A Saint or a Brute, Part 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Holineſs is the moſt Gainfull way.
VVEE have certainly found out already the SAFEST Way, and the HONESEST way: We are next to enquire which way is moſt Profitable. And one would think that this ſhould be as eaſily reſolved as the reſt. I am ſure if God be wiſer then man, and his holy word to be believed, the queſtion is decided, and beyond diſpute. Saith Paul, 1 Tim. 6. 5, 6. Men of corrupt minds, and deſtitute of the truth, ſuppoſe that Gain is godlineſs,] or that it is better then Godlineſs, and therefore their Godlineſs to be ſuited to their worldly gain: [But (it is) Godlineſs with contentment which is the great Gain] Yea [Godlineſs is profitable to all things, having Promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.] 1 Tim. 4. 8.
But to what end ſhould I cite more words of Scripture, for a point which all the Scripture proveth? It is not poſſible that any man can be unreſolved in this, that underſtandeth and believeth the word of God. But yet becauſe I ſee that Commodity is ſo much lookt after in the world, and almoſt all are for the Gainful way, as they apprehend it, and therefore its plain that Godlineſs is not Practically believed to be the moſt gainful way (or elſe men would follow it as eagerly as they do their worldly gain;) I ſhall therefore open to you ſomewhat of that Gain that Godlineſs doth bring; and if you can ſay that any other courſe will prove as gainful, and make it good, then take that courſe: But if you cannot, conſider what you have to do, and do not refuſe your own Commodity.
1. The firſt part of our Gain, which is the ſum of all the reſt, … himſelf who is become our God, through Jeſus Chriſt. He is in Covenant with all the Saints, (Pſalm 50. 5.) and this is the Covenant [I will be your God, and you ſhall be my People.] Jer. 7. 23. Ezek. 36. 28. Jer. 11. 4. & 30. 22. Lev. 26. 45. 12. Ezek. 11. 20. & 37. 23, 27. 2 Cor. 6. 16. He is a God to others as a King is a King to Traytors whom he will condemn: But he is a God to his People, as a King is related to his faithful ſubjects, and a Father to his deareſt child. When he calleth himſelf [Our Father] he ſpeaketh ſo much of his childrens Happineſs, as is their admiration as well as their joy. But when he calleth himſelf [Our God] he ſpeaks as much as much as can be ſpoken.
To be [our God] is to be [the Infinite, Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs engaged to us for our Good, and to be ours according to our neceſſity and capacity.]
This, O ye worldlings, is the Riches of the Saints! This is the Wealth that we will boldly boaſt of. Boaſt you of your houſes and lands and money, and we will boaſt of our God. Have you Houſes, and Towns and Countreys at command? Be it ſo: but the Saints have the God of the world, to be their God. Have you Kingdoms and Dominions? We have the God of all the earth; the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Set all your Riches in the ballance againſt him, and try what they will prove. Set all the world, and the Kingdoms, and Glory, and Wealth of it in the ballance, and try whether they are any more to God, then one duſt or feather to all the world; yea they are nothing, and leſs then nothing; vanity and lighter then vanity it ſelf. Isa. 40. 16, 17. This one Jewel containeth all our Treaſure. He is ours that hath all things: What then can we need? Pſal. 23. 1. He is ours that knoweth all things: Who then can overreach us, or undo us by deceit? He is ours that can do all things: What then ſhould we fear? and what power ſhall prevail againſt us? He is ours that is Goodneſs and Love it ſelf. How then can we be miſerable? or what imperfection can there be in our Felicity?] They that truſt in their wealth, and boaſt themſelves in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother (nor himſelf) that he ſhould live for ever and not ſee corruption.] Pſalm 49. 6, 7, 9. [But God will redeem us from the power of the grave; for he ſhall receive us] Ver. 15. Let the workers of iniquity boaſt themſelves a while! (Pſalm 94. 4.) Let the wicked … deſire, and bleſs the cove… whom the Lord abhorreth.] Pſalm 10. 3. It is the Lord that is King for ever and ever; that heareth the deſires of the hamble; that prepareth our hearts, and prepareth his ear to hear. Ver. 16, 17. Our ſouls ſhall make their boaſt in God, Pſalm. 