The Rich Fool Set Forth, Table of contents – Errata

The Rich Fool Set Forth · Table of contents – Errata

A Summary of all the principal Doctrines (both Literal and Myſtical) Collected and Illuſtrated this Commentary, upon the Parable of The Rich Fool. With the ſeveral Uſes and Applications thereof made.

Verſ. 16. And He spake a Parable unto them, ſaying, The Ground of a certain Rich man brought forth plentifully.

Doct. 1. GOd hath spoken to us by his own Son. Pag. 6.

Uſe 1. To admire the wonderful Love of God to us under the Goſpel, above thoſe who lived under the Law. ibid.

Uſe 2. Not to deſpiſe him that ſpeaks from Heaven. 9

Uſe 3. To honour him above thoſe that lived in thoſe days. ibid.

Doct. 2. A Sermon againſt Covetouſneſs is of general Concern. 10

Reaſ. Naturally every man i… earthly minded. ibid.

Uſe 1. To reprove thoſe that think it concerns them not. 13

Uſe 2. To require the Attention of every one. 15

Uſe 3. None to be offended with God's Miniſters, for Preſſing of it. 16

Doct. 3. Doctrines delivered may be illuſtrated by Similitudes and Parables. 18

Reaſ. No Teaching conveys the Truth unto us with more delight. 19

Uſe 1. Not to cenſure Miniſters for uſing helps of Art. ibid.

Uſe 2. To bleſs God that we are taught in ſo delightfull and familiar a manner. 21

Doct. 4. Ministers ought ſo to ſpeak as that they may be underſtood. ibid.

Reaſ. The End of Preaching is the People's profit. 22

Uſe 1. To reprove thoſe Miniſters who have mouths but ſpeak not, and who ſpeak but ſay not. 23

Uſe 2. To condemn the Itching ear: 25

And the Ruſtical ear of Hearers. 26

Doct. 5. A Worldly man is a worthleſs man. 30

Ʋſe 1. To diſcover the Folly of thoſe who think to gain Reputation by Riches. 31

Ʋſe 2. To tax thoſe who bleſs the Covetous in their hearts. 33

Ʋſe 3. To teach us to look up, and leave groveling here, like Swine upon the Earth. 34

Doct. 6. All men are not alike for outward Eſtate. 36

Reaſ. 1. God's Wiſdom appears in this inequality. 37

Reaſ. 3. Confuſion would follow upon equality. 38

Ʋſe 1. To praiſe God for this provident hand of his. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. To beware of murmuring againſt God's Providence. ibid.

Doct. 7. A man may be very Wealthy, and yet very Wicked. 40

Reaſ. 1. God is a bountiful and liberal Donor. 42

Reaſ. 2. Riches are not abſolutely and immutably good. 44

Reaſ. 3. They become hinderances of much good, and occaſions of much evill. 45

Ʋſe 1. Of information, That Man's Happineſs lyes not in earthly enjoyments. 46

Ʋſe 2. To reprove thoſe who take Riches for infallible tokens of God's Love. 47

Ʋſe 3. To reſtrain us from an over-eager purſuit of them. 50

Doct. 8. The Wicked have a Right to Earthly things, as well as the Godly. 51

Reaſ. 1. The Earth is the Lord's, and he gives it to the Children of Men. 52

Ʋſe 1. To overthrow the Anabaptiſtioal Community, and that of the Family of Love. 53

Ʋſe 2. To convince that dangerous Tenet, of holding no Tenure but of Grace. 54

Ʋſe 3. Of Admonition, To take heed how we incroach on other mens Proprieties. 55

Doct. 9. The Earth is a fruitful Mother, 59

Reaſ. God ordained it to be fruitful at the beginning. 60

Ʋſe 1. Of Information, Where to lay the Blame of the Earth's Sterility. 61

Ʋſe 2. To acknowledge God's Goodneſſe to us, in the Earth's Encreaſe. 62

Ʋſe 3. To inſtruct us that we are Earth, and ſtand in need of the Rain of Heaven. 65

Doct. 10. Earthly Bleſſings are given to the Wicked out of a generall way of Providence. 65

Ʋſe 1. To learn to diſtinguiſh between Bleſſing and Bleſſing. 66

Ʋſe 2. To look to the Tenure of our Eſtates. 67

Doct. 11. Goods ill-gotten may prove pernicious to the Soul in their Enjoyment. 68

Reaſ. The beſt things abuſed become evil to him that uſeth them, much more things of an indifferent nature. 69

Ʋſe 1. To reprove the folly of thoſe who think there is no danger in Riches well-gotten. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. Not only to take care of what we have, but how we hold what we do enjoy. 70

Verſ. 17. And he thought within himſelf, ſaying, What ſhall I do, becauſe I have no room where to beſtow my fruits?

