. c. …. Auarus animus nullo ſatiatur lucre. S…n. …p. 49.Eccl 6:7Riches are ſtintleſſe; there is no end of them. We neuer thinke that we hauehave wealth enough; we are ſtill labouring for more. llFortune multis …dat, …lli ſatis. Martial. l. 12. epigr. 10.Many men hauehave too much, and yet no man enough. There is no ſtint of wealth; but as mmNon aliud an…al eu …nore origine in ma… … cr…ſcit magnitudinē … Plin. hiſt. …. l. 8. c. 25.ſome write, though nn…iſe …ul. …ig d… ſubtil ….fabulouſly, of the Crocodile, that he groweth ſo long as euer he liueth: ſo it is too too true of this myſticall Crocodile, the deſire of gaine and wealth, and of aduancing or enlarging mens worldly eſtates, hath no p. 29acme, nō pitch, but groweth ſtill more and more with men as long as they liue, ooAuaritia morbꝰ ſenum proprius, lu…uria iuvenum: libidinis ſiquidem ignis pau…tim extinguitur, & cum ſenectute conſeneſcit: at auaritia augeſcit continuò, & cum ſenectute ipſa iuveneſcit. Kolloc. in 1 Tim. 6. 10. Quid auaritia, quae rad… eſt omnium malorū, nonne in frigidis ſenibus tanto ad acquirendum feruentiꝰ inardeſcit, quā to eitius relictura eſt quod acquirit? Aug. de temp. 246.1 Tim 6:10rifer oft with them then euer, when they are euen going out of the world, and hauehave one foot, as we vſe to ſay, already in the graue.

But with Godlineſſe men are ſoone ſatisfied; they hauehave ſoone enough of it. If they hauehave attained to but a litle ſuperficiall ſprinkling of common Grace, or ciuill honeſtie, that commeth as far ſhort of ſound ſanctification and ſinceritie, as the ſhadow doth of the ſubſtance; they begin preſently to ſuppoſe, with ſelfe-conceited ppApoc. 3. 17.Rev 3:17Laodicea, that they are rich enough and neede nothing; that qqQuomodo proficis, fi tibi …am ſufficis? Bern. de conſider. l. 2. Omnia i… deſunt, qui ſibi nihil deeſſe putat. Ib.they hauehave no neede to labour for any further matter, they are euen as well as well may be, as neede be, at leaſt.

No man is afraid of being too wealthy: but **Noſti illud, Ne… p… eſt, qui pietatem cauet. Caue qui ignam petes eſſe verius Cic. de ſin. lib 2. Qui time… eſſe bo…, nō times eſſe malus. Miſocoſm. de contempt mund.many are afraid of being too godly, rrEccleſ. 7. 18. Modum eſſe religionis: nimium eſſe ſuperſtitisſu… nō oportere Cic. prodomo ſua. Religeutē eſſe & portet, religioſi …. G…ll. l. 4. c 9.Eccl 7:18Ne ſis nimium iuſtus; Be not too iuſt, ſticketh ſhrewdly on many a mans ſtomacke: though ſpoken ssNotata eſt non iuſtitia ſapientis, ſea ſuperbia praeſumentis. Aug in Ioan. 95.not of true Godlineſſe or Righteouſnes indeede; but of nouriſhing in vsus an ouer-weaning conceit of our ſelues; or of ttSi quem rigidū & trucē ad omnia fratrū peccata conſpexeris, &c. hunc ſcito plus iuſtum eſſe quam iuſtū eſt. Hieron in Eccleſ. Iuſtitia enim, niſi miſericordi… temperetur, in crudelitatem degenerat, Lav… in Eccleſ. Huc illud Plinij hiſt. nat. l. 18. c. 6. Nihil minus expedire, quam agrum optim… colere. Et, Agrum bend colere neceſſarium, optimè damnoſum.being ouer-rigorous in cenſuring of others; like uuLuk. 18. 11.Luke 18:11the Phariſee in the Goſpell, who, ſaith an ancient Writer very pithily and wittily, xxDum in ſe ſingulariter …tat, aliji arroganter inſultat; & ſe ſolum decipit, quem ſolum excipit, dum al… damnat. Lern. de grad. humil.exulting arrogantly in himſelfe inſulteth inſolently ouer others, and deceiueth himſelfe alone, whom alone he excepteth, while he p. 30contemneth and condemneth all beſides himſelfe.