34. 2. [O taſt and ſee that the Lord is good! bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him.] But you cannot ſay truly [Bleſſed is the man that hath Lands and Lorſhips: Bleſſed is the man that hath Crowns and Kingdoms:] Yea, truly may you ſay, [Curſed is the man that truſteth in man, and maketh fleſh his arm, and withdraweth his heart from the Lord.] Jer. 17. 5. [Fear the Lord ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that fear him.] Pſalm 34. 8, 9, 10. But when you have all the world, you cannot ſay that you have no want. Confounded then be the covetous Idolaters, that boaſt themſelves of their Idols (Pſalm 97. 7.) But in God will we boaſt all the day long, and praiſe his name for evermore. Pſalm 44. 8. What have you but the gleanings of our harveſt? and the crums that fall from the childrens table? Our God is he that giveth you your proſperity: He droppeth you theſe leavings, from the redundancy of his Goodneſs, when he hath given himſelf, his Son and all things to his own. All that we want, and all that our ſouls deſire, is in God. We have none in heaven but him, nor any in earth that we deſire beſides him, Pſalm 73. 25. His loving kindneſs is better to us then life: Pſalm 63. 3. [Our fleſh and our heart faileth us (and all the creatures fail us) but God is the ſtrength of our hearts and our portion for ever.] Pſalm 73. 26. Verily the Riches of all the Princes of the earth is leſs in compariſon of him that is the Treaſure and Portion of the Saints, then a ſtraw is to all the earth, or a little dung to the ſhining Sun.
2. Would you yet hear more of the Riches of Believers (though more then God there cannot be) The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is their Head and Husband; their Saviour and Interceſſour at Gods right hand: They are Married to him! His Merits are th…irs for all thoſe uſes to which they need them. It is he that Juſtifieth: Who then ſhall condemn them? He that ſpared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how ſhall be not with …i… ▪ alſo freely give us all things? Rom. 8. 32, 34. Chriſt is the Pearl of infinite valu…, for whom we have willingly ſold all. Matth. 13. 45, 46. And what are all your Treaſures to this Treaſure? Ask …l and he will tell you, that had tryed both, Phil. 3. 7, 8. His … …e counteth Loſs for Chriſt: yea, all things he accounted but loſs and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt.] It is Love incomprehenſible, ſurpaſſing knowledge, that is revealed to us in Chriſt, Eph. 3. 18, 19. The Riches of Chriſt are unſearchable Riches, Eph. 3. 8. It is Chriſt that bindeth up our broken hearts; that is the Peace-maker and Reconciler of our ſouls to God. What he hath done for us, and what he will do, I ſhall tell you anon. But the ungodly have no part in him, nor have they any ſuch treaſure, that will do for them what Chriſt will do for us. Their Treaſure is the wrath of God, which they are heaping up againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God, Rom. 2. 5. All the Treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge are hid. in Chriſt, Col. 2. 3. And he hath them for us, according to our meaſure: as being our Treaſurie, our Head, and made of God to us Wiſdom, and Righteouſneſs, and Sanctification, and Redemption, 1 Cor. 1. 30. They are exceeding Riches of Grace that are ſhewed in the kindneſs of God through Jeſus Chriſt, to all that are ſanctified by that grace, Epheſ. 2. 6, 7, 8. Yea, that you may ſee there is no compariſon, even that which you abhorr in a Chriſtians caſe, and account his miſery and the worſt of Chriſt, is better then the beſt of your condition, and then that for which you loſe your ſouls. For the very Reproach of Chriſt, is greater riches then the Treaſures of the world, Heb. 11. 26. And it is the reproach that we undergo for Chriſt, that you moſt abhorr, and the treaſures of the world that you highlyeſt eſteem. It is greater Riches to be one of them that are ſcorned and derided for the ſake of Chriſt, then to be one of them that hath the wealth of the world at his diſpoſe. And if the Reproach of Chriſt be greater Riches then all yours, What then is his Life, and Love, and Benefits? his Grace and Glory?
