A Christian Library, Chapter 31 – To the reader 3
CHAP. XXXI.
THe third and fourth are thankfulness, and humility; which are no way inferiour to the former.
Thankfulness and humility are the only means to enrich us with Gods blessings: but pride and unthankfulness, is the only way to make God withdraw, and take from us both himself, and his blessings. Because the King of Assyria said, By the power if mine arme have I done it, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent: therefore, saith the Lord, I have removed the borders of the people, and have spoiled their treasures, and have pulled down the Inhabitants like a valiant man, Isay 10.13. Aesops Crow not content with her own likenesse, borrowed a feather of every bird; and she became so proud, that she scorned them all: which the birds observing, they came and pluckt each one their feather back, and so left her naked: even so does God deal with all proud and ingrateful persons.
There is nothing more pleasing to God, nor profitable to us; both for the procuring of the good we want, or continuing the good we have; then humility and thankfulness: Yea, to the humble and thankful soul, nothing shall be wanting. God will sowe there, and there only, plenty of his blessings; where he is sure to reap plenty of thanks and service: but who will sowe those barren sands, where they are sure not only to be without all hope of a good harvest, but are sure to lose both their seed and labour. Ye… fools as we are, we forfeit many of Gods favours, for not paying that easie quit-rent of thankfulness.
Ingratitude forfeits mercies, as Merchants do all to the King, by not paying of custome. Because Pharaoh saith, The River is mine own, therefore God saith, I will dry up the River, Ezek. 29.3, to 13. Isaiah 19.5, 6. Deut, 11.9, 10. Tamberlain having overcome Bajazet, he asked him whether he had ever given God thanks, for making him so great an Emperour? he confest ingenuously, he had never thought of it; to whom Tamberlain replyed, that it was no marvel so ingrateful a man, should be made such a spectacle of misery When the people sought themselves only, and how to have their houses ceiled and sumptuous, neglecting the house of God and his honour, thus it fared with them: Ye have sowen much, and have reaped little; and he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Ye looked for much, and lo it came to little: and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. I called for a drought upon the land, and upon all that it bringeth forth; and upon all the labour of the hands, &c. Again, when they sought Gods glory, and were thankful, mark the difference: even from this very day will I bless you, saith God, Hag. 1.4. to 12 & 2, 18, 19. He that is unthankful for a little, is worthy of nothing: whereas thanks for one good turn, is the best introduction to another. Holy David was a man after Gods own heart, and therefore he ever mixeth with his prayers praises. Bless the Lord, ô my soul, sayes he, and forget not all his benefits, Psal. 103.2. And being of a public spirit, he discovers the secrets of this skill, as when he saith, Let the people praise thee, ô God, let all the people praise thee: then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our God, shall give us his blessing, Psal. 67.5, 6, 7.
Wherefore be not like the Swine, that feeds upon the Acorns, without ever looking to the Oake; from whence they fall. Or the Horse, that drinks of the Brook, and never thinks of the Spring. Yea, since God is the fountain, from which all our enjoyments flow; let this be our continual determination: He hath given us all the grace, good, and happiness we have; and we will give him all the possible thanks, and honour we can. Yea, teach us, ô Lord, to receive the benefit of thy merciful favour, and to return thee the thanks, and the glory.
And the like of Humility, Blessed are the meek (saith our Saviour) for they shall inherit the earth, Matth. 5.5. The reward of humility, and the fear of God, is riches, and honour, and life, Prov. 22, 4. If there be a hollow in a valley lower then another, thither the waters gather; And the more lowly we are in our own eyes, the more lovely we are in Gods: the more despicable in our selves, the more acceptable in him, as is seen in the example of the Publican, Luke 18.13, 14. And the Prodigal, Luke 15.18, 19, &c. Nor can any thing make us more acceptable to God, then the conscience of our own unworthiness: when with Iacob we can say, O Lord, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant: For with my staff I passed over this Iordane, and now I am become two bands, Gen. 32.10. When with the Publican we can confesse, I am not worthy to lift up mine eyes to heaven, Luke 18.13, 14. And with the Prodigal, I am not worthy to be called thy son, Luke 15. And with the Centurion, I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof, Luke 7.6. And with Iohn Baptist, and Saint Paul, the like, I am not worthy, I am not worthy. This is the way to obtein what we would have at the hands of God: who resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, Jam, 4.6, 10. Prov. 29.23. & 15.33. & 18.12. unto him will I look, saith the Lord, even to him that is: poor, and of a contrite spirit; and that trembleth at my words, Isaiah 57.15. He hath filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he hath sent empty away, Luke 1.52, 53.
So that if thou expectest to have God bless and prosper thee, then beware thou forgettest not, at whose cost thou livest; Beware, lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver, and thy gold is increased, and all that thou hast is inlarged▪ thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God; and thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of mine hand hath got me this wealth: but on the contrary, Remember that it is the Lord thy God, that hath given thee power to get wealth, and that it is only his blessing that makes rich. This is Gods own counsel set home with a very strict charge to all that have not a minde to perish, Deut. 28.10, to 20.