Doct. 1. A Worldly man is a great Accomptant. 72

Ʋſe 1. To perſwade the Godly to caſt up their Accounts, as well as the Wicked do theirs. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. To perſwade Worldlings to caſt up their Accounts in good earneſt. 73

Doct. 2. Sin of Thoughts are diſpleaſing unto God as well as Sins of Act. 74

Reaſ. 1. God's Laws and Precepts are violated by them. ibid.

Reaſ. 2. They were the firſt Evils that were committed againſt God both by Angel and Man. 75

Reaſ. 3. From the Thoughts of the Heart proceeds the miſchief of the Hand. ibid.

Uſe 1. To blame the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, who hold that Thoughts are veniall. 76

Uſe 2. To convince the Opinion of free Thoughts. ibid.

Uſe 3. To cauſe us to repent of them, and be humbled before God for them. 79

Uſe 4. To reform our Thoughts, otherwiſe our Lives cannot be reformed. 82

Motives, to ſtir up our Care about our Thoughts. 83, 84, &c.

Means, whereby our Thoughts may be ſubdued. 91, 92. &c.

Uſe 5. Comfort for thoſe that ſincerely make Conſcience of their thoughts. 101

Doct. 3. Wicked men proceed with good Advice and mature Deliberation about their Actions. 115

Reaſ. They are Reaſonable Creatures, and have a Diſcourſive Faculty. ibid.

Ʋſe 1. To reprove, not onelyonly the Worldling, but the Children of the Light, who come ſhort (in this buſineſs) of the Children of the World. 116

Ʋſe 2. To learn Wiſdom of the Worldling. 117

Doct. 4. Self is a Worldly man's chiefeſt Counſellour. 122

Reaſ. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes. ibid.

Uſe 1. To reprove the Folly of the Self-conceited Perſon. 123

Uſe 2. To beware of hearkning to that evill Counſellor, Self. 125

Motives, to take Advice. 117, 128

Doct. 5. What the Heart thinks, that it ſayes. 128

Uſe 1. To make us careful in thinking as well as in wording. 129

Uſe 2. To comfort us in our greateſt ſtreights. ibid.

Doct. 6. Wealth hath its Diſtractions as well as Want. 130

Reaſ. A Worldly man is wedded to the World. 132

Uſe 1. To inform our Judgments concerning the Eſtate of Worldly wicked men. 136

Uſe 2. To reprove thoſe who diſtract themſelvs with carking Cares about things of this life. 137

Uſe 3. To moderate our Care about things of this World. 139

Motives to it; ſome reſpecting God, ſome in reference to others, and ſome in relation to our ſelvs. 140, 141, &c.

Rule three-fold to be obſerved for the Cure of carking-Care. 144, 145, &c.

Doct. 7. The Rich man's Store proves many times his Sore. 151

Reaſ. 1. It may happen through Man's Corruption. 153

Reaſ. 2. Through the Wickedneſs and Malice of other men. ibid.

Reaſ. 3. God in Judgment follows many a Rich man's abundance with a Curſe. 154

Uſe 1. Not to fret becauſe of the proſperity of the Wicked. 155

Uſe 2. To be contented with a mean Eſtate. ibid.

Uſe 3. For Rich men to learn how to abound (as well as the Poorer ſort have been taught how to want). 157

Doct. 8. Worldly Wealth cannot keep from Want. 159

Reaſ. 1. In regard of the Nature of all Worldly things. 160

Reaſ. 2. In regard of the Nature of the Diſeaſe (that foreign) which Worldly men are troubled withal. 162

Uſe 1. To rectify our Judgments concerning Rich men and Riches. 163

Uſe 2. It ſhould tend to the reforming of our Practice. 167

Doct. 9. Want of room is a great Want to a Covetous Worldling. 170

Uſe. To rebuke the covetous and ambitious Brood. 173

Doct. 10. A Worldly man may have ſo much that he knows not where to beſtow it. 176

Reaſ. There is a price put into the hand of a Fool, to get Wiſdom, but he hath no Heart. ibid.

Uſe. To blame mercileſs men, who ſuffer ſo many to periſh, when they have ſo much as that they know not where to beſtow it. 177

Verſ. 17. And he ſaid, This will I do; I will pull down my Brans, and build greater, and there will I beſtow all my Fruits and my Goods.