3. Would you have the Riches of the Saints yet further opened to you? Why the Holy-Ghoſt is in Covenant with them as their Sanctifier and Comforter: And he is not only theirs himſelf, by Covenant and Relation, but he alſo dwelleth in them by his gra…s, and reſtoreth the image of God upon them. They are the … ples of the Holy-Ghoſt which is in them, 1 Cor. 6. 19. And by the Spirit, and by Faith, Chriſt dwelleth in their hearts, Epheſ. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 3. 16. God himſelf doth dwell in them, and converſe with them, and write his Law in their hearts, and teach them himſelf by this his Spirit. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Heb. 8. 10. & …. 1…. [Hereby we know that he dwelleth in us by, the Spirit which …e … given us, 1 John 3. 24. Yea he that is joyned to the Lord, is One spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17. For [the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.] 2 Cor. 3. 17. [We are an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephes. 2. 22.] [Becauſe we are ſons, God hath ſent the ſpirit of his Son into our hearts, whereby we cry Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6.] By this Spirit the Saints have acceſs unto the Father, Epheſ. 2. 18. and by this it is that they are quickened to prayer and holy worſhip, and their infirmities are helpt, Epheſ. 6, 18. Rom. 8. 11, 26. By this they fight againſt the fleſh, and overcome it, Gal. 5. 17, 18. Rom. 8. 13. In this they live, and walk, and work, Rom. 8. 1, 5. Gal. 5. 16, 25. This Spirit is the Teſtimony of their Adoption. Rom. 8. 16. and the ſeal and earneſt of their heavenly inheritance, 2 Cor. 1. 22. & 5. 5. Epheſ. 4. 30. By this they are new born, John 3. 5, 6. And put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful luſts, and being renewed in the ſpirit of their minds, do put on the new man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs, Epheſ. 4. 22, 23, 24. By the illumination of this ſpirit, they have a new underſtanding, and are brought out of darkneſs into the marvellous Light of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 9. that they may know what is the hope of the Chriſtian Vocation, and what is the Riches of the glory of Chriſts inheritance in the Saints, Eph. 1. 18. In a word, by this Spirit their ſins are mortified, their ſouls renewed, and made like to God, and they become a holy Prieſt-hood, a peculiar people unto Chriſt, and in this Spirit have Communion with him, Rom. 8. 13. Tit. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Tit. 2. 14. 2 Cor. 13. 14. And what is all the Riches of this world, to this Heavenly Treaſure, the Spirit of the Lord? They that have this Spirit, are taught by it to ſet light by all your Riches, and to eſteem one dayes Communion with Chriſt, above all the Gold and Glory of this world. And that which ſets the ſoul of man ſo far above Riches, is better then thoſe Riches. As your Lands and honours do ſet you above the pins and points that children take for their treaſure, and ſet as much by as you do by yours; ſo the Spirit of Chriſt and the Life of Faith, doth ſet the ſouls of true Believers a thouſand…old more above your Riches, then you are above your childrens …oyes.
If yet you ſee not the Riches of Saints, conſider but the wonderful expreſſion, … Pet. 1. 4. that they [have exceeding great … precious promiſes given them▪ that by theſe they may be partakers of the Divine nature, having eſcaped the corruption that is in the world through luſt.] And can there be more on earth beſtowed on man, then to be made partakers of the Divine nature? As it would be a greater gift to a bruit, to be made a man, and have manly Riches, then to have ſtore of Provender ſuited to his brutiſhneſs; ſo is it greater Riches to the ungodly to be ſanctified and made partakers of that nature that is called Divine by God himſelf, then to have proviſion for unmortified luſts, and to have all the contentments of a fleſhly mind. It were a greater gift to an Ideot, to be made a wiſe and learned man, then to be furniſhed with feathers or ſticks to play with. So is it here.
