A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 33
CAP. XXXIII.
How wee ought to behaue our ſelues in the eſtate of proſperity, that wee may thriue in all ſpirituall graces.
§. Sect. 1 What proſperity is, and how apt wee are to abuſe it through our corruption.
WEE are now come in the laſt place to conſider how we ought to carry our ſelues eueryevery day, in reſpect of thoſe ſeueral eſtates and conditions of proſperitie and aduerſitie vntounto which God calleth vsus. The which hauing no certaine and ſet time allotted vntounto them by God, (for we may diuers daies together flouriſh in proſperity, or bee as long caſt downe and humbled by troubles and afflictions, yea ſometime, and that moſt commonly, hauehave them intermingled the one with other, beginning the day with ioy in our proſperous affaires, and ending it with ſorrow and griefe by reaſon of our croſſes and calamities, or contrariwiſe hauehave cauſe of mourning in the morning, and of reioycing before the euening) therefore the duties which concerne theſe ſeuerall eſtates, cannot be limited to any ſet time, but muſt follow and accompany them, as it ſhall pleaſe God to giuegive vsus occaſion by the interchanging our diuers ſtates and conditions the one with the other. Of which my purpoſe is to ſpeake very briefely, though they bee matters which greatly import the Chriſtian life, becauſe I hauehave largely handled them already in my Chriſtian Warfare. And firſt, for proſperity, In the ſecond and third part of the Chriſtian Warfare.which conſiſteth in the poſſeſſion and fruition of all Gods temporall bleſſings or many of them, as health, wealth, peace, plenty, libertie, fame, friendſhip, honours, pleaſures, with wife, children, houſes, lands of the beſt ſort; they are in themſelues Gods good gifts, which he delighteth Pſal. 35. 37. Eccle. 3. 22. Pſal. 118. 25. & 116. 12, 13. Gen. 39. 2, 23.to beſtow vponupon thoſe that ſerue him, as the preſent pay and reward of their louelove and dutie; and wherein he would hauehave vsus to delight, praying for them when we want them, and prayſing him when wee hauehave them, as being in their owne nature, and if they bee rightly vſed, teſtimonies of Gods louelove, and ſignes of his gracious preſence. But in reſpect of our corruption, this ſtate is liable to much abuſe, as not being abſolutely good, but of an indifferent nature, in reſpect of that vſe whch wee make of it, remaining good to thoſe that vſe it rightly, and degenerating into euill when it is abuſed. VntoUnto which abuſe wee are naturally moſt prone, as eueryevery man may finde, not onelyonly by generall obſeruation, but in his owne lamentable experience; we being herein like vntounto ſmall ſhips, which carrying too great a ſayle, are ouerturned in eueryevery tempeſt; or like thoſe, who hauing ill ſtomackes and weake braines, are ready to ſurfet of the beſt meates, vponupon the leaſt fulneſſe, and to bee diſtempered and ouertaken with drunkenneſſe in the vſe of the beſt drinkes, if they pleaſe their appetite, and take any more of them then will ſatisfie nature.
§. Sect. 2 That we muſt bee diligent, leſt our proſperity become vntounto vsus an occaſion of ſin; and how this is to be done.
