A Treatise of Self-Denial, Treatise · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. The Delight of thriving and Proſperity, &c.
II. ANother ſelfiſh Intereſt to be denied, is A Delight in proſperity, and ſeeing our ſelves thrive, and our deſigns ſucceed for worldly things. The poſſeſſion of theſe things doth not ſo much delight, as the Hopes and ſucceſſes of our endeavours to attain them. The very thoughts of Proſpering in our undertakings, and of being in a thriving courſe, and likely to reach ſome higher things which are in our eye and hope, is the greateſt part of the content of Worldlings. Men think that the world can do no more for them than it can, and is ſweeter than it is; and therefore they are very eager in ſeeking it, and pleaſe themſelves much with the thoughts of their ſuppoſed felicity: But when they have reach'd the matter of their deſires, they find it is not the thing they took it for. But in the mean time they feed themſelves with fancies and expectations, and think that though this doth not content them, which they have attained, yet ſuch or ſuch a thing more would do it: and when they have that, yet ſomewhat more would do; and ſtill though they come ſhort of the felicity they expect, yet it pleaſeth them that they think they are in the way to it, and ſee their endeavours ſeem to proſper. The poor man that hath a deſire but to reach to a competency, doth pleaſe himſelf much when he perceiveth that he is fair for it. Much more do the rich in the proſpering of their deſigns, for the encreaſe o… their …iches. And thus the turning away of the ſimpl… … and the proſperity of fools doth d…ſt… …. If th…ir Proſperity be ſuch an eye … godly in temptation, when they judge according to the fleſh, no wonder if it be a great matter in their own eyes, Pſal. 73. 3. If the beſt are in danger of puffing up with carnal delight and confidence in their attainments, and ſaying in their proſperity, [we ſhall never be moved] Pſal. 30. 6. no wonder if it be much more ſo with others. Proſperity is as ſtrong a trial to many as ſuffering for Chriſt; O how eager is the fleſh upon this bait; and how cloſe doth it cleave to what it doth attain!
See then that in this you Deny your ſelves: Not in refuſing Proſperity when God beſtows it on you; but in refuſing the ſenſual Delights which it affordeth the fle… to ſatisfie its luſt. Not in pulling down your houſes, or caſting away your eſtates, or hindring your increaſe; but 1. See that you do not promiſe your ſelves too much in the creature; feed not your carnal fancies with vain hopes. Think not too highly of a proſperous ſtate. Judge not of it as it accommodateth the fleſh, but as it either helps or hinders you for God and heaven: And then you'l perceive that it is an heavy charge and burden to the beſt, if not a dangerous temptation. O if you knew but how dear the moſt do pay for their proſperity, you would pity them, and have lower thoughts of proſperity.
2. Seek not after proſperity too eagerly. Seek firſt the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs, and then if other things be caſt in or added to you, take them thankfully, but with ſelf-ſuſpicion and holy fear; but run not after them. Labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for that which endureth to everlaſting life, Joh. 6. 27. and then take your daily bread as from your Fathers proviſion. Labour about the world, in obedience to God; but not for the world as your ultimate end.
3. When Proſperity is given you by God, then above all take heed how you uſe it. Let carnal ſelf and corrupt deſires fare never the better for it, if you had all the country, or were Princes in the earth. But as you have it from God, remember you have it for God, and uſe it for him. When the fleſh would be pleaſed and lifted up, whether with delicious meats and drinks, or carnal pomp, applauſe or oſtentation, or by ſports, or idleneſs, or any other ſenſual delight, deny it theſe deſires, as much as if you had no riches, and uſe nothing but for health and the ſervice of God; and tell the fleſh, [It was not for thee, to the pleaſing of thy deſires, that God hath proſpered me, but it was for his own more bleſſed ends; and therefore I will not ſerve or pleaſe thee by my proſperity, but him that gave it me.] Do not think you have ever the more liberty to gratifie your appetites in eating or drinking, becauſe you are rich, or to gratifie your fleſh in inordinate ſleep, or eaſe, or ſports, or idleneſs: but let the fleſh have as little as if you had the meaneſt eſtate, in which neceſsity did not deny you that which might fit you for the work of God.
Queſt. But may not a Gentleman fare better than a poor man? and may he not ſpend more time in eaſe or recreations? or may he not wear more ſumptuous apparel? Anſw. 1. A rich man that hath a greater family, muſt have a greater quantity of proviſion than a poor man that hath but few: and ſo muſt the pooreſt too, that hath the like number. And for the Quality; many poor are deprived of that which is moſt healthful through their neceſſity; and therefore here it's lawful for the rich to go beyond them, and to uſe ſo much of the creature as is moſt healthful and uſeful to their duties. But for all this, the R…cheſt man in England hath no more allowance to eat or drink one bit or cup for the meer pleaſing of his carnal appetite without any higher end, than the pooreſt man that is: It is a ſin to both. It was a Rich man that was tormented in Hell for taking up his good things in this life, in being clothed in purple and fine l…nnen, and faring deliciouſly or ſumptuouſly every day, Luke 16. 2. And the ſame anſwer I muſt give to the reſt of the queſtion, if a poor man want that eaſe, or ſleep, or recreation, that would ſit him for Gods ſervice; a Rich may take it, but not a jot more. He may not lie one hour in bed, nor ſpend one hour in talk, or ſports, or long dinners, beyond what is uſeful to his Chriſtian ends, let him be never ſo Rich. Rich men have as much work to do as the poor, and as much need to watch, pray, and faſt, and ſtudy to prepare for death and judgement, which will not ſpare them becauſe they are rich. If it be far hardeſt for a Rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God by Chriſt's own teſtimony; then it's clear, that Rich men have ar greateſt need to be painful to overcome th…r dangers, & make ſure work for their imortal ſtate. 3. And as for Apparel, I grant, that rich men that are Magiſtrates or in any Office or Calling that requires it, may lawfully go in richer apparel than the poor: But this ſhould not be one jot to pleaſe their carnal proud fancies, or gratifie inordinate fleſhly deſires, but meerly for health, and for ſuch ornament as tendeth to the honour of their office: ſo that God and not ſelf muſt be the end of all. Take warning therefore by the ruines of ſo many thouſands as Proſperity hath undone, and by ſo many dreadful Paſſages of Scripture which ſhew the danger of it; and ſee that if you proſper in any worldly thing, you offer it all to God, and Deny your ſelves, and proſper not to the fleſh.