4. Every truly ſanctified man, is reſtored from the miſery that he was brought into by ſin. He hath all his ſins forgiven him, and is freed from the curſe of the Law, by the merits of Chriſt, and the promiſe of the Goſpel. For in him we have Redemption through his blood, even the forgiveneſs of ſins. Col. 1. 14. And by him all that believe are juſtified from all things, from which they could not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes. Acts 13. 39. When we were dead in our ſins, we were quickened with Chriſt, and had all our treſpaſſes forgiven us, Col. 2. 13. Ask a wounded Conſcience that groaneth under the weight of ſin, and under the ſenſe of Gods indignation, Whether forgiveneſs of ſin be a Treaſure or not? I am ſure they that now are paſt forgiveneſs, and feel what ſin is in the bitter fruits, would give ten thouſand worlds, if they had them, for the pardon of their ſins; and would account forgiveneſs a greater mercy then all the Riches and Kingdoms of the world. What a heavy curſe did the Spirit of God paſs upon Simon Magus, for thinking that money was a valuable thing to purchaſe the Holy Ghoſt with! Acts 8. 20, 21. Thy money periſh with thee, becauſe thou haſt thought that the gift of God may be purchaſed by money: Thou haſt neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God: repent therefore of this thy wickedneſs, &c. The name of Simon Magus is odious to us all; and yet I doubt that moſt among us exceed him in the ſin for which he is thus curſed. For he thought the gift of the holy-Ghoſt to be better then his money, or elſe he would not have offered his money for it. But moſt men take their money to be better then the gift of the Holy-Ghost. If he that would have purchaſed the Holy-Ghost, yea a lower and leſs neceſſary gift of the ſpirit, was pronounced wicked, and curſed with ſuch a heavy curſe; What are they that ſet more by their money then by the ſpecial gift of the Holy-Ghoſt, yea that hate and deride it, and plead againſt its Sanctifying work? The time is near when your Riches will fail you, and your proſperity die, and your ſins will live; and then there is none of you all but will ſay that Pardon and Grace are greater Riches then all the world.
5. Moreover, the godly have Angels to attend them and be their guard, as I have proved to you before. And are horſes, and kine, and oxen, think you, greater Riches then the Guard and Miniſtration of the Angels of God? Heb. 1. 14. Pſalm 91. 11, 12.
6. And ſurely the very Communion of Saints and Ordinances of God which in the Church we here enjoy, are greater Riches then all the world. We are now no more ſtrangers and forreigners, but fellow-Citizens of the Saints, and of the houſhold of God. Epheſ. 2. 19. We are members of that well-tempered body; where all the members are obliged and diſpoſed to have the ſame care one for another, that if one ſuffer all ſuffer, and if one be honoured all rejoyce, 1 Cor. 12. 25, 26. As weak as Chriſtians are, and as worthleſs in your eyes, one of their hearty ſpiritual prayers, and one word of their holy ſavoury conference, doth profit us more, then all your Treaſures will ever profit you. While the Divine nature is in them, ſomewhat Divine will proceed from their mouthes, and be ſeen in their lives, which is worth more then all the Riches of the world. And O how fruitful are the holy Ordinances which we partake of, both in the Churches Communion, and alone in our retirements! A poor Chriſtian can get more in a Sermon which you ſleep under, or deride, then you will get by your trades or livings while you live. He findeth greater Treaſures in one Chapter of the Bible, or in one good Book, then you can get out of all your lands or labours. The beſt of your livings will not yield you ſo much commodity in ſeven years, nor in ſeven thouſand years, if you could ſo long keep them, as a believing ſoul can get from God in one hours prayer, even in ſecret, where he is not by man obſerved. You do not believe this, that are ungodly: I know you do not heartily believe it; for elſe you would try it, and not continue in your ungodlineſs. But they that try it, know it to be true. Or elſe what makes them continue in it, and live upon their holy Communion with God and his ſervants, more reſolvedly then you do on your lands and labours. Somewhat you may conjecture they find in holy duty, that makes them ſo inſtant in it as they are.