In which regard, proſperity, which is good in it ſelfe, becommeth exceeding dangerous vntounto vsus, as being an ordinary and common meanes, both to occaſion our falls into many ſinnes, and to hinder our riſing againe by vnfained repentance. In which regard, it greatly behooueth vsus, when we liue in this eſtate, to thinke that we walke in ſlippery places, and as it were vponupon the narrow ridge of a ſteepe hill, the deſcent on both ſides being headlong and dangerous, in which, if wee ſlide, wee are ready to tumble by degrees into a gulfe of wickedneſſe. And conſequently, as we deſire to walke acceptably vntounto God, and tender our owne ſaluation, we muſt with all care and circumſpection looke vntounto our footing, that wee may be preſerued from theſe fearefull falls, and receiue no hurt in this dangerous paſſage. To which purpoſe, I will propound ſome rules concerning the right carriage of our ſelues in this eſtate, which if wee obſerue, they will ſerue as ſome ſtayes to keepe vsus from ſlipping, and like rayles on either ſide of a narrow bridge ouer a deepe and dangerous riuer, preſerue vsus from falling and ſinking into the depths of ſinne and worldly wickedneſſe. And to this purpoſe wee are to looke on the left hand with all care and prouidence, that we ſtay our ſelues, by ſhunning the abuſe of our proſperity, and on the right hand with no leſſe heedfulneſſe, that wee vſe it rightly and in an holy manner. For the firſt, our care muſt bee, that wee ſo vſe our worldly proſperity and temporall things, that they be not helps and inducements vntounto any ſinne. And to this end, let vsus often conſider, that they are the bleſſings of God, which he hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, to incourage vsus in his ſeruice; and therefore what a ſinne and ſhame is it, to take occaſion by his bounty the more to diſpleaſe him? to vſe them as the weapons of iniquity to fight on the deuils ſide, againſt our Lord and Soueraigne? and to abuſe theſe benefits which are giuen vsus of God for comforts in our pilgrimage, as impediments which hinder vsus in our iourney, and as prickes in our ſides, to haſten our ſpeed towards hell and deſtruction.
§. Sect. 3 That in our proſperity we muſt take heed leſt we forget God, that his bleſſings doe not draw our hearts from him, and that we be not vnthankfull.
More eſpecially let vsus take heed, that by theſe temporall bleſſings we be not made more forgetfull of God, vntounto which vice we are naturally prone Luk. 15.in the time of our proſperity, becauſe, when wee inioy all wee deſire, and hauehave neede of nothing, wee are not ſenſible that wee want his helpe; nor ſo apt to remember him, that wee may giuegive him thankes for that wee hauehave, as to begge at his hands the things wee want; as wee ſee in the example of the Prodigall, who thought not on his father, when hee was in proſperity, but when he is pinched with pouerty, then hee thinketh of returning vntounto him. Whereof it is, that the Lord ſo often warned the Iſraelites, that when they inioyed eaſe and plenty in the Land of Promiſe, they ſhould beware that they did not forget him: the which notwithſtanding they neglected; for as the Prophet complaineth, As in their paſtures, ſo were they filled, they were filled, and their hearts Deut. 6. 10, 11. & 8. 10, 11. Hoſ. 13. 6.were exalted; therefore they hauehave forgotten mee. Which that wee may not alſo do, let vsus often conſider, that it is a foule ſhame for vsus to take occaſion by theſe tokens of Gods louelove the ſooner to forget him, which he hath purpoſely ſent to put vsus in minde of his louelove and bounty towards vsus. Let vsus as often as wee looke vponupon them, remember, that they are not chiefly Pſal. 127. 1, 2.purchaſed by our owne indeuours (for how many ſeeke, and cannot inioy them, who farre exceede vsus in wit and induſtry?) but that wee hauehave them from God, and by his bleſſing vponupon our labours. Finally, let vsus often remember, that though wee abound in theſe earthly things, yet they will not doe vsus any good, vnleſſe God giuegive his bleſſing in their vſe, and make them effectuall to thoſe ends for which hee hath giuen them. Secondly, let vsus bee carefull when wee abound with temporall bleſſings, that they doe not draw our hearts from God, as they ſurely will, if wee eſteeme them as our chiefe treaſures, and in our affections dote too much vponupon them; according to that of the Apoſtle Iohn; If any man louelove the world, the louelove of the Father is not in him. To 1. Ioh. 2. 