Secondly, Men would ſtriue one to go beyond an other in Godlineſſe, if they counted Godlineſſe a matter of Gaine. For as the Heathen Writer well obſerueth, yy▪ foreign. Heſiod. Vicimus diues cupiditatem irritat. Sen. epiſt. 7.there is a kinde of emulation commonly among worldly neighbors, whereby they emulate ſuch as goe beyond them in wealth: one neighbour ſtriueth to out-build an other, one to get and purchaſe more than another. The couetous man caſteth his eye on his rich neighbors, zz▪ hunc at que hune ſuperare laborat: Vt quum carceribus …ſſ…s rapit vngula currus Inſtat equis auriga ſuos vincentibus illum praeteritum temnens eutremos inter euntem. Herat. ſerm, l. 1. ſat. 1.as a man in a race doth on thoſe that hauehave won ground of him, he ſtriueth to get euen with this man, whom he is yet behind, to out-ſtrip that man, whom he hath got euen withall. And the enuious man (as thoſe two vices are ſeldome aſunder) looking through the ſpectacles of enuie on his neighbours goods, aaFertilier ſeges eſt alienis ſemper in aruis: vicinumque pecꝰ grandius vber …abet. Ovid. artis l. 1. … nobis, noſtra …t. P. Syrus.-maior… videtur, Et melior vi…na ſeges. Juven: ſat. 14.thinketh eueryevery thing that his neighbor hath better than his own and it may be better than indeed it is, his grounds fertiler, his beaſts fairer, his revenues larger, his gaines greater &c. and is ready enough oft to ſay with himſelfe, Why ſhould not my beaſts looke a… …ire a… hi…? why ſhould not my grounds yeeld as much as hi…? why ſhould not I thrine as well as he, hauing as good …dnes to thrine by a… he hath

And euen **foreign. Plat… d… …. ….ſo wo… be with vsus, held we Godlineſſe to be gainefull. We would hauehave a kinde of godly emulation and ambition among vsus, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, in matter of Godlineſſe; we would euen bbforeign. 1. Cor. 12. 31. foreign. 1. Cor. 14. 1. foreign. 2. Cor. 9. 2.1 Cor 12:311 Cor 14:12 Cor 9:2emulate, and ccforeign. Rom. 15. 2…. … Cor. 5. 9. 1. Theſſ. 4. 11.Rom 15:21 Thess 4:11ambitiouſly, as it were, ſtriue p. 31and contend to out-go one an other in goodnes and grace. And this were ddforeign. Heſiod.a good and godly emulation, a goodly and a commendable ſtrife and contention indeed. We would be eying of thoſe that are got beyond vsus in grace, and endeuour to get euen with them, yea, if it be poſſible, to out-ſtrip them, and to caſt them behind vsus, eeQui ſtadium currit, eniti & contendere debet, quàm maximè poſſit, vt vincat: ſupplantare eum qu…cum certet, aut manis depellere nullo modo debet. Chryſippu… apud Cicer. offic. l. 3.not by hindring their progreſſe, but by mending our owne pace, and ffFaciamus quod in itinere fieri ſolet: qui tardiꝰ exierūt, velocitate pe…ſant moram. Senec. nat. quaeſt. l. 3. praefat. Quod facere ſolent, qui ſerius exeunt, & volunt tempus celeritate reparare, calcar add…mus. Idem epiſt. 68.by ſtraining our ſelues to runne the faſter, the later it was ere we entred into this race. We would be as ready as they are to ſay to our ſelues; And why ſhould not I be as forward in the feare of God, as Zealous, as religious, as I ſee ſuch and ſuch are, ſince I hauehave as good meanes of being godly as they hauehave, as many inducements as either they or any other can hauehave?