Doct. 1. The Wicked are preſumptuouſly wilful. 180

Reaſ. 1. Pride naturally abounds in the Heart of a Wicked man, ſo that good Counſel is rejected as contemptible. 181

Reaſ. 2. They are wholly led by ſenſuality. ibid.

Ʋſe 1. To inform us whence it is, that Miniſters do no more prevail with us in their Callings; they having the Will of Man to deal with. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. This wilfulneſs in unregenerated Perſons ought to be lamented. 182

Ʋſe 3. To teach us to ſubdue our Wills, and bring them into Subjection. 188

Directions that we may not be made miſerable by our Wills. 191, &c.

Doct. 2. The Covetous pull down their own Barns with their own hands. 193

Ʋſe 1. To inform us what Vermin do moſt miſchief our Barns. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. It deſervs the ſerious thoughts of the wickedly-wealthy, who by indirect means encreaſe their Riches, fill their Barns, and enlarge their Buildings. 194

Doct. 3. Worldlings laviſh out their Wealth to ſatisfy their Luſts. 194

Ʋſe 1. To reprove the laviſhing out of Wealth in theſe our dayes. 196

Ʋſe 2. To detect the end they have in their waſteful Expences, viz. Self. 198

Doct. 4. Worldlings are much delighted with variety and Change. ibid.

Reaſ. 1. The Appetite of the Will is common unto all. ibid.

Reaſ. 2. In regard of a loathing ſatiety of all Sublunary Contentments, which occaſions this deſire of Change. 199

Uſe 1. The miſery of Worldly men doth hence appear, who find no content in what they do enjoy. 200

Uſe 2. Not to be too confident in thoſe who are given to Change. 201

Doct. 5. Worldlings, though laviſh in ſome things are ſparing in others. ibid.

Uſe. To diſcover the miſery of Worldlings in ſerving two Maſters. 203

Doct. 6. The Barn is the Worldlings Bulwark. 204

Uſe 1. To ſhew their folly who venture all in one Bottom. 205

Uſe 2. To follow our Saviour's Advice, and lay up Treaſure in Heaven. 207

Doct. 7. Great means breed great minds. 209

Reaſ. Some from without our ſelves, others from Satan, but moſt from within out ſelves; as,

Reaſ. 1. Man's mind is leight through the Fall, and ſoon blown up with the Reed of Riches. 211

Reaſ. 2. They perceive that Riches ruleth all. ibid.

Reaſ. 3. In regard of carnall Self, which teacheth men to turn the Glaſs, and ſo to ſee themſelves bigger, and others leſs, than indeed they are. ibid.

Uſe 1. To charge thoſe are Rich, that they be not high-minded. 212

Antidotes againſt Pride. 213, 2…4, 215

Uſe 2. To bleſs God for his reſtraining Grace, if thou art Rich and humble. 215

Doct. 8. Worldlings preſcribe what they have unto themselvs. 216

Uſe. To adviſe the wretched and ungrateful. 217

Verſ. 19. And I will ſay to my Soul; Soul, Thou haſt much Goods laid up for many years, Take thine eaſe; Eat, drink, and be merry.

Doct. 1. To hold a Conference with our Hearts is good. 218

Uſe 1. To reprove thoſe who come ſhort of this Fool. 219

Uſe 2. To perſwade us frequently to confer with our Hearts and Souls. 220

Doct. 2. Much Love is pretended to the Soul but little or none is ſhewed. ibid.

Reaſ. In regard of the lights of Conſcience whereby we are convinced of it's Immortality. 221

Uſe 1. To convince Worldlings how little their Souls are beholding to them for their Love. 222

Uſe 2. To perſwade us to Love, not in Word and Tongue only, but in truth and in deed. 223

Arguments, to beſtow the Major part of our Love upon our Souls 223, 2…4

Doct. 3. Wealth is the Worldling's chiefeſt good. 225

Uſe 1. To admoniſh us to free our ſelves from the falſe Opinion which Worldlings have of Riches. 227

Uſe 2. To adviſe us not to make them hurtful to us through our own default. 231

Doct. 4. Worldly men think they poſſeſs Riches, when they are poſſeſſed by them. ibid.

Reaſ. The Worldling is overcome of his Riches. 232

Uſe 1. To rectify the Judgment of the Worldling. ibid.

Uſe 2. To keep our Goods in Subjection. 233

Doct. 5. Worldly men, thinke that riches conſiſt in having much laid up and not in the uſe thereof. 234

Reaſ. It is the right Uſe of any thing that makes it good unto us. ibid.