15.which end let vsus conſider, that it is extreme folly to louelove the creature better then the Creator, ſeeing whatſoeuer beautie, goodneſſe or excellency is in them, it is infinitely more in him, from whom they hauehave it as a ſmall drop out of the maine Ocean. That it is horrible ingratitude and vnkindneſſe to louelove Gods gifts better then the giuer, and when as a gracious Bridegroome hee ſendeth them as louelove-tokens, or deputies to woo our hearts, wee neglect him and dote vponupon his meſſengers. Thirdly, let vsus take heede, that by how much the Lord is more liberall in beſtowing his benefits, that wee bee not by ſo much the more vnthankefull; which might ſeeme a needeleſſe admonition, if wee did not ſee by daily experience, that wee are in our pouerty more thankefull for eueryevery ſmall trifle, which relieueth our preſent neceſſities, then in our riches and abundance, when wee hauehave our wants ſupplied before they pinch vsus; that wee are more ready to praiſe God for a little eaſe in a great ſickneſſe, then when wee inioy perfect health; and for a little ſleepe after much reſtleſſe waking, then when wee hauehave long taken our naturall and quiet repoſe, without any let, or the leaſt diſturbance. For wee ſee the worth of Gods bleſſings more in their want, then in their fruition, and the better wee know them, the more thankefull wee are for them. Beſides, wee are apt to bee made wanton by our proſperitie, and to vex our ſelues more in longing after ſuperfluities, then others in the want of neceſſaries. And if we be croſſed in theſe deſires, and hauehave not our appetite ſatisfied to the full, wee are ready vngratefully to forget all the good things which wee inioy, and to murmure and repine as if wee had nothing. Which odious vice that wee may auoid, let vsus conſider when wee finde our ſelues inclining vntounto it, how many good things wee inioy that others want, who better deſerue them; that God is as ſufficient and ready to giuegive vsus what wee want, as what wee hauehave, if in his wiſedome and goodneſſe he did ſee them fitting for vsus. That we indanger our ſelues to be depriued of our preſent bleſſings, by doting ſo vponupon the things wee hauehave not, that we bee vnthankefull for that we hauehave; for God ſeeing that our diſcontents ariſe from wantonneſſe rather then want, will wiſely take away the greateſt part of his benefits, that wee may bee more thankefull for thoſe that remaine.
§. Sect. 4 That in our proſperity we muſt beware of pride, ſecurity, and hardneſſe of heart, licentiouſnes, and contempt of ſpirituall and heauenly things.
Fourthly, let vsus in our proſperity watch ouer our ſelues, that we be not puffed vp with pride, vntounto which this eſtate through our corruption maketh Exod. 5. 2. Eſa. 10. 8. & 47. 7, 8. Pſal. 10. 10. & 73. 6, 9. 2. Sam. 24. 1. 2. Chro. 32. 25. 1. Cor. 4. 7.vsus prone, as we may ſee, not onelyonly in the examples of former times, as Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon, and of thoſe wicked men, of whom the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, who being incloſed in their owne fat, ſpake proudly with their mouth, and flouriſhing in all earthly aboundance, put on pride as a chaine about their neckes; yea holy Dauid and good Ezechias were thus ouertaken, and though in the time of their trouble they were meeke and humble, yet were their hearts lifted vp in their proſperity. The which, the experience of theſe times doth make too manifeſt, wherein not onelyonly meere worldlings, but euen many of the faithfull are taynted with this odious vice, by reaſon of their earthly aboundance, and long proſpering in their worldly deſires. Which that we may preuent, let vsus conſider, that we hauehave nothing but what we hauehave receiued, not as abſolute gifts, but as our Maſters goods, lent onelyonly vntounto vsus for our vſe, for which wee ſtand indebted, and muſt giuegive an account at the day of Iudgement; and what reaſon hauehave wee to bee proud of our debts? that God ſo hateth this vice of pride, that hee will