7. Another part of our commodity by Holineſs, is, the Promiſe and Aſſurance of the Love of God and of our ſalvation; and the Peace of Conſcience that followeth hereupon. All true Believers have objective certainty: that is, the thing is certain in itſelf, whether they perceive it or not. And they may have ſubjective or Actual certainty in themſelves, if they do their parts. And is not a certain Title to a Lordſhip or a Kingdom, a greater Treaſure then the poſſeſſion of a ſtraw? Much more is Gods Promiſe of Everlaſting Glory, a greater Treaſure then all your wealth. As Heaven is infinitely better then earth, ſo the Promiſe of God is the beſt ſecurity. Though we be not with Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, and do not yet ſee the face of God, yet have we a Promiſe that ſpeedily we ſhall be there, and ſhall ſee that which they ſee, and enjoy all that which they enjoy. The pooreſt Chriſtian hath all that in Promiſe under the hand of God himſelf, which Angels and Glorified Saints have in poſſeſſion. They can ſhew you a better Title to Heaven, though they are unworthy in themſelves, then any of you can ſhew to your lands or houſes, in your Deeds or Leaſes. As poor and ſimple as that Godly man is whom you deſpiſe, he is an Heir of Heaven, and a fellow-Heir with Chriſt, Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 3. 29. Heb. 1. 14. & 11. 9. When we had the waſhing of Regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy-Ghoſt, and were juſtified by grace, we were made the Heirs of eternal life, according to the hope that is given us by the Goſpel, Tit. 3. 5, 7. And God that hath given them thoſe [Better things that accompany ſalvation] is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love, if they do but ſhew the ſame diligence to the full aſſurance of hope unto the end, and be not ſloathful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the Promiſes.] Heb. 6. 9, 10, 11, 12. For this cauſe was Chriſt the Mediator of the New Teſtament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the Tranſgreſſions under the firſt Teſtament, they which are called may receive the Promiſe of the eternal inheritance. Heb. 9. 15. And we know that he is faithful that hath promiſed. And if your Bills, and Bonds, and Deeds, and Leaſes, be part of your Riches, we ſhall much more take the Promiſe of God, for our everlaſting happineſs in Heaven, to be far greater Riches.
8. And yet we may put this among our Riches, or at leaſt as the Over-plus given us by God, that we have better advantage, even for the matters of this world, then the ungodly have. For we have a Promiſe that we ſhall lack nothing that is good for us, Pſal. 34. 10. and ſo have not they. We have warrant to eaſt all our care on God, who by promiſe is engaged to care for us, 1 Pet. 5. 7. We are commanded to be (anxiouſly) careful for nothing, but in all things to make known our requeſts to God, as little children that care not for themſelves, but go to their father for what they want: Phil. 4. 6. It is enough for us whatever we want, that our heavenly Father knoweth that we want it, Matth. 6. 32. who hath charged us to disburden our minds of theſe vexatious cares, and to ſeek firſt his Kingdom and the Righteouſneſs thereof, and promiſed us that other things ſhall be added to us, Mat. 6. 33. We have alſo a promiſe that all things ſhall work together for our good, Rom. 8. 28. And therefore we ſhall have more from the things of this life, then the ungodly have: Yea more by the want of them, then they by the poſſeſſion. For if they do us good in our graces and communion with God, and in the matter of our ſalvation, they help us to that which is of far higher value then themſelves. Poverty to a true Believer, is better then Riches to the ungodly that deſtroyeth himſelf by them, when the Believer is helped by his poverty. Impriſonment to Paul and Silas, was better then liberty to their perſecutors. And thus in the fruits and ſaving benefits, all things are ours, 1 Cor. 3. 22. We have the Love of God with what we poſſeſs, be it more or leſs, when the wicked have his wrath with it. And who would have their Riches on ſuch terms?
