A Guide to Godliness, Book 6 · Chapter 17
CAP. XVII.
Their obiection anſwered, who alleadge that their pouerty preſſeth them to ſuch continuall labour, that they hauehave no leyſure for the duties of a godly life.
§. Sect. 1 That Gods Commandements bind vntounto obedience both poore and rich.
THe ſeuenth obiection is made by thoſe who are afflicted with pouerty, and cannot, without much labour and great paines, procure neceſſaries for the ſuſtayning of their owne liues and thoſe that depend vponupon them. O, ſay they, we are ſo miſerably poore, that vnleſſe we ſpend our whole time in the workes of our callings, we cannot get ſuch a ſmall competency as is ſufficient to hold life and ſoule together, nor food and clothing for our ſelues, wiues, children and families, which we muſt prouide for, vnleſſe we would be worſe then Infidels, being bound ſo to doe both by the Law of God and nature. And therefore hauing no ſpare time to ſpend in Religious duties, we hope that God will hauehave vsus excuſed, and not impute the fault vntounto vsus, but to our pouerty, which neceſſarily conſtraineth vsus to neglect the duties of his ſeruice, which if wee had time and leiſure, like other men, wee would willingly performe. To which I anſwer firſt, that the Law and commandements of God are giuen indefinitely and generally vntounto all men, the poore as well as the rich, and tie all ſorts of men equally and indifferently vntounto obedience, without any exemption or toleration granted to any ſtate and condition. Otherwiſe, if ſuch excuſes might paſſe for current pay, none would want pretences to ſlip their necks out of the yoke of obedience, ſeeing proſperity and plenty, as well as aduerſity and penurie, doe not want their ſeuerall imployments, and diſtractions enow to hinder vsus from the duties of Gods ſeruice, if at leaſt we will yeeld and giuegive way vntounto them. Secondly I anſwer, that the ſtate of pouertie being ſanctified vntounto vsus, is much more fit for the duties of Gods ſeruice, then that which floweth with plentie and abundance, as being leſſe ſubiect to many potent vices and corruptions which hinder vsus in them, as pride and ſelfe-louelove, wrath and inſolencie, ſloth and idleneſſe, intemperance, inſobriety and many others.
§. Sect. 2 That pouerty hindreth not Gods graces in vsus, but rather furthereth them.
Thirdly, pouerty doth not hinder any of Gods graces in vsus: Yea, through Gods bleſſing, doth much further and increaſe them; as meekeneſſe, humility, patience, temperance, ſobriety, watchfulneſſe in prayer. Yea, it doth not make vsus leſſe fit for any, either in reſpect of the graces themſelues or the practice and exerciſe of them; for ſauing graces are not bought for money, nor loſt for want of coyne to purchaſe them, but are the gifts of God, which he giueth freely without reſpect of perſons, to poore and rich, if they hunger and thirſt after them; according to that gracious call: Ho, eueryevery one that thirſteth, come yee to the waters, and he that hath no money, come yee, buy and Eſay 51. 1.eate, yea come buy wine and milke without money, and without price. So our Sauiour Chriſt; If any man thirſt, let him come vntounto mee and drinke; Joh. 7. 37, 38, 39.he that beleeueth on mee, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow riuers of liuing water; that is, the ſauing graces of his ſanctifying Spirit, as he expoundeth it in the words following. Neither doth pouertie hinder the Spirituall exerciſe of any grace in our outward practice, no, not Chriſtian bounty and beneficence, which God meaſureth not by the greatneſſe of the gift; but the obedience and liberality of the giuer; For if a man hath a willing minde, hee is accepted 2. Cor. 8. 12.according to that which hee hath, and not according to that which hee hath not, as in this particular caſe the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. The which our Sauiour euidently ſheweth in the example of the poore, yet liberall widdow, whoſe two mites being all her wealth, was eſteemed the greateſt gift that was caſt into the Treaſurie. Much leſſe doth pouertie hinder vsus in the duties of Gods ſeruice, which ſeeing they are to bee performed, not with outward pompe, but in Spirit and Truth, neede not the helpe of money and riches to further Ioh. 4. 24.vsus in them. And this the examples of all Gods Saints, who hauehave liued in former ages, doe euidently ſhew, vntounto whom pouertie was no impediment to hinder them from performing vntounto God any dutie of his ſeruice. For the poore Fiſhermen were no leſſe diligent in all religious duties, then the wealthy Patriarches; poore Lazarus, then rich Abraham; Amos an heard-man, then Eſayas of the Kings ſtocke; Paul a poore Tent-maker, then Dauid a rich King; yea, our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, as hee exceeded all others in pouerty, liuing vponupon almes, and not hauing a place of his owne Luk. 9. 58.where to lay his head; ſo hee exceeded all men that euer liued in piety, and in the practice of all Religious duties belonging to a godly life.