rather withdraw from vsus his ſpirituall graces, and his gracious aſſiſtance in the time of tentation, that by falling into other ſinnes we may be cured of this, and hauehave our ſoules adorned with true humility; and therefore how much rather will hee depriue vsus of temporall benefits, and things of farre leſſe value, then we ſhould continue infected with this vice, which aboue all others he moſt abhorreth? And when the greatneſſe of our gifts and poſſeſſions beginne to puffe vsus vp, let vsus thinke, how we hauehave imployed them, and whether we hauehave ſo increaſed and improoued them for the glory of our Maſter, and good of our fellow ſeruants, as that we may with cheerefulneſſe preſent our ſelues before God, when he calleth vsus to a reckoning. Finally, in our greateſt plenty of earthly things, let vsus call to minde our ſpirituall wants, and how defectiue wee are in ſanctifying and ſauing graces, eſpecially in our thankfulneſſe vntounto God for theſe temporall benefits; and ſo our plentie in the one will not ſo much exalt vsus, as our defects in the other, which are much more excellent and neceſſary, will humble and abaſe vsus. Fifthly, when wee inioy proſperity, let vsus beware of ſecurity and hardneſſe of heart, which is an ordinary effect that doth accompany it. For men are apt to flatter themſelues in the aſſurance of Gods louelove, when he cauſeth them to proſper in their courſes, and giueth vntounto them theſe outward ſignes of his fauour; and ſo to liue in their ſinnes with impenitencie and hardneſſe of heart, promiſing vntounto themſelues impunity, and that all ſhall goe well with them for the time to come. Thus Dauid ſaith; becauſe the wicked mans wayes proſpered, Therefore Gods iudgements were high aboue out of his ſight, preſuming that he Pſal. 10 6. Eccl. 8. 11.ſhould neuer bee mooued nor come into any danger. Yea he himſelfe, as he confeſſeth, was thus ouertaken with ſecurity, preſuming in his proſperity, that he ſhould neuer be mooued. Which that wee may auoyd, let vsus conſider, that Pſal. 30. 6.temporall bleſſings are no infallible ſignes of Gods louelove, ſeeing as the Wiſe man ſpeaketh, they happen to all alike, and are more often and liberally Eccl. 9. 1.beſtowed vponupon Gods enemies, who hauehave their portion in this life, then vponupon his owne children, for whom he reſerueth the euerlaſting and heauenly inheritance; that there is a viciſſitude and change of all theſe eſtates, and nothing remaineth certaine vnderunder the Sunne; that the longer God deferreth, the more ſeuerely he will puniſh when hee commeth, and the greater our bleſſings are, the greater ſhall be our plagues, if we abuſe them to ſecurity and impenitencie. Sixthly, let vsus take heede when we are in proſperity, that we doe not abuſe it to licentiouſneſſe and carnall liberty, vntounto which, men in this ſtate are moſt prone, as the Hiſtories of all times and daily experience teacheth. For who ſeeth not, that they who abound in wealth and worldly honours, doe for the moſt part giuegive themſelues ouer to all voluptuous and ſenſuall delights; as though God had ſent them into the world, and had put into their hands ſuch large wages of earthly bleſſings, that they ſhould ſpend them and their precious time, in Hunting and Hawking, carding and dycing, courting, dancing and reuelling, drinking, feaſting, and ſuch like carnall pleaſures? yea, who doth not perceiue, that they often abuſe them to iniury and oppreſſion, reuenge, and all kinds of vniuſtice, when they hauehave to deale with their inferiours; abuſing their power and authority vntounto tyranny, which they thinke neuer ſufficiently manifeſted and magnified, till they hauehave borne downe and troden vnderunder foote, all that ſtandeth in their way, right and reaſon, law, conſcience, and common honeſtie? which abuſes that we may ſhunne, let vsus remember often the maine ends why God hath giuen vsus theſe worldly benefits aboue others, namely, that we might be better inabled, and become more forward to glorifie him, to doe more good vntounto our brethren, and abound in the workes of mercy and Chriſtian charity, and that wee might hauehave better meanes to ſerue him with cheerefulneſſe, and thereby to further our owne ſaluation. Of which ends, if we faile, God will either take theſe