The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 1
MEDITAT. I. Of the Falſe Deſpiſers of Riches.
IT is too too evident that the many ſorts of perſons, before nam'd, are in the judgment of God Lovers of the World, even all that prefer the Profits, pleaſures, Honours, Perſons, Buſineſs, Faſhions of the World before God; that is, before Righteouſneſs, Truth, Peace, Publick Good, Holy Order, Charity, Purity, and the Sacred Will of God.
But becauſe there are really many of theſe that will not yet acknowledge themſelves to be ſuch; let us examine a little more cloſely, to find out, if poſſibly, who they are that lie under this black character, and to whom it doth agree. And now I will a little examine Man conſidered in his Political Capacity, for in that he is more diſcernable than in his Moral.
And here, methinks, I hear a Generation of Monaſtical People (whether Papiſts or Proteſtants, it matters not) bleſſing themſelves, and ſaying, It is apparent that they, of all People in the World, are no Lovers of it: They are ſo far from coveting the Riches of the World, that they give away all they have, and reject the kindneſs of thoſe that would give them more: They embrace Poverty as a great Perfection, and Nak…dneſs as an Ornament. It was a high Character of them, That took joyfully the ſpoiling of their Goods: But what Perfectioniſts are theſe, that ſpoil themſelves?
The Diſciples of Jeſus were mortified men, who reckoned two Coats ſuperfluous, but theſe Evangeliſts are even weary of the Incumbrance of one. Nay, they ſeem to out-vie the Son of Man himſelf, of whom it is ſaid, That he had not whereon to lay his Head: As if he ſtood in need of ſome Houſe, or Artificial Conveniencies; whereas the cold Earth everywhere affords theſe hardy Soldiers of his a ſufficient Bed, and the ſpangled Heavens a Canopy.
To all which great Pretenſions, I only ſuggeſt theſe two or three Inquiries,
1. It is highly reaſonable, that theſe Pretenders to a Contempt of Worldly Riches, do inquire into themſelves, Whether in Deed, and in Truth, they do what they ſeem to do? Whether there be no Fallacy, Hypocriſie, or Juggle in this Matter? For we have read of thoſe that pretended to part with all to the Church; who yet kept back for their own dear ſelves, and by laying their money at the Apoſtles feet, ſeem'd to trample it under their own; who yet, for all their ſeeming Faith, and Contempt of the World, did not ſo ſtrip themſelves of all, but that they kept a Rag for a ſore Finger; Ananias and Sapphira are Examples.
2. It may be proper to inquire, Whether ſome of the Heathens themſelves, whom you ſo undervalue as the Refuſe of men, have not done as much as all this comes to? This I take for granted, according to the Logick of Divinity it ſelf, that it is but a ſorry Perfection in a Chriſtian, that does not excel all that can be found in a Heathen, Mat. 6. 32. If they ſeek after theſe and theſe things, it becomes Chriſtians to ſeek after higher; if they do ſuch and ſuch things, it behoves Chriſtians to do greater.
Now, I ſuppoſe, it is an eaſie thing to find many men as perfectly and voluntarily poor amongſt the Heathen Philoſophers, as amongſt Chriſtians; amongſt the Cynicks, as well as the Hermits; as much Contempt of the World, to any mans thinking, in a Tub, as in a Cloyſter.
But it will be ſaid, Theſe men did not neglect the World out of a pure deſign; therefore
3. It will not be amiſs, that theſe Chriſtian Contemners of the World do examine their Principles and Ends; for if this voluntary caſting away of the World be only a Trick to draw and convert the eyes of the World to themſelves, and to procure an eſtimation of mortifi'd men; or a piece of Bribery to merit, or purchaſe the Rewards of Heaven; or a deſign to get Riches, by a pretended Contempt of them; or a Cloak for Idleneſs, that they may eat and drink of the Beſt without doing any thing for it; chuſing rather to eat their Bread in the ſweat of other mens Brows, than of their own: If any ſuch things as theſe, I ſay happen, all this Contempt of the World is ſpoiled, and becomes contemptible in the eyes of God; nay, indeed, it proves to be a Device for the more effectual maintaining of the Worldly Life: And who knows but that it may ſo happen, or rather, who knows not that it does? Contempt of the World muſt be impartial and regular, or elſe it will not paſs for Devotion. And if a man predominantly love the World in any branch of it, he's juſtly denominated a Lover of the World, however he may ſeem to deſpiſe it in many other branches of it. It is a ſorry ſhift to endeavor to be thought to deſpiſe the Riches of the World, and in the mean time to be enſlaved to worldly Eaſe and Idleneſs; to ſome men it is the greateſt ſenſual pleaſure in the World to do nothing.
Has not the ſame God, who commanded us not to covet, nor love the World, alſo commanded to work, and get our Livings? Oh but they have ſpiritual Work to do: What Merchant ſo induſtrious as they, that compaſs Sea and Land to make Proſelytes? And did not Paul abound in this Work of the Lord, as much as any that pretend to an imitation of him? yet he made his own hands adminiſter to his Neceſſities, rather than be chargeable to the Churches; though I ſuppoſe the Churches then, were as free and as kind-hearted as they are now.
In ſhort, As a man may give away all his Goods to feed the Poor, and yet have no Charity; ſo we may caſt away the World, and yet not rightly contemn it; and to a wiſe Obſerver ſhew himſelf to be more a Fool; or a Fanatick, than a Saint.
Good God, Since the World is ſo manifeſt, grant that I may be mortify'd to one Branch of it as well as another; that I may not maintain the Worldly Life in one ſenſe, whilest I ſeem to deſtroy it in another; that I may not cleave to the Golden Calves, nor haunt the High Places, whilest I ſeem to renounce Aſhtaroth; …est in breaking one Commandment, I be found guilty of all!