But ſo ſtand the moſt affected, that they will not by their good will ſuffer any man to out-go them in wealth, in the way of the world: but they will let any man willingly out-go them in grace, and in the good wayes of God: there onelyonly we ſtraine courteſie, and giuegive eueryevery one the way of vsus. And as our Sauiour telleth the Scribes and Phariſees, that ggMath. 21. 31.Matt 21:31the very Publicans and Harlots might go into the kingdome of Heauen before them: So not a few among vsus will ſuffer the very Pagans, and Papiſts, litle better than Pagans, if not worſe many of them than they, the very Heathen and Heretikes to go into heauen before them, ere they will ſtriue to out-go them in goodnes and godlineſſe.

Thirdly, men would be more affected with it, if they ſuppoſed any matter of Gaine to be in it. hhPopulus me ſibilat; at mihi plau do Ipſe domi, ſimulat nummos contemplor in arca. Horat. ſerm. l. 1. ſat. 1.The couetous miſer, ſaith the Heathen man, while the p. 32people either curſe or hi…e at him abroad, yet he pleaſeth and cheereth himſelfe the whileſt with the ſight or the conſideration of his ſubſtance at home. It doth a man good at the very heart, euen to thinke vponupon his riches, and but iiEccleſ. 5. 10.Eccl 5:10to looke vponupon his treaſure. It will make our hearts to ſpring and leap within vsus for ioy, to hauehave ſodaine newes brought vsus of ſome rich legacie, or large patrimonie by ſome meanes befallen vsus.

But of this ſpirituall wealth and gaine moſt men are meerely ſtupide and ſenſeles: No more moued commonly or affected, when either, (if any time at leaſt they ſo do,) they thinke on it, or when they heare it ſpoken of in the Pulpit; then (as a Philoſopher ſaid ſometime of an ignorant Dol… …itting in the Theater, where the ſeats were of marble, that kkforeign. Ariſtipp… apud L…tium l. 2.One ſtone ſate vponupon an other:) then, I ſay, either the benches that they ſit vponupon, or the pillers that they leane againſt: Not once ſtirred at all to heare of the heauenly inheritance, or of holineſſe, the meanes that muſt bring them to heauen, yea that worketh in mens hearts a kinde of llPhilip. 3. 20.Phil 3:20heauen vponupon earth, and giueth Chriſtian men ſeizin of heauen euen while they liue here. An euident argument that either they beleeue not the Gaine of it, or they beleeue not themſelues to hauehave any ſhare in it.

Fourthly, men would be oft taking account of their Gaines in this kinde, of their thriuing in Godlineſſe, if they held Godlineſſe to be ſo gainefull. mm….Worldly men are very frequent and diligent herein, very carefull to keepe their bookes of receipt and expenſe, poaring euer and anon on them, running p. 33oft ouer their reckonings, and caſting vp their accounts, to ſee how they thriue or pare in the world, how they goe forward or backward in wealth.

But where we ſhall finde a man that hath the like care of keeping & caſting vp his ſpiritual accounts, of nnPſ 4. 4 & 119. 59. Zeph. 2. 1. 1. Cor. 11. 28. 2. Cor. 13. 5.Ps 4:4Ps 119:59Zeph 2:11 Cor 11:282 Cor 13:5examining himſelfe for his ſpirituall eſtate, how he thriueth or pareth with the graces of Gods Spirit, how he goeth forward or backward in goodnes or Godlineſſe? And yet would our care be alike for either, did we equally apprehend the gaine of either. But let vsus looke vntounto it. For whither we call our ſelues to account here or no, God will queſtionleſſe one day call vsus to an account. And then not onelyonly ooLuk. 15. 13.Luke 15:13the prodigall Sonne, and the ppLuk. 16. 1.Luke 16:1vnfaithfull Steward, that hath the one vnthriftily lauiſhed out his patrimonie, and the other riotouſly waſted his maſters wealth; but qqMath. 25. 30.Matt 25:30the idle and vnprofitable Seruant to…, that hath not gained with his Talent, that hath not thriuen with the Grace of God beſtowed on him, ſhall be bound hand and foot, and cast out into vtter darknes, where ſhall be weeping and wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth.