9. Another part of the Gain of Godlineſs is, that it puts us into a Readineſs to die, and a fitneſs to appear before the Lord. Though all the Godly have not ſo great a readineſs as to deſire to be preſently diſſolved, yet all of them are in a ſafe condition, and are ſo far ready, that death ſhall paſs them into a bleſſed ſtate. For we know that if our earthly houſe of this Taberna…le were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with h…, eternal in the heavens. And in this we groan earneſtly, desiring to be cloathed upon with our houſe which is from heaven: And God that hath given … the earneſt of his Spirit, hath wrought in us; to be alwayes confident (or at leaſt given us cauſe) knowing that whileſt we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord (For we walk by faith, and not by ſight) we are confident I ſay and willing, rather to be abſent from the body and preſent with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 8, 9. Though the abode of the godly in the fleſh is uſually more needful to thoſe about them, yet to themſelves their death is gain, and therefore they have cauſe to deſire to depart, and be with Chriſt, as being far better, Phil. 1. 21, 23, 24. For ſin which is the ſting of death is mortified, and the curſe of the Law which is the ſtrength of it, is relaxed or null fied to us by the Goſpel: ſo that the Believer may triumph and ſay. O death where is thy ſting? O grave where is thy victory? 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56. and to give thanks to God that giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, verſ. 57. Verily I would not exchange my part (though alas too ſmall or dark a part) in this one priviledge of true Believers, for all the wealth and dominions on earth. O the face of Death will ſoon make the Glory of all your greatneſs to vaniſh, and the beauty of your flouriſhing eſtates to wither; and all that you now glory in, to appear as nothing. And then how glad would you be to change Portions with the holy ſervants of the Lord, whom you now deſpiſe! When once you hear, [Thou fool, this night ſhall they require thy ſoul! and whoſe then are all thoſe things that thou haſt provided?] Luke 12. 20. then in a moment you will change your minds, and cry out of the world as nothing worth, and wiſh you had buſied your hearts and hands in laying up a better treaſure. This is one difference, O …ngodly wretch, between a holy ſervant of God and thee! Death cannot undo him, but it will undo thee. It cannot take his Riches from him; for his God, his Chriſt, his Holineſs, the Promiſes are his Riches: but it will ſeparate thee and thy wealth for ever. It will put an end to all his troubles, and fears, and griefs: and it will put an end to all thy proſperity, and to all thy mirth, and hope, for ever. A godly man dare die; or if he ignorantly fear it, yet ſhall it be the end of all his fears: but thou dareſt not die, and yet thou muſt: or if thou ignorantly hope of a happineſs after it, yet will it nevertheleſs end all thy hopes. O what a mercy is it to be ready to die!
10. But the great unſpeakable Riches of the Saints is in the Life to come. We have here the Hope and the fore-taſte; but it is only there that we ſhall have our Portion. You ſee what a poor Chriſtian is according to his outward appearance. But you ſee not what he will be to eternity. There is the Kingdom for which we hope, and for which we run, and wait, and ſuffer. If God be true, and his Goſpel true, then Heaven ſhall be the Portion of the ſanct…fied. But if it were otherwiſe, then we would confeſs their hopes are vain: Heaven is our Riches, or we have none. There have we laid up all our Hopes; and in theſe Hopes we will live and die, as knowing they will not make us aſhamed. Rom. 5. 5. & 9. 33. 1 John 2. 28. We believe that we ſhall live with Chriſt in glory, and ſhine as ſtars in the Firmament of our Father, and be made like to the Angels of God, and ſhall ſee his face, and praiſe his name, and live in his everlaſting Love and Joy; For all this he himſelf hath promiſed us. 1 Theſ. 4. 17. 18. Da…. 12. 3. Mat. 13. 43. Luk. 20 36. Rev. 22. 4. Mat. 25. 21.
And now, poor worldling, what is all your Gain and Riches in compariſon of the leaſt of theſe? Do you think in your judgements that there is any compariſon! Or rather doth not ſin and the world even brutifie you, and make you lay by the uſe of your reaſon, and live as if you knew not what you know? Your Treaſure is all viſible, when ours is unſeen, and therefore I may bid you bring it forth, and let us ſee it, whether indeed it be better then the Treaſure of the Saints: Let us ſee what that is that is better then God, and everlaſting glory! What! is a little fleſhly eaſe or mirth? a little meat, and drink, and pleaſure? a little more money, or ſpace of ground to uſe then your neighbours have; are theſe the things that you will change for Heaven, and preſer before the Lord that made you? O poor miſerable ſinners! Are you not told that you have your good things here? but what will you have hereafter when this is gone? Luke 16. 25. When your wealth is gone, and your mirth is gone, your ſouls are immortal, and therefore your miſery and horrour will continue, and never be gone. As the wealth of the godly is within them, and above the reach of their enemies, and ſurer then yours, ſo is it the more durable, even everlaſting: When all your Riches are upon the wing, even ready to be gone, and leave you in ſorrow, when you are moſt highly valuing them, you have it now, but it is gone to morrow. [And what is the Hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained, when God taketh away his ſoul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Job 27. 8, 9. Let the words of Chriſt decide the Controverſie, if indeed you take him for your Judge. [Mat. 16. 2…, 25, 26, 27. If any man will come after we, let him deny himſelf, and take up his Croſs, and follow me: For whoſoever will ſave his life ſhall loſe it, and whoſoever will loſe his life for my ſake ſhall find it: For what is a man profited if he ſhall gain the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul? Or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his ſoul? For the Son of man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels, and then he ſhall reward every man according to his works.