gifts from vsus, becauſe wee miſ-ſpend them in vaine, or elſe let vsus ſtill keepe them for a further and greater iudgement. Let vsus thinke in our greatneſſe, that there is a greater then wee, who will one day call vsus to a reckoning, and fearefully reuenge vponupon vsus the iniuries of the oppreſſed, and the ſhamefull abuſe of our power and authority to vniuſtice and cruelty. Seuenthly, let vsus beware, that our proſperity be not an occaſion vntounto vsus of the contempt and neglect of ſpirituall and heauenly things, which ordinarily happeneth vntounto thoſe, vvho in their iudgements too much eſteeme, and in their hearts immoderately affect theſe temporall bleſſings, as vve ſee in the example of thoſe vvho vvere inuited to the Kings Supper, Demas, Luk. 14 18.Iudas, and many others. To vvhichwhich purpoſe, let vsus often meditate on the excellency, profit, and neceſſity of Gods ſauing graces, and the ineffable felicity of our heauenly inheritance, and how much theſe exceed the other. Let vsus alſo often conſider of the dignity of our ſoules, and hovv 3. Epiſt. of Iohn. verſ. 2.much they exceede in excellency our corruptible bodies, that vvee may take more care to hauehave them thriue in ſpirituall grace, and to reioyce in their aſſurance of future glory, then to glut our bodies vvith ſenſuall delights, or to vvaxe rich, and grovv great in our earthly poſſeſſions. Let vsus remember that the time vvill come, that our ſpirituall grace, vvhichwhich worldlings ſo much contemne, will ſtand vsus in more ſtead, and bring vntounto our ſoules more ſound comfort then all the wealth of the world, or Monarchy of the whole earth; and therefore that it is moſt extreme and ſottiſh folly, ſo farre to affect thoſe flitting and fading vanities, as to neglect in the meane time theſe ſpirituall excellencies.
§. Sect. 5 That in our proſperity we muſt beware of being ſlothfull in Gods ſeruice, and that worldly things doe not become thorns and ſnares vntounto vsus.
Eighthly, let it be our care in the time of our proſperity, that wee doe not grow more ſluggiſh and ſlothfull in Gods ſeruice, in Prayer, hearing the Word, Reading, Meditation; for the more we are taken vp with our earthly imployments, the leſſe we minde theſe holy duties and religious exerciſes, as we ſee in the experience of many, who hauehave beene forward in them in their ſickeneſſe, pouerty, and meane eſtates, and wholly neglect them, or coldly, careleſly, and formally performe them, when they inioy health, wealth, and worldly preferments. Yea, Gods good Children oftentimes are heerewith ouertaken, hauing a great dampe caſt ouer their zeale and deuotion by theſe worldly miſts; as we ſee in good Martha her Luk. 10. 41, 42.ſelfe, who by her worldly buſineſſe was made more cold and careleſſe in attending vntounto Chriſt. Which, that wee may auoyd, let vsus conſider, that when we abound with all worldly bleſſings, we ſtand more in need of ſpirituall helpes, to keepe vsus vpright in our wayes, and from falling into thoſe ſinnes, to which this proſperous ſtate expoſeth vsus. And that theſe earthly benefits being Gods preſent wages, whereby he incourageth vsus to doe him more diligent and faithfull ſeruice, it is a ſhamefull abuſe of his bounty, to bee made thereby more ſlothfull and negligent. Ninthly, let vsus take heed in our proſperity, that theſe worldly things, through our ouermuch affecting them, doe not become thornes to choake in vsus the ſeed of Gods Word, and hinder in vsus the growth of his ſpirituall graces, the which through our corruption they are apt to doe, as our Sauiour teacheth vsus in the Parable of the Sower; partly by catching hold of vsus, and hindring vsus Mat. 13. 22.from going into the holy aſſemblies, as wee ſee in the example of thoſe, who being inuited to the Kings Supper, pretended excuſes and would not come; and of the Iewes, who when God ſpake vntounto them in their proſperity, Ier. 22. 21.profeſſed that they would not hearken vntounto him, nor obey his voyce. And partly by diſtracting our mindes and hearts when we are there, ſo as wee cannot attend vntounto the things deliuered; as we ſee in the example of the Iewes, who, when the Prophet preached vntounto them, with their mouthes Ezech. 33. 