The Worldlings Adventure, Title page – Dedication
The Worldlings Aduenture.
DISCOVERING, The fearefull estate of all Earthwormes, and men of this World: In hazarding their pretious soules, for the enioying of worldly happines.
Deliuered in two Sermons: Before the Worthy Visitors of the Right Worshipfull Company of the GROCERS.
At the Visitation of their Free Grammar Schoole at OVNDELL in North-Hamptonshire.
By Thomas Cooper Batchelour in Diuinity, Imployed in that Businesse.
LONDON, Printed by N. O. for Richard Redmer, and are to be sold at his Shop at the West end of S. Paules Church. 1619.
To the right Worshipfull, the Wardens and Assistants, and the rest of the Brethren of the Honourable Corporation of Grocers, worthy Patrons of Religion and Learning, and my very good Benefactors.
Grace, merciemercy and peace from God the Father, through our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplyed.
RIght Worshipfull, and deerely beloued, in our best beloued Christ Iesus: Vouchsafe, I pray you, the reuiew of these Meditations: which as they were conceiued, especially for your sakes, so they are of all other most necessarie for the well ordering, and comfort of those Callings, wherein God hath placed you. For seeing man consists of a reasonable soule and body, both which must be so prouided for in their order and measure; as may tend to the well being of either in this life, and to the eternal happines of both in the life, to come. What so necessarie, as that one thing which indeed is onelyonly necessarie, euen by the iudgement of him that must saue or condemne the same, namely, the welfare & safetie of the precions soule? And yet seeing that God hath placed vsus on the earth and that wisely, in seuerall Callings▪ and conditions: that so by our holy managing thereof, we may lay vp a good foundation against the life to come.
How necessarie is that knowledge, which may enforme vsus rightly herein? most vsefull, and so acceptable that skill must needes bee, whereby we shall be so enabled to commerce with worldly things, as not thereby to hazard our eternall happinesse. Yea, so much the more is the direction necessary; because, as it is a Mysterie concealed from Nature, which knows not the things of God, neither indeede can know them, because they are spiritually discerned, when as its chiefest wisedome is enemy against God and it owne happinesse: as appeareth by the ordinary ship-wrake of the most, through the ignorance thereof: So it is the speciall gift of God to reueale the same vntounto vsus, as without which, it is not possible to secure our future estate, in passing through such manifolde and slipperie occasions of our present Callings. And surely if wee consider that Axiome of Sacred truth; that we cannot serue God & Mammon, and compare therewith that damnable conclusion of the world, as subscribing to the trueth of God out of the conscience, of it owne vtter inabilitie, and sottish dotage on it owne shadowes: that conscionable Seruice of God, is an hinderance to worldly thrift; impossible to get riches, and keepe a good conscience, as implying a contradiction in those things, which by right vse are subordinate to each other. Is it not then, more then necessarie to know such a way, whereby wee may so thriue in the world, as that withall wee may thriue to heauen, that we may find out and practise an holy subiection to the worde of God, and so discerne that to be possible with God, which is impossible to men. Oh, how true is it which our blessed Sauiour speakes in this case, that it is impossible for a rich man to enter into heauen; meaning, such a rich man, as wanting this heauenly wisdome, to vse the world aright; sets his confidence in riches, and rests on such slipperie foundations, forsaking the God of his strength, and rock of his saluation. And it is also most true for our eternall comfort: that though these things are snares to the wicked, to entāgle and drowne them in euerlasting perdition: yet we may take such a curse in the gayning and vse of these dangerous Wares, that if we first seeke the Kingdome of heauen, and the righteousnesse thereof, these shall be cast vponupon vsus without any great care or labour, if we make purchase of the great gaine, which is Godlines, we shall finde it profitable as well for this life, both to order our worldly affaires, and also to prosper them vntounto vsus; as for the life which is to come. And therefore as it is a brand of prophanenesse, to renounce our birth-right in heauen for a Messe of pottage, or any earthly happinesse whatsoeuer: as if these could not well sort together; so on the other side, it is a marke of vnbeliefe to distrust God for the well being of our bodies, seeing we hauehave trusted him for the happinesse of our soules. Here then is wisedome to bring both ends together; so to learne worldly thrift, as that withall we may thriue to heauen. This wisedome is best attained by Experience; & Experience, which is the Mistresse of Fooles, is then most comfortably gained, when we can be warned by others harmes.
This is my purpose in the ensuing Treatise. Wherein I endeauour to set before the eies of your minds, as in a cleare and true Mirrour, the fearefull estate of Worldlings; aduenturing, and working out their owne damnation, by their vnsatiable and deceitfull hunting after worldly profit. Here you may take notice of an ordinary Bargaine, betweene the god of this world, & earthly minds; as willingly exchanging their eternal soules, for the enioying of the pleasures and profits of sinne for a season. Here you may see, that our destruction is of our selues, in that our corrupt, and greedy desires do entice Satan to chaffer with vsus, and to preuaile for this Bargaine. Here you hauehave the policies of Satan liuely discouered, whereby he drawes vsus on to the Bargaine, and holdeth vsus to the same; that so we may preuent his subtill snares and delusions. Lastly, you hauehave here the censure of the Bargaine, euen by our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe; who onelyonly can truely iudge of it, and shall most righteously iudge for the same; that you may wisely looke before hand into the yssue thereof, and so fore-warned not to enter into any such couenant. This is the summe of these Meditations, which I doe most zealously commend vntounto your best considerations, as those that by your Callings may make good vse therof. Which that you may vnfeignedly doe▪ I further promise what here you hauehave not; That my requests shall be dayly manifest, at the Throane of Grace for your Worshipfull Societie: Yea, whatsoeuer I am, or may be, shall be deuoted to the good of your Companie: that the Lord would mercifully make vp the Breach among you; or sanctifie it more graciously, to your more sure vniting to his Maiestie: that hauing experience of the ficklenesse, and contentious spirits of men; you may be carefull to builde your foundation vponupon the Rocke, which may endure all counter-blasts. Labouring your peace with God, by the attonement of his glorious Sonne, blessed for euer: That so seeking first, the kingdome of heauen, and the righteousnesse thereof, these outward things may encrease and be sanctified vntounto you; that so you may continue without offence, as you hauehave begun & proceeded hitherto, in all fruitfull bountie and mercifulnesse to the Houshold of faith: to the happy fealing vp of your saluation in this life, and to the hastening and accomplishing of the same in the life to come. And thus humbly requesting your Worships to accept of this liuely Touch-stone to try your Estates, by walking contrary thereto; with my euer vnfeigned acknowledgement of your louelove towards me; I heartily take my leaue, commending your Worships, and all yours, to the Grace, and MercieMercy of our blessed God, through Iesus Christ our Lord; In whom I rest.
Your Worships poore Remembraucer, at the Throane of Grace, TH. COOPER.