Many are the examples I might give you, of such as have been undone by their pride. While Saul was little in his own eyes, God made him head over the twelve Tribes of Israel, and gave him abundance; but when out of his greatness, be abused his place and gifts, God took them all away again. And so it had like to have fared with Hezekiah, when he but began to be puffed up with the wealth, and precious things that God had given him, 2 Kings 20.12, to 19. But most remarkable is the example of Nebuchadnezzar; who when he ascribed all to himself, saying, Is not this great Babel which I have built, with the might of my power, and for the glory of my majesty? was presently deprived of his Kingdom, and all that he had, and sent to graze with the beasts: but when he was humbled to the very ground, acknowledged the Author, and ascribed all to the God of heaven, he had his Kingdom, and all else restored unto him, Dan. 4. The way to obtein any benefit, is to acknowledge the Authour, and devote it in our hearts to the glory of that God, of whom we receive all: For by this means shall God both pleasure his servants, and honour himself. And indeed, that he may be honoured by our wisdom, riches, graces; is the only end, for which he gives us to be wise, rich, gracious. And who hath more interest in the grape, then he that planted the Vine? Who more right to the crop, then he that oweth the ground, and soweth the seed? Therefore, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength; nor the rich man in his riches, Jer. 9.23. For we have not only received our talents from God, but the improvement also is his meer bounty. Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things: to whom be glory, for ever, Amen. Rom. 11.35, 36.
And so much of the fourth means to grow rich.
CHAP. XXXII.
FIfthly, the next means, which God in his Word hath appointed to this end, is labour and industry in some lawful calling: for it is the beating of the brain, or the sweating of the brow, not the bare talk of the lips, or desire of the heart, that makes rich, according to the common Proverb, Wishers and woulders are seldom or never good housholders. The idle person, sayes Solomon, shall be clothed with rag…: and the sluggards poverty cometh upon him, as an armed man; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich, Prov. 10.4. & 12, 27. The Greeks have a saying. That plentifulness follows painfulness, and that all things are made servants to care, and industry. Caius Furius, by his painful dexterity, and unwearied labour, got more means out of one small field, then his neigbours out of many great ones: whereupon he was accused to the Magistrate, as if by witchcraft, he had conveyed the corn of other mens ground, into his own; but he came with all his goodly rustical instruments, with his strong and lusty daughter, and his well fed Oxen, and spake thus to the Iudges: See, my Lords, these be my witchcrafts and sorceries; but I cannot shew you my watchings and sweatings; which being done and spoken, he was presently absolved by the sentence of all. Whence the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians, to labour in their several callings, if they would have sufficient for themselves, and wherewith to help others. And this makes Solomon, in praising the vertuous woman for her bounty, note that she works willingly with her hands, and that her candle was not put out by night, Prov. 31.10, to 31. And Saint Luke the like of Dorcas, her pains and industry in making coats and garments, Acts 9.36, 39.
And what but Idleness makes so many beggers, and base persons? It is the most corrupting Fly, that can blow in any humane minde: We learn to do ill, by doing what is next it, nothing. Whence it is that vice so fructifies, in our Gentry and Servingmen: who have nothing to employ themselves in, for they only sit to eat and drink, lie down to sleep, and rise up to play; this is all their business, and this brings thousands of them to beggery or worse.
Be therefore painful, and industrious in thy calling: and God will undoubtedly prosper and replenish thee, with the good things of this life. This is another step.
CHAP. XXXIII.
SIxthly, if thou wouldest thrive and grow rich, then be frugal and thrifty in spending: For thrift (which is a due saving from sinful, and needless expences) and a wary husbanding of what we get, hath made as many rich men, as painful getting.
It is our Saviours rule, so to dispose of that plenty which God in his goodness hath bestowed upon us, that nothing be lost. John 6.12. And it is a rule, which all good men will be sure to observe: For
He who gets what he hath justly,
Payes what he owes duly,
Requites favours received thankfully,
Considers the case of the poor cordially,
Will not, yea dares not spend prodigally,
Let means come in never so plentifully.
And yet he of all men, is sure of a lasting competency, Prov. 28.27. Jam. 4.2, to 10.
Frugality, sayes Iustine, is the mother of vertues. But an expensive man (whatsoever his gettings be) by wasting, and overlashing of his estate is sure not to thrive. As it fared with that Captain in Tully; who was not a peny the richer, for that huge summe of money given him, because he had done with it, as a naked man would do with the Nuts that he gathers; carry them all away in his belly, for lack of pockets. And this the Poets insinuate, by their lusty Giant Briarius: who had nothing to shew, of all his comings in; because his fifty bellies did consume the gettings of his hundred hands. All the labour of that man of Monster, was for his mouth; and did slide through his throat.
Devorat os oris, quicquid lucratur os ossis.
To want and waste, differ but in time.