§. Sect. 3 That the more poore we are, the more earneſt we ſhould be in Gods ſeruice.
Fourthly, I anſwer, that the more poore wee are in our outward eſtate, the more intentiue and diligent ſhould wee be in the ſeruice of 1. Tim. 6. 6.God, and all religious exerciſes; that being defectiue in earthly bleſſings, wee may be made rich in all ſpirituall and ſauing graces, and that wanting with Peter and Iohn, ſiluer and gold, wee may with them exceede in Godlineſſe, which is the chiefeſt Gaine, and bringeth with it the greateſt contentment. Finally, that hauing no other patrimony in lands and houſes, wherein we might delight our ſelues, wee doe make Gods teſtimonies to be our heritage for euer, and the verie reioycing Pſal. 119. 111.of our hearts. Fifthly, ſeeing the whole earth and all therein is, is the Lords, and at his diſpoſing, to whom he pleaſeth, and it is his bleſsing alone which maketh rich, therefore the more poore wee Pſal. 24. 1.are, the more painefull and diligent ſhould we be in all duties of his ſeruice, that he may ſo bleſſe our labours, and proſper our handy-worke, as that it may be an effectuall meanes, ſeruing his prouidence, for procuring ſome ſufficiency of theſe temporall benefits. Thus Dauid acknowledged, that it was the Lord whom he ſerued, Pſal. 23. 5.that had furniſhed his table. That it is he who giueth vntounto all, their Pſal. 145. 15, 16.meate in due ſeaſon, and by opening his hand, doth ſatisfie the deſire of eueryevery liuing thing. That except the Lord build the houſe, they labour Pſal. 127. 1, 2.in vaine that build it; except the Lord keepe the Citie, the watchman waketh but in vaine; And that it is in vaine for vsus to riſe vp early, to ſit vp late, and to eate the bread of ſorrowes, vnleſſe the Lord doe bleſſe our labours, as the experience of many in all times plainely ſheweth, whoſe carking care, and reſtleſſe labours will not affoord them ſuch neceſſaries, as are caſt vponupon others with little paynes. It is the Lord, as 1. Sam. 2. 7, 8.Hanna profeſſeth, who maketh poore, and maketh rich, bringeth low, and lifteth vp; Hee rayſeth vp the poore out of the duſt, and lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill, to ſet them among Princes, and to make them inherite the Crowne of glory. It is the bleſsing of the Lord that maketh rich, and addeth Pro. 10. 22.no ſorrow with it, as the Wiſe man ſpeaketh; and it is his powerfull Word, by which wee liue, and not by bread onelyonly, as himſelfe teacheth vsus. Deut. 8. 3. Matth. 4. 4.And therefore let vsus not thinke, that by neglecting Gods ſeruice we ſhall thriue the better, or that we ſhall hauehave the more liberall wages, becauſe we are ſlothfull in doing his worke, and ſpend our whole time and ſtrength about our owne.
§. Sect. 4 That if being poore, we carefully ſerue God, we may ſecurely caſt our ſelues vponupon his gracious prouidence, and expect him to be our reward.