31.made iests, and ſuffered their hearts to runne after couetouſneſſe. Which that we may auoyd, let vsus hold them in our hands, as ready to imploy them in Gods ſeruice, and for the good of our brethren, but not ſuffer them through carnall louelove to take rooting in our hearts, which is Gods portion and faireſt field, allotted to receiue the ſeede of his Word, for the growth of ſpirituall graces. Or if the enuious man hath ſowed any of theſe tares and weedes in them, let vsus roote them out with all care and diligence, before wee goe into the holy aſſemblies, that they may not choake in vsus that ſpirituall ſeede, nor hinder the growth of ſauing graces; and let vsus, as the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus, mortifie our earthly luſts, and flie carnall concupiſcence, when we deſire to bee furniſhed with Gods graces, by the Miniſtery of the Word, and to follow after righteouſneſſe, godlineſſe, faith, louelove, 1. Tim. 6. 10, 11.patience, and meekeneſſe.
§. Sect. 6 That we muſt carefully arme our ſelues againſt the tentations vntounto which this eſtate is indangered; and take heede that it hinder not our heauenly happineſſe.
Tenthly, let it be our care when wee are in proſperity, to ſet a double watch ouer our ſelues, that we be not ouercome with thoſe manifold tentations, 1. Tim. 6. 9. Deut. 7. 25.vntounto which this eſtate doth chiefly expoſe vsus, as louelove of the world, earthly-mindedneſſe, ambition, couetouſneſſe, voluptuouſneſſe, and the reſt. To which end let vsus conſider, that in theſe worldly thickets Satan cunningly layeth his moſt dangerous ambuſhments, to ſurprize vsus with his tentations at vnawares; that they are his traps and ſnares, in which hee intangleth many, and keepeth them in his ſlauery; and his vſuall baites, whereby he allureth vsus to come within the compaſſe of his nets of perdition, vntounto which, who ſo ſtoope with a greedy appetite, fall into many fooliſh and noyſome luſts, which drowne them in deſtruction. Finally, that they are his common wages, which he offereth as his hire, to draw men to ſerue him in the workes of darkeneſſe, wherewith hee hath preuailed with ſo many, that he thought it his ſtrongeſt inducement to perſwade our Sauiour Math. 4. 9.Chriſt himſelfe to yeeld vntounto him and doe him ſeruice. And therefore as we deſire to ſtand in the day of tentation, to preuent our foyles, and would not hazzard the eternall ſaluation of our ſoules, let vsus in our proſperity watch ouer our ſelues, and alſo earneſtly deſire the Watchman of Iſrael to watch ouer vsus, that wee may be preſerued from all theſe dangers. Finally, let vsus, when we inioy proſperity and temporall bleſſings, aboue all things carefully take heed, that they do not hinder our heauenly happineſſe, by being burthens on our ſhoulders, which will tire vsus in our iourney thitherwards, and as the Camels bunch vponupon our backes, which will hinder vsus from entring into the ſtraight gate. The which our care muſt be redoubled by the greatneſſe of the danger, ſeeing it is a moſt hard thing for the ſame man to inioy earth and heauen, to hauehave temporall felicitie in the full fruition of worldly things, and eternall happineſſe in Gods Kingdome, to hauehave the honours, riches, and pleaſures of this life, and eternall glory, laſting riches, and heauenly ioyes in the life to come. For the Apoſtle telleth vsus, that not many wiſe men after the fleſh, nor many mighty, 1. Cor. 1. 26.nor many noble are called vntounto them; and our Sauiour hath taught vsus, that it is eaſier for a Camell to paſſe thorow the eye of a needle, then for a rich man Matth. 19. 24.to enter into the Kingdome of God. For preuenting of which danger, and the auoyding of this incomparable loſſe; let vsus vſe theſe earthly things, as though 1. Cor. 7. 31.we vſed them not, or as not abuſing them, making them to ſerue as helpes in our pilgrimage to further vsus in our way, by imploying them to all good vſes; and when they begin through our carnall louelove to cling vntounto vsus, and to become heauy burthens to hinder vsus in our race, let vsus, as the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus, caſt them off, that we may run more cheerefully, and parting Heb. 12. 1.with our ſuperfluities for the reliefe of others neceſſities, let vsus retaine onelyonly ſo much as may further vsus in our iourney.