Fiftly, men would make more account of Godlineſſe, if they counted it as Gaine. Did they indeed account Godlineſſe more gainefull than Gaine, they would not put Godlineſſe away for Gaine, they would not prefer Gaine before Godlineſſe. Yea did they deeme Godlineſſe the gainfulleſt thing in the world, they would not forgo Godlineſſe for a world of wealth, or for ought elſe that were in the world.

But it is with it, as it is with Time. It is a common p. 34ſaying in eueryevery mans mouth, that rrforeign. Theophraſtus apud L…rtium & Anti…ho apud Plutarch. Antonio.There is nothing in the world more precious than Time, and yet ſſQuem mihi dabis qui preti… aliquod tempori p…nat. …en. epiſt. 1. Non exig…ū temp… is habemus, ſed multū perdimꝰ: non …pes eius, ſed prodigi ſumꝰ aſtricti ſunt homines in con…inend… patrimonio: ſimul ad temporis iactur …m …e…tum est, prof… ſiſſ…mi in eo, …uius vnius auari ia honeſta eſt. Idem de brev, vit. c. 1 & 3.there is nothing generally more trifled away than it. So of Godlineſſe the moſt will (in word at leaſt) acknowledge, that there is nothing in the world more gainefull than it, and yet the moſt of them that ſo ſay, ſticke not to make it away for meere trifles. ttAd mere… …ij ſumus; ad mercedē impij. honeſta q…ā d… aliqua illis ſpes ineſt, ſequi…ur: in co…ra…ium tranſi…i, ſi plus ſcelera promi…nt. Senec. epiſt 113. Et genus & virtus, niſi cum re, vilior alga est. Horat. ſerm. lib. 2. ſat 5.Godly they are content to be for aduantage, ſo long as Godlines bringeth in any worldly Gaine with it, or ſo long as there is no hope of any the like Gaine by vngodlineſſe. But let Godlineſſe ceaſe to bring in ſuch Gaine, they grow ſoone weary of it: or let but the leaſt hope of ſuch Gaine by vngodlineſſe ſhew it ſelf, & they are ready preſently to exchange Godlineſſe for it.

uuMatth. 16. 26.Matt 16:26What ſhould it auaile a man, ſaith our Sauiour, to winne the whole world, and looſe his owne ſoule? It were no Gaine for a man to get the whole world by vngodlineſſe; ſince he muſt withall looſe himſelfe, his life, his ſoule for his labour. But we are ready and willing, the moſt of vsus, to part with Godlineſſe, and forgo good Conſcience, for far leſſe matters then that commeth to, for a penny or an halfe-penny toy now and then; to exchange it for ſome ſmall peece or patch of the world, for ſome ſory ſnip or ſtired of the pelfe of it, or for ought elſe that we hauehave ſome fond fancie vntounto, the couetous worldling for a litle temporarie treaſure, and the laſciuious wanton for a litle tranſitorie pleaſure: like xxHebr. 1…. 13. ex Gen. 25. 33.Heb 1:13Gen 25:33prophane Eſ…, that ſold his birth-right for a meſſe of broth, and yyPr. 28 21. Fruſto pa… cō …ci poteſt, vel vti tac…at, v…l vti loqu…ur. …ato in C…liu… apud G…lliū l. 1. c. 15.Salomons vniuſt iudge, that would d… … … a …ſe… of bread, and p. 35zzEzech. 13. 9.Ezek 13:9the falſe Prophets in Eechiels time, that would pollute Gods name for an handfull of barly.

