A Christian Library, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
FIrst, if any of poor would become rich, let him become religious: for Godliness hath the promises of this life, as well as of the life to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. Yea, all temporall blessings that can be named, are promised to the godly, and their seed; and to them only as both the Old and New Testament does plainly and plentifully prove. As for instance in Deuteronomy the 28th. God hath promised; that if we will hearken diligently unto his voice, observe and do all his Commandements, and walk in his wayes, we shall be blessed in the city, and blessed in the field, blessed in our going forth, and in our comming home, blessed in the fruit of our bodies, and in the fruit of our ground, and in the fruit of our cattel, the increase of our kine, and the flocks of our sheep. That he will bless us in our store-houses, and in all that we set our hands unto; and make us plentiful in all good things: and that we shall have wherewith to lend unto many, and not borrow, Verse 1, to 15th. and Chap. 7.11, to 19th. To which may be added many the like places; As, Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and delighteth greatly in his commandements: wealth and riches shall be in his house, Psal. 112. Verse 1, to 4th. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to inherit the land, Psal. 37.34. The Lord will with-hold no good thing from them that walk uprightly, Psal. 84.11. Delight thy self in the Lord, and he shall give thee thine hearts desire, &c. Psal. 37. 3, to 7. Fear ye the Lord, ye his Saints: for nothing wanteth to them that fear him. The Lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord, shall want nothing that is good, Psal. 34.9, 10. Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him: because we keep his commandements, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight, 1 John 3.12. What rare and precious promises are these? to which I might add very many of like nature. All which David had the experience of, who tels us that he greatly rejoyced in the strength and salvation of the Lord, and the Lord gave him his hearts desire, and did not with-hold the request of his lips: Yea, he prevented him with the blessings of goodness, and set a crown of gold upon his head, Psal. 11.1, 2, 3, 4. And the like of Abraham, and Lot, and Iob, and Solomon. Let us first seek the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other things shall be ministred unto us, or come in as it were upon the bargain, as our Saviour hath assured us, Matth. 6.33. Talis est ille qui in Christ… credit, die qua credidit, qualis ille qui universam legem implevit; saith Hierom, We have a livery and seisin, of all the precious promises, both in the Law and Gospel, in the first moment of our faith. Yea, even an earnest, and partly a possession of Heaven it self: Ephes. 2.6. Neither are these promises made only to the obedient themselves: but riches, and all earthly blessings are entailed upon their seed also, Psal. 112. His seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the righteous shall be blessed, Verse 2, 3.
Nor is riches, and outward prosperity promised to the godly, and their seed as others usually enjoy them, that is, single and barely, but they have a promise of them, with a supply and addition of all other good things, that may make them every way happy, as that their prosperity shall be durable and lasting. That with riches they shall have credit, honour, and promotion with long life added. That they shall be happy and prosper in all they have or do: as having God their Protector, who with mercy is said to compass them about on every side, Psal. 32.10. That they shall be freed from all fears and dangers, and obtein victory over all their enemies; together with death, hell, and the devil. That they shall be freed from the Law, and likewise from sin, and the penalty thereof. That they shall have peace external, internal, eternal. And joy, even the joy of the holy Ghost: which is both glorious, and unspeakable. That they shall not only persevere, but also grow in grace, and true wisdom. Th…t all things whatsoever, shall make for their good. That both their persons and performances shall be good and acceptable; which before were wicked and abominable. That by the prayer of faith, they shall obtein of God, whatsoever they shall ask in Christs Name, and according to his Word. And in fine, all other good things, that can be named; whether temporal, spiritual, or eternal: are by the promise of God entailed, upon them that love him, and keep his commandements, and upon their seed, as I could plentifully and most easily prove, were it pertinent to the matter in hand. Nor is all this, that God hath promised to those that serve him, so great a matter comparatively; as that we need wonder at it, or once question the same: For If he spared not his own Son, but delivered him to death for us; how shall he not with him freely, give us all things also? Rom. 8.31, 32. It is the Apostles argument. Great, yea, too great things are they for us to receive; but not too great, for the great and good God of Heaven and earth to give: all the fear is on our part, whether we be such to whom the promise is made. For all Gods promises are conditional. And though of these outward good things, he hath promised abundance: yet it is upon the condition of faith and obedience: as appears by all the fore-mentioned places; so that if we be not wanting in out duty, and obedience to God; God will not be wanting in any good thing to us: Nor can we look that God should make good his promises, if we make them void, by not observing the condition, as that we may do by our distrusting him. If we will not dare to trust God upon his promise so confidently as we would a friend, or some great man that is able and honest.