A poor man hath no riches, a prodigal shall have none. The Vessel that runneth out unduly, will be empty, when men come to draw out of it: so will the state be, if we let it leak like a crackt vessel: But what the difference is, betwixt a wise and prudent frugality, and a vain expence of Gods benefits, we may learn from, Gen. 42, &c. where notwithstanding the seven years of famine, Egypt had corn enough, when all other Countreys were without, and the people ready to famish: which needed not have been, if they had been more sparing in the seven plentiful years: for those years of plenty, were not confined to Egypt; other Countreys adjoyning, were no less fruitful, as the Learned aver. But that Prodigality hath brought many rich men to poverty, and poor men to beggery, I have sufficiently shewn in the 17th. Chapter. And so much of the means, whereby of poor a man may become rich: I come in the last place to shew you, how you may be happy, as well as rich, and cured of all your care, misery, and melancholy: which is the principal thing I desire to pleasure you withall. For millions there are that are mighty rich, and yet are the most miserable, melancholy, and discontented men alive.
Here ends the First Part, the second follows.
Postscript to the Pleased.
ACcording to my skill, I have taught you to improve your estates: but as to profit your soules, would more please me and pleasure you; so I have to that end, taken the greater pains, in providing proper remedies (of the same alloy) for each soul seduced, or afflicted. If such as they concern, shall be pleased to make use of them; they may (with Gods blessing) not only have their vices lessenea, their knowledge increased, and their mindes cheared and comforted: but probably they shall find in them, the flower, cream, or quintessence, of what would otherwise cost them twenty years reading to extract.
If you meet not with those little pieces, that are printed in this small Character, at the Stationers ▪ At Iames Crumps a Book-binder in Little Bartholomews Well-yard, you may have them all; being in number two and twenty.
An Infallible VVay to Farewell.
In our
BODIES,
NAMES,
ESTATES,
PRECIOUS SOULS,
POSTERITIES.
Together with, Mens great losse of Happinesse:
For not paying, The small quitrent of Thankfulness.
Whereunto is Added Remaines of The P. A. A Subject also of great concernment for such as would enjoy the Blessed Promises of this life, and of that to come.
By R. Younge of Roxwell in Essex.
To gratifie such as have long, and earnestly desired them, To prevent future mistakes in the Printing, and for other considerable Reasons: I shall Print some few of these Books; though at five times the rate of my other Pieces, whereof I Print ten thousand at once; Again, though they will be too great, for me to give as formerly; or for the poor woman to sell, as she can small ones: Yet that the Buyer may have enough for his money, I have (like those, that would distill Roses in the winter:) fairly crowded (as you see) a peck into a pint Pot. And that my own loss may be the less; my method shall be when I have Printed off my number of any one sheet, to keep the letters undistributed, untill such are served, as will venter upon each sheet single, and have patience to stay, untill it shall be grown up, to an intire Treatise.
LONDON, Printed by A.M. and are to be sold by Iames Crumpe in Little-Bart…. …
To the well-affected READER, that would be HAPPILY RICH.
AS the Oratour grown old, wrote of old age to an old man; and of friendship, to his much indeared friend: so is this Discourse of Riches and Happinesse, writ to such, and such only; as would be Happy as well as Rich.
Not to all, nor to all that are Rich: as well knowing, that the way to please the best, is to displease the most: and that to frame or fashion my matter, to please either the Rich or all; were displease him, that is all in all.
Readers may be resembled to the Belgick Armies: that consisted of French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, &c for so many hearers, so many humours ▪ And what one speaks of Learning in general, may be applyed to many wholsome truths in particular: the same dis…ourse, may make the indifferent good, the good better, and the bad worse.
Again, Some and not a few, are like the Gadarens, (Mark. 5.17.) who ere Christ entered their City, besought him to depart their Coasts. Nor is it amisse, to leave such as these to themselves: untill time and experience, or their own Rod hath made them wiser.
More especially, was it composed and published for their sakes, who know the worth and sweetnesse of these flowers; that prize these Pearles: as having still sound, when I have finished what I intended; their entertainment to be such as at first I expected. For these Posies may be resembled, to a Plume of Feathers, …r some soveraine Balsome, for which some will give much, others little or nothing. Whence according to my accustomed manner, I have out of divers fleeces, wove one piece of cloath: and brought home to them many famous Authours, though (like Mummers in a mask) I conceale their Names; as thinking it sufficient if I deliver profitable matter, after a profitable manner; and guessing it the greatest point of Learning and Oratoury; to distinguish aptly that which is confused, and to illustrate plainly, that which is obscure.
Nor do I at all, like those raw fruits of Poetry, Pamphlets, and …aybooks, (which take so with our youth and Gentry) that weaken the stomack of the soul, and fill it full of crudities, which will not be digested into any good blood, either of knowledge or vertue. And happy it were, if all proud and unsanctified wits, had but the wit to know, how Satan guls them with chaff instead of wheat, with copper instead of gold, with glasse in liew of Pearl. Which is the earnest desire of him, who would gladly b…
A furtherer of their Wealth and Happinesse, that have a mind to it, …