Well ſirs, you that are all for Getting, and for wealth, judge now if you have not loſt your Reaſon, whether a Holy or unholy, … Heavenly or an Earthly life, be the more Profitable way! I would not draw you to any thing that you ſhould loſe by. If I ſpeak not for your Gain, reject my words as contemptuouſly as you pleaſe. But if I do, then be not againſt your own commodity. Will ſuch ſilly Gain as the world affords you, do ſo much with you as it doth: and ſhall not the Heavenly inheritance do more? ſhall all this ſtir be made in the world for that which you are ready to leave behind you, and will you not lay up a Treaſure in heaven, where ruſt and moaths corrupt not, and where you may live for ever? Matth. 6. 20. What profit now have all thoſe millions of ſouls, that are gone from earth, by all the wealth they here poſſeſſed! Hear ſinners, and bethink you in the name of God. You are leaving Earth, and ſtepping into Eternity, and where then ſhould you lay up your Riches? Would you rather have your Portion where you muſt ſtay but a few days, then where you muſt dwell for ever? O Labour not for the meat that periſheth, in compariſon of that which endureth to everlaſting life, which Chriſt will give you, if you will follow him, Job. 6. 27. Make you friends of this wealth that the world abuſeth to unrighteouſneſs, that when all fails below, you may be received into the everlasting habitations, Luk. 16. 9. Make not your ſelves a Treaſure of corruptible riches, and ſet not your heart on Gold and Silver, leſt the ruſt of it be a witneſs againſt you, and eate your fleſh as it were fire; and lest yee heap up another kind of treaſure then you dream of, againſt the laſt days. How many of you have cauſe to weep and howl, for your approaching miſeries, even then when you are glorying in your proſperity? Jam. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Are you for Commodity? Refuſe not then the beſt Commodity? Be not enemies to them, or to thoſe holy motions, that make for your everlaſting Profit. Take but the Gainfulleſt … ſelves, and we are pleaſed. If you know … then God and Glory, and any riches that will endure any longer then Eternity, why do you not ſhew it us, that we may joyn with you? But if you do not, why will you not hearken to the ſervants of the Lord, and joy… with them? [Wherefore, ſaith the Lord, do you ſpend money for that which is not bread: and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eate ye that which is good, and let your ſoul delight it ſelf in fatneſs: Encline your care, come unto me, hear and your ſoul ſhall live, and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you,] Iſa▪ 55. 2, 3. If there be not more to be Gotten by Chriſt, and by prayer, and by the promiſes, and a holy life, then there is by ſin, or then there is by all your friends, or lands, or trades, or care, or labour here, then take your courſe,, and turn your back on God, and ſpare not. But if you are aſhamed to ſay ſo, be aſhamed to think ſo, or to live ſo.
Verily ſirs, if the Goſpel be true, you muſt be every man of you Saints or Miſerable. Holineſs is the only thriving way: Yea the only Saving way. If you forſake this way, you are … while you are Gaining, and Loſing by your Gains. You … making Achans bargain, that by his Gold did purchaſe a …corm of ſtones that daſht out his brains, Joſh. 7. You are running after Gehezie's gains; that thought he had got Riches, and it proved a Leproſie. You are trading with the Devil, though you ſee him not, and will not believe it, even as certainly as the miſerable witches, that ſell him their ſouls for a few fair promiſes, and when they have done, have the miſerableſt life of any. You are laying up but Judas's treaſures, which quickly grew too hot to hold, and too heavy for his conſcience to bear: and he would fain rid his hands of it if he knew how, and becauſe he cannot he hangs himſelf, and rids himſelf out of the aſhes into the flames. O covet not ſuch undoing gains, which you all know as ſure as you breath, that you muſt let go. Believe but your Redeemer and you ſhall know, that there are greater and better things before you. Gather not ſtones when you may be gathering pearls. Hear me poor ſinner! If God and Heaven, if Grace and Glory ſeem not better Riches then … world, thou judgeſt thy ſelf to have no part in them.