Besides, the Lord hath promised, that there shall be no want to them that fear him; and that no good thing will he with-hold, from them that walk uprightly, Psal. 34.9. & 84.11. Where observe two things, there shall be no want to such, and such shall want no good thing: so that he must be such an one, to whom the promise is made; and he must also be sure, that it is good for him, which is promised. But oftentimes it is not good, for a man to abound with earthly blessings: as strong drinke is not good for weake brains. Yea, if any thing be wantiug to a good man, he may be sure it is not good for him: and then better that he doth want it, then that he did enjoy it, and what wise man will complain of the want of that, which if he had, would prove more hurtful then gainful to him? as a sword to a mad man, a knife to a childe, drinke to them that have a Fever, or the Dropsie. No good thing will God with-hold, &c. and therefore not wants themselves, which to many are also good, yea, very good things, as I could reckon up many: want sanctified, is a notable means to bring to repentance, to work in us amendment of life, it stirs up to prayer, it weans from the love of the world, it keeps us always prepared for the spiritual combate, discovers whether we be true believers or hypocrites, prevents greater evils of sin and punishment to come; It makes us humble, conformable to Christ our head, increaseth our faith, our joy and thankfulnesse, our spiritual wisdom, and likewise our patience, as I have largely shewen in The Benefit of Affliction.
To coonclude, All good things were created for the good, and therefore are they called goods; because the good God created them for good men to do good withal. Therefore as Jacob got the blessing, so he gat the inheritance also: to shew that as the faithful have the inward blessing, so they have the outward blessing too; when they will do them good, and cause them to do good. Yea, in this case, even as the sheaffs fell before Ruth: so riches shall fall in our way, as they did to Abraham, and Lot, and Iacob, and Iob, and Ioseph, upon whom riches were cast they knew not how; but as if God had onelyonly said, Be rich; and they were rich straight. But that this is the true and only way to wealth and happiness, needs no more proof then that which is recorded of Solomon 1 Kings 3. 2 Chron. 1. where the Lord appearing to him in a dream, said, Ask what I shall give thee. And he asking only an understanding heart, to discern between good and evil; that he might the better discharge that great place, whereunto God had called him; wherein Gods glory, and the peoples good, was his principal aime and end: Heare what the Lords answer is, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thy self, that thou mightest judge my people, over whom I have made thee King: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, & wealth and honour, such as none of the Kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after th… have the like, &c. Yea, he was so surpassing rich, that he gave silver in Ierusalem as stones, and gave Cedars as the wilde fig-trees that grow abundantly in the plain, 1. King. 10.27. 2 Chron. 1.7, to 13, 14, 15. Lo, the true way to Wealth, honour, and happiness, is; to desire grace, that we may glorifie God, and do good: for cleering whereof▪ I'le give you a similitude, A man spies a fair apple on a tree, hath a longing desire to it; whereupon he falls a shaking the tree with all his might: at length it not only comes down, but many other come down to him together with it.
And so much to prove, that the way to become rich, is first to become godly. If any shall ask why the godly are not alwayes, nor oft rich, notwithstanding these promises? I answer, that God not seldom withholds these outward blessings, from his own people in great love, only affording them all things that they have need of. Our heavenly Father, who knows us better then we know our selves, and what is good and fit for us, (even as the Nurse knows better then the childe, and the Physician better then the Patient;) knows too well, how apt we are to abuse these his mercies; and that we cannot abound with earthly blessings, but we grow proud and surfeit of them: as we see Solomon himself did, who was the wisest (next to Adam in his innocency) that ever lived: and like wise how happy it is for them, to be kept short. And when the All-wise God does fore-see, that men will serve him as the Prodigal son served his father: who only prayed untill he had got his patrimony, and then forsook him, and spent the same in riot to the givers dishonour; even as the cloud that is lifted up, and advanced by the Sun obscures the Sun. In this case he either denies them riches in mercy, as he denied Saint Paul in his suit, 2 Cor. 12.8, 9. And our Saviour himself, Matth. 26.39. Or grants them their riches in wrath, Hosea 13▪ 11. Psal. 106.15. of which I have largely spoken in the foregoing pages, where I have declared how miserable they are, who swim in wealth, wanting grace, and Gods blessing upon what they do possesse.
This is the first and main step to riches, and the next is like unto it, viz. …ounty and liberality to the poor members of Iesus Christ. For,