Sixthly, though wee be poore, and hauehave nothing to ſuſtaine vsus and our charge, but what wee earne with our dayly and painefull labour, yet if wee doe not wholy addict our ſelues to the world, but allot ſeaſonable times to Gods worſhip and ſeruice, we ſhall not be the neerer to want and penury; yea rather, laying aſide all carking care, wee may ſecurely caſt our ſelues with full affiance vponupon his prouidence and promiſes, and expect ſuch a bleſſing vponupon the labours of our hands performed in due place and time, as that neither we, nor thoſe that belong vntounto vsus, ſhal want food conuenient, nor any other thing that is good. For if the Lord be ſo gracious and bountiful, that he prouideth for ſtrangers, who ſerue Satan and their own luſts, how can we imagine that he will ſuffer thoſe of his owne family, who ſpare time from their neceſſary imployments, that they may doe him faithfull ſeruice, to want and pine for hunger? If his prouidence extendeth to the Fowles Mat. 6. 26, 28.of heauen, and the beaſts of the field, to feed them without their care, and if hee clotheth the Lillies of the field without their labour, how will he not take greater care for vsus that are his houſhold ſeruants, and adopted children, who moderately vſe our beſt ſtudie and indeuour to ſerue his prouidence, in prouiding things neceſſary, but ſo in the meane time, as that wee will, by borrowing ſome time from the works of our callings, rather indanger our ſelues to want, then we will bee wanting vntounto him in ſpirituall duties of his ſeruice? Let vsus then, as the Apoſtle exhorteth, bee carefull for nothing, but reſting vponupon his Phil. 4. 6.care and prouidence with firme affiance, let vsus in all our neceſſities, by prayer and ſupplication with thankeſgiuing, make our requeſts knowne vntounto God. For the Lord hath bound himſelfe freely by many gracious promiſes, that if caſting off all carking care, we truſt in him, and ſerue him in the duties of piety and righteouſneſſe, hee will prouide for vsus what wee ſtand in need of, and will not ſuffer vsus to want any thing that is good. So the Pſalmiſt, Truſt in the Lord, and do good, ſo ſhalt thou dwell in the land, Pſal. 37. 3, 5. Pro. 16. 3. Pſal. 34. 9, 10.and verily thou ſhalt bee fed. Commit thy way vntounto the Lord, truſt alſo in him, and hee ſhall bring it to paſſe. O feare the Lord, ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that feare him. The young Lyons doe lacke and ſuffer hunger: but they that ſeeke the Lord, ſhall not want any good things. So the Wiſe man telleth vsus, that the Lord will not ſuffer the ſoule of the righteous to famiſh, but hee Pro. 10. 3.caſteth away the ſubſtance of the wicked. The which Dauid ſaw confirmed in his owne experience, hauing not obſerued in all his time from his youth to old age, that the righteous had beene at any time forſaken, or Pſal. 37. 25.their ſeede begging their bread. And thus the Apoſtle Peter exhorteth vsus to caſt all our care vponupon the Lord, for he careth for vsus. The which promiſes 1. Pet. 5. 7.the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes layeth as a ground of his diſſwaſion from couetouſneſſe and diſcontent; Let your conuerſation (ſaith hee) be without couetouſneſſe, and be content with ſuch things as ye hauehave: for he hath ſaid, Heb. 13. 5.I will not leaue thee nor forſake thee. Seuenthly, if wee deuote our ſelues vntounto Gods ſeruice & louelove, as it beſeemeth his children, in holy obedience, allotting time conuenient to religious duties, the Lord himſelfe will be our wages and exceeding great reward, and he that is God all-ſufficient, Gen. 15. 1. Chap. 17. 1. Deus mihi ſufficit, etiamſi caetera cuncta ferat alius. Gregor. Nazian. Cygn. Carmin. lib. Nimis auarus eſt, cui Deus non ſufficit.in the abſence of all earthly helpes and meanes, will be our portion and inheritance, which whoſo inioy, can want nothing. And this argument the Lord vſeth to incourage Abraham to ſerue him; Feare not, Abraham, I am thy ſhield, and thine exceeding great reward. And againe, I am the almighty, or all-ſufficient God, walke before me, and be thou vpright. And therefore let vsus ſay with one of the Ancients; God alone ſufficeth mee, although who ſo will take all things elſe beſides him; for hee is too couetous whom God cannot ſatisfie. Eightly, if we be diligent in Gods ſeruice, though wee hauehave not ſo much as others, yet that little wee hauehave (as before I ſhewed) is much better then their great riches and reuenewes who neglect it. According to that of the Wiſe man, Better is a little with righteouſneſſe, then great reuenewes without Pro. 16. 