§. Sect. 7 That we muſt not too highly eſteeme, nor too earneſtly affect and ſeek after earthly things.
But eſpecially, let vsus take heed, that wee doe not value them in our iudgements, affect them in our hearts, nor ſeeke after them in our actions and indeuours, more then ſpirituall graces and heauenly happineſſe; that we doe not make Idols of them, by louing them more then God, taking more paines to get them, and more care to keepe them, and more griefe to loſe them, then the aſſurance of his fauour, or to carry our ſelues acceptably in his ſight; finally, though we doe not vtterly reiect them from hauing ſome place in our hearts, yet let vsus beware, that wee doe not giuegive them the chiefe ſeate, but let them hauehave entertainement, according to their owne ranke and condition, as things indifferently good, and farre ſhort in excellencie vntounto ſpirituall graces and heauenly glory; that though wee poſſeſſe them, yet we be not poſſeſſed of them, nor become their ſlaues, whereas God hath made vsus their Lords and gouernours. And that wee may not thus exceſſiuely eſteeme and immoderately louelove them, let vsus conſider, that in themſelues they deſerue it not, being in compariſon of grace and glory, of no worth; and though they were to others of ſome value, yet not vntounto vsus who profeſſe Chriſtianity. In themſelues they are in the former compariſon to be lightly eſteemed, and ſlightly affected, ſeeing they bring not vntounto vsus any abſolute, true, and certaine good, becauſe in their owne nature they hauehave not in them any ſuch degree of goodneſſe, being vaine and of no ſolidity, whereof it is that they doe not ſatisfie thoſe that hauehave them, and not onelyonly vnprofitable to their owners, for the chiefe and beſt vſes and ends, but alſo mixt and diſtaſted with many euils and miſeries which doe attend vponupon them. Or though they were good, yet wee hauehave no certainetie, either in getting or keeping them, becauſe both they and wee are both momentany and mutable, and are eueryevery day in danger to bee parted from one another. Yea ſo farre are they from any abſolute goodneſſe, that through our corruption, by which wee become apt to abuſe them, they are cauſes, or at leaſt occaſions of much hurt; being prouocations vntounto all ſinne, both againſt God, our neighbours, and our ſelues, deriuing vntounto vsus innumerable euils, both temporall, and thoſe ciuill and ſpirituall, and alſo eternall, as hindring the fruition of heauenly happineſſe, and furthering and increaſing euerlaſting puniſhments; or though they were good in themſelues, and were not through our abuſe occaſions of theſe euils; yet they are not to bee eſteemed and affected in reſpect of vsus, who are but Pilgrims on earth, hauing only the vſe and benefit of them in our paſſage, and (as it were) in our Inne where wee are to make but ſhort abode; and Citizens of heauen, and heires of thoſe eternall ioyes and laſting happineſſe, which infinitely exceed all worldly things, in which, being our Countrey, we doe expect durable riches and euerlaſting Ioh. 14. 2. Heb. 11. 9, 10.habitations. All which reaſons I doe heere but briefly touch, and content my ſelfe with, namely, theſe generall heads, becauſe I hauehave largely handled, and effectually preſſed them as I was able, in my ſecond part of the Chriſtian Warfare.