That which euidently ſheweth at how low a rate moſt men value Godlineſſe. For as a aaAbſt…m: in fabulis.ſcoffing companion ſometime told the Biſhop that would giuegive him his bleſſing when he would not giuegive him an halfe-penny, that If his bleſsing had bin worth an halfe-penny, he ſhould not hauehave had it. So if worldly men thought Godlineſſe, and the Feare and Fauour of God worth but an halfe-penny, they would not venture to put either away for an halfe-penny matter: they would not ſo readily exchange either for trifles, did they not make but a trifling matter of either.

Neither may the greater ſort of ſuch men auoide this imputation, and waſh their hands with bbMath. 27. 24.Matt 27:24Pilate from the ſoile of this ſinne, becauſe they are wont to make Godlineſſe away for greater matters. To omit ccforeign. Plato apud Plut. de vtil. ex inimic. Theſaur… omnibus pretioſior eſt vir…ꝰ. Apul. de Philoſoph. foreign. Euripid. apud Stob. tō. 2. c. 1. Vilius argentum eſt auro, virtutibus aurū. Horat. epiſt. Virtus praemium eſt optimum: virtus omnibus reb… anteit. Plaut. Amphitr. 2. 2.that euen the greateſt of them will beare no weight at all, if they be laid in the ballance againſt Godlineſſe, when the whole world it ſelfe is too light to weigh againſt it. Thou thy ſelfe, who euer thou art, wilt cry out ſhame on ſome poore ſilly wretch, that ſhall forſweare himſelfe, and ſo damne his ſoule, as thou thy ſelfe ſaiſt, for a penny, when thou doſt thy ſelfe, it may be, in effect as much for ſomewhat more. But do thou conſider, as ddforeign. Ariſtippus apud Laert. l. 2.Ariſtippus ſometime told Plato, that a penny may be as much to him as a pound is to thee, and a pound no more with thee than a penny with him: and therefore doeſt thou value Godlineſſe at as low a rate in ſtretching and ſtraining of thy Conſcience p. 36for the one, as he in tentering it for the other.

Laſtly, men would be content to take more paines for the compaſſing and increaſing of it in themſelues, if they held Godlineſſe to be gainefull. Men can well endure to ſit telling and taking money, and it were all day long, from morning to dark night: But to heare the word, but an houre, whereby the ſpirituall Gaine is gotten, the moſt can hardly endure: they ſit all that while on thornes, and thinke eueryevery minute an houre, and are neuer well till all be done. They say, or thinke at leaſt with themſelues, as the prophane Iewes ſometimes ſaid, eeforeign Malac. 1. 12.Mal 1:12What a toyle, or a tediouſnes is here? what needeth ſo much preaching? what needeth ſo long praying? they thinke they might be as well, if not much better, without either: Yea many can not endure ſo long as till the houre be at an end. To whom God may well ſay, as our Sauiour to his drowſie Diſciples, ffMath. 26. 40.Matt 26:40What, could yee not watch an houre with me? So, Can yee not endure to waite an houre on me, that watch ſo many ouer you? On ggSi ab iſia hora, qua verbum Dei praedicare ceperim, gemm…s, vel annulos, vel monilia erogarem, an non filij mei ſtare & accipere vellent? &c. Aug. homil. 26.worldly Mammon they could be well content to waite all day long, with forbearance not of diſport onelyonly, but of ordinarie diet too, that would thinke much but halfe an houre in the day to waite vponupon him.

Againe, **foreign. Antipha apud Stob. c. 10. Cogit auarities miſer…s & caca cupido Noctes at… dies niti praest…te labore, Lu…. de nat. rer…m lib. 3.for worldly wealth men can toile and moile all the weeke long; and yet are they not wearie; they thinke not the whole weeke long enough neither: But for the heauenly Gaine, for the ſpirituall thrift, we hauehave but one day of ſeuen, and we p. 37thinke that too much too: we thinke the day all too long, the labour all loſt, and the whole time caſt away, that we imploy and ſpend to this purpoſe. We ſay as the ſame Iewes at an other time ſaid; hhAmos 8. 5.Amos 8:5When will the New Moone be past; and the Sabbath once ouer? that we may returne againe vntounto our worldly affaires. Yea many among vsus hauehave not the patience to tarry ſo long, but ſpend a great part of the Sabbath, that is Gods Market or Mart-day, for the getting of this ſpirituall Gaine, either about their worldly affaires. or their bodily delights.