8. & 28. 6. & 15. 16right. Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightneſſe, then hee that is peruerſe in his waies, though he bee rich. And, Better is a little with the feare of the Lord, then great treaſures and trouble therewith. For as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, The Lord knoweth the dayes of the vpright, and their inheritance ſhall be for Pſal. 37. 18, 19.euer; they ſhall not bee aſhamed in the euill time; and in the dayes of famine they ſhall be ſatisfyed, &c. Againe, that little which the righteous hauehave, that feare and ſerue God, is better then the abundance of the wicked, who ſerue the world and their owne luſts, becauſe that godlineſſe which is ioyned with it, is the greateſt gaine, and in the loweſt eſtate 1. Tim. 6. 6.bringeth contentation, which is a Iewell of ſuch value, that it is aboue the purchaſe of all earthly riches, and cannot bee bought with the price of a monarchy. According to that of the Wiſe man; The righteous eateth to the ſatisfying of his ſoule, though his commons bee neuer ſo Pro. 13. 25.ſhort; but the belly of the wicked ſhall want, euen when he ſitteth at his full furniſhed table. For when his appetite is ſatisfyed, he is not ſatisfyed, becauſe he wanteth an appetite.
§. Sect. 5 That the obiection of pouerty is but a friuolous and falſe excuſe.
Finally, let all thoſe know, who obiect their pouerty, and their continuall labours to ſupply their wants, as an excuſe for their neglect of Gods ſeruice in the duties of a godly life, that it is but a falſe and friuolous pretence, whereby they palliat and colour their irreligious prophaneneſſe. For they who will not ſerue God when they are poore, would much leſſe do it if they were rich. They that will ſue and ſeeke vntounto God for helpe and ſuccour, when they are deſtitute of neceſſaries, would much more neglect him, if their ſtorehouſes were full, and their tables furniſhed with all plenty. They that will not call vponupon Eſa. 26. 16.the Lord when they are in trouble, nor powre forth a prayer vntounto him when his chaſtizement is vponupon him, would much more forget him and neglect this dutie in their proſperity and ſecurity from danger. And who ſeeth not by continuall experience, that many who hauehave ſeemed diligent and deuout in the duties of Gods ſeruice, in their poore and meane eſtate, hauehave afterwards beene looſe and lazie, cold and negligent, when the world hath ſmiled vponupon them, and their wealth and riches hauehave beene increaſed and multiplyed? Neither in truth is pouerty, and paines to ſupply our wants, any hindrance to the daily and neceſſary duties of Gods ſeruice, ſeeing if wee order our time aright, and wiſely diſpoſe of our buſineſſe, both of them may well ſtand together. For the Lord requireth not at our hands, that wee ſhould ſpend the greateſt part of our time in religious exerciſes, and neglect the duties of our callings, but onelyonly that wee allot ſome ſmall time to holy duties, and performe our honeſt labours in the reſt, therein yeelding obedience by performing theſe workes, becauſe hee hath required them. And ſo farre is hee off from exacting of vsus monkiſh idleneſſe, and vacancy from all labour, vnderunder pretence that wee may wholly deuote our ſelues to religious exerciſes, that hee expreſſely forbiddeth it, and Prou. 6. 6. and 24. 30, 31. Prou. 27. 23. Epheſ. 4. 28. 2. Theſ. 3. 10.ſtrictly requireth painfull diligence in the duties of our callings; and contrariwiſe condemneth ſloth and negligence, adiudging thoſe who will not labour, as vnworthy to eate, and cenſuring them to bee worſe then Infidels, who by their diligence and care prouide not for their family. But yet all 1. Tim. 5. 8.this inferreth no neceſſity of neglecting religious duties, ſeeing there is no man ſo wholly taken vp with his labours, that may not finde ſome ſpare time for the duties of Gods ſeruice, ſeeing leſſe is required hereunto, then he who is moſt diligent ſpendeth in ſuperfluous ſleepe, idel conferences, and vponupon other needleſſe and vſeleſſe occaſions; as wee ſhall more fully ſhew in anſwering the next obiection.