Uſe 1. Not to think our ſelves Rich, unleſs we have the fruition of our Riches. ibid.

Uſe 2. To teach us wiſely to diſperſe our Riches abroad, which otherwiſe will yield a loathſom Savour. 236

Doct. 6. Worldly men promiſe to themſelvs long Life, when they have not many dayes to live. 237

Reaſ. 1. They fooliſhly imagine Time to be in their hand. 238

Reaſ. 2. They have a falſe Opinion of their Wealth. ibid.

Ʋſe 1. To reprove this great Evil under the Sun, in dreaming of a kind of Eternity. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. To perſwade us to amend this Folly, and reckon, not upon many dayes but upon few. 240

Doct. 7. Worldly proſperity breeds Sloath and carnal Security. 244

Reaſ. It happens through the Abuſe of man. ibid.

Uſe. Of Caution, that Rich men would beware of being rocked a-ſleep in this Cradle of Security. ibid.

Doct. 8. A carnal Man delights in a voluptuous Life. 248

Reaſ. 1. The Soul is made a Slave to Senſe. 252

Reaſ. 2. They have no hope of a better Life. ibid.

Uſe 1. To condemn the Ryot and Luxury of this Age. 254

Marks to know a voluptuous perſon by. 257

Uſe 2. Not ſo ſuffer the delights and pleaſures of the World to prevail over us. 259

Motives to ſtir up this Care in us. 260

Rules to direct us in the Uſe of God's Bleſſings. 275

Verſ. 20. But God ſaid unto him, Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul ſhall be required of thee; then, Whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which thou haſt provided?

Doct. 1. Purpoſes of Sinners are oftentimes diſappointed by God. 283

Reaſ. The way of Man is not in himſelf. 285

Ʋſe 1. To ſhew the Preſumption of thoſe, who open their Mouths againſt Heaven. 287

Ʋſe 2. To convince the Practical Atheiſt. 287

Ʋſe 3. To take God with us in all our purpoſes. ibid.

Ʋſe 4. To encourage the Godly againſt the rage of men. 289

Doct. 2. They that place their Happineſs in Riches are egregious Fools. 291

Uſe 1. To convince the Worldling of his Folly. 297

Uſe 2. To take heed of befooling our ſelves. 298

Doct. 3. God will have a ſaying to Sinners. 299

Doct. 4. God's Rods are ſpeaking Rods. 300

Reaſ. God's Works are a manifeſtation of his Will as well as his Word. 301

Uſe 1. To diſcover unto us our ſtupidity. ibid.

Uſe 2. To perſwade us to hear God ſpeaking in his Judgments. 302

Doct. 5. A Night of Sorrow ſucceeds the Day of Pleaſure to a Sinner. 305

Reaſ. 1. In reſpect of the Cauſe of Night. 306

Reaſ. 2. In regard of the effects that are produced by Night, viz. Error and Terror. ibid.

Uſe 1. Of conſideration for voluptuous Livers. 309

Uſe 2. To pray God that our flight be not in the Night. 310

Uſe 3. To comfort the Godly. 311

Doct. 6. Night comes ſuddenly upon a Sinner. 312

Reaſ. 1. God hath called, and Man hath refuſed. 314

Reaſ. 2. He gives Evidence thereby of his implacable Wrath againſt impenitent Sinners. ibid.

Reaſ. 3. God hath reſpect herein to the good of others. ibid.

Uſe 1. To inform our Judgments how far ſudden Death may lawfully be deprecated. 317

Uſe 2. To reprove thoſe who run into ill Courſes in their Health, and allow unto themſelvs a time of lingring Sickneſs. 318

Uſe 3. Inſtruction to the Good. 320

Doct. 7, The Loſs of the Soul is the greateſt Loſs. 322

Reaſ. 1. In regard of the Worth of it, which is unmatchable. 323

Reaſ. 2. The loſing of it, is an univerſal Loſs. 324

Reaſ. 3. It is irrecoverable. 325

Uſe 1. To reprove thoſe who do little regard it. ibid.

Uſe 2. To endeavour the ſafety and preſervation of it. 336

Doct. 8. The Soul of a Sinner is a due Debt, and muſt be paid. 340

Uſe 1. To diſcover unto us the Careleſsneſſe of impenitent Sinners. 341

Uſe 2. To adviſe us to make our Peace before we are arreſted by Death. 341

Doct. 9. Sinners part with their Souls unwillingly. 342

Reaſ. When a Wicked man dyeth, his Expectations periſh. 344

Uſe 1. Information, how the Godly and Wicked differ in Point of Dying. 345

Uſe 2. As God hath made us unlike in the Iſſues of Death, let us be careful that we be unlike them in the way to it. 351

Means to be uſed. 352, &c.