The Sabbath day, I ſay, is Gods Market-day. And thoſe that ſeeke to take away the Sabbaths, attempt to put downe Gods Markets, and ſo do the Deuill good ſeruice, whatſoeuer their intent be. As frequenting of Markets maketh a Rich man; ſo keeping of Sabbaths maketh a rich Chriſtian. And as we count him a bad Huſband, that followeth Game on the Market-day: ſo may we as well count him a ſpirituall vnthrift, that ſpendeth the Sabbath in that ſort.

But may ſome ſay, when we hauehave bin at Church, and heard the Sermon and Seruice, is not Gods Market-day then done?

I anſwer: If the Sabbath be iiLecit. 23. 32. Matth. 28. 1.Matt 28:1a day, then is it not ſo ſoone done. **Debet totus dies feſtium à Chriſtiano expendi in operibus ſanctis. Rob. Groſthed Lincoln. Epiſt. in Decalog. pracept. 3.Gods Market laſteth all day long.

Yea, grant the principall, becauſe the publike, of it bee paſt: yet as Market-folks returning from Market will bee talking of their Markets, as they goe by the way, and be caſting vp of p. 38their penny-worths, when they come home, reckon what they hauehave taken, and what they hauehave laid out, and how much they hauehave gotten: So ſhould we, after we hauehave heard the word publikely, conferre priuately of it with others; at leaſt meditate on it by our ſelues, and be ſure to take an account of our ſelues, how we hauehave profited that day by the word that hath bin ſpoken vntounto vsus, and by other religious exerciſes that hauehave bin vſed of vsus. And as the Marketman counteth that but an euill market-day, that he hath not gained ſomewhat on more or leſſe: So may we well account it an euill Sabbath to vsus, whereon we hauehave not profited ſomewhat, whereon we hauehave not either increaſed our knowledge, or bin bettred in affection; whereon we hauehave not bin further either informed in iudgment, or reformed in practiſe, whereon we hauehave added no whit at all to our Talent.

To winde vp all in a word. If we hold Godlineſſe to be, as the Apoſtle here ſaith it is, a matter of Gaine, and of great Gaine, that which maketh Gaine to be Gaine, and without which Gaine it ſelfe is no Gaine indeede; that kkOmnia adſunt bona, quem penes eſt virtus. (pietas.) Plaut. Amphitr. 2. 2.it bringeth all good with it to him that hath it; and that it neuer leaueth him, but abideth with him, and ſticketh by him for euer: Oh let vsus labour then to get of it, and to grow more and more in it; let vsus endeuor to out-go one an other in Godlineſſe; let vsus call our ſelues to a reckoning how we thriue or pare in it; let vsus llforeign. Solō apud Plut. d… …ig… … & d… …tili…. …. & do tranquill.not put it away for ſuch trifles and toyes as the p. 39world or the mmforeign. Chryſoſt. tom 7. eclog. 30 & tom. 6. ſerm. 73. & in Math. hō. 3.Deuill ſhall tender vntounto vsus to bereaue vsus of ſo pretious a pearle; Eſpecially let vsus hauehave a care of frequenting nnEsai. 55. 1.Isa 55:1Gods markets, of obſeruing Gods Sabbaths, the principall meanes of increaſing this ſpirituall wealth in vsus. So ſhall it come to paſſe that we ſhall hauehave God to be our portion; we ſhall be heires of his Kingdom, and coheires with his Chriſt; we ſhall hauehave all the good things both of this life and the next aſſured vntounto vsus here, and the full fruition of them for euer hereafter.

The end of the first Part.