Doct. 10. The Soul of Man remaineth ſtill in Being, after its departure out of the Body. 358

Reaſ. 1. Becauſe God is juſt. 360

Reaſ. 2. If the Soul dyed, Religion were of no Effect. ibid.

Uſe 1. The Knowledg of this Point, and Belief of it, is a means to make a man a good Chriſtian. 361

Uſe 2. The Aſſurance of this will comfort us at the hour of Death. 364

Uſe 3. Be we exhorted hence, to be moſt careful of our Souls. ibid.

Doct. 11. Worldly things are Moveables. 365

Reaſ. The World it ſelf is no other than a flitting Iſland. 370

Uſe 1. Not to be deluded by Names and Titles. ibid.

Uſe 2. To ſet our hearts upon things truly immovable. 371

Doct. 12. The things of this life are ours but during life. 372

Reaſ. Poverty is the Porter of a man's Life. ibid.

Uſe 1. To diſcover their blindneſs, who deprive themſelves of the comfortable Uſe of the things of this Life. 373

Uſe 2. To adviſe us rightly to uſe thoſe things which are truely Ours. 374

Doct. 13. None knowes who ſhall enjoy what the Worldling provides. 376

Reaſ. It is not ours to diſpoſe of. ibid.

Uſe. To reprove the Worldly Miſer. ibid.

Verſ. 21. So is he that layeth up Treaſure for himſelf, and is not Rich towards God.

Doct. 1. Doctrine and Uſe is the beſt Method of Preaching. 378

Uſe 1. Why then ſhould any be offended at this Method. 379

Uſe 2. Miniſters ſhould be faithful in this part of their Miniſteriall Function. ibid.

Uſe 3. To bleſs God for this plain and profitable Method. 380

Doct. 2. We muſt not be Perſonall in applying of our Doctrines to our Auditory. 382

Ʋſe 1. To blame are thoſe who turn their Sermons into Philippicks, and ſo rather act the part of a Betrayer than of a Rebuker. 384

Ʋſe 2. To blame are thoſe Auditors who do not apply or miſ-apply, becauſe they are not named. ibid.

Doct. 3. Miniſters are to reprove Sin impartially. 385

Uſe. To blame them who can ſee Sin in one, and over-look it in another. ibid.

Doct. 4. The Worlding is a Treaſurer, and the World is his Treaſure. 387

Doct. 5. The Covetous are for themſelvs altogether. 390

Reaſ. They are full of Self-Love. ibid.

Ʋſe 1. To take heed how we truſt a Worldling too far. ibid.

Ʋſe 2. To admoniſh all to mind the Well-fare and good of others as well as they do their own. 391

Doct. 6. A good man is a Rich man. 392

Uſe 1. It makes againſt them who are of Opinion, that Chriſtianity is the way to Beggary. 393

Uſe 2. Of Tryal, whether we are truly Rich or no. 394

Uſe 3. To learn to know where are true Riches. 396

Means to obtain true Riches. 400

Uſe 4. Comfort to the Godly, though they have not a Ragg to their back. 401

Doct. 7. Folly may be argued by Worldlineſs. 402

Reaſ. Such have rejected the Word of God, and caſt off his fear. 403

Uſe 1. Not to be offended if the whole World may be drawn within the Compaſs of a Fool's Cap. 403

Uſe 2. Take heed how we hearken to their Counſel, or regard their Cenſure. 406

Uſe 3. To receive Inſtruction rather than Silver, and to get Knowledge rather than Gold. 407

Doct. 8. Worldly Riches, immoderately loved, expoſe a Man to God's heavy Wrath. 408

Reaſ. It is a Breach of God's Law, and cannot eſcape his Curſe. 409

Uſe 1. To inform our Judgment concerning the World, and Worldly things. 414

Uſe 2. To perſwade Worldlings to ſpend ſome ſerious Thoughts upon their preſent condition. 415

Charitable Reader,

EXpect nothing abſolutely compleat and perfect under the Sun; if thou doeſt, thou art not acquainted with thine own Erraticall Actions. Books have their blemiſhes as well as men; and in this thou mayeſt find theſe following (being the moſt materiall) Errors.

Vale.