A Christian Library, Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
It is no small wonder to me, that any wise man should so dote, and set his affections upon that which is so uncertain, and that will do him so little good in time of greatest need. As oh the uncertainty of riches ▪ whom either casualty by fire, or inundation of waters, or robbery of Thieves, or negligence of servants, or suretyship of friends, or over-…ight of reckonings, or trusting of Customers, or unfaithfulnesse of Factors, or unexpected falls of Markets, or piracy by Sea, or unskilfulnesse of Pilots, or violence of Tempests may bring to an hasty and speedy poverty. It is in the power of one gale of winde, or a farthing candle to make many rich men beggars. And then as the greatest floods have often the lowest ebbs, so are they most poor and miserable, that were formerly most rich, and in the mindes esteem most happy.
2. Or in case our riches thus leave not us, yet we know not how soon we may leave our riches: For, for ought we know, this very night may be our last night. That rich man in the Gospell, reckoned up a large bill of particulars, great barnes, much goods, many yeares; but the sum was short, one night. He that reckons without God, shall be sure to reckon twice. And so it may fare with thee; There is but one way to come into the world, there is a thousand wayes to go out of it.
In Plinies time, Physitians had found out above three hundred diseases between the crown of the head, and the sole of the foot, all which do lye lingring, and lurking for our lives. Nor is that all, Anacreon that drunken Poet, was choaked with the huske of a grape. Euripides returning home from King Archelaus his supper, was to…e in pieces of Dogs. Archem…rus, sonne to Lycurgus, King of Thrace, was slain by an Adder. Lucia sister to M. Aurelius, was killed with a needle which stuch on her breast, being thrust in by her Childe as she held it in her armes. Heliogabalus was slaine upon a Privy. Antiochus the Tyrant, rotted alive. Herennus the Sicilian, being taken prisoner, fall downe dead with very feare of what he should suffer, being a co-part…er …n the conspiracy of Cajus Gracchus. And Plautinus the Numidian, at the very sight of his dead Wife, took it so to heart, that he fell upon her, and rose no more. I have read of a Captaine, that having murthered many on hors-back, was killed with his owne sword falling out of his scabbard as he did alight.
Bibulus riding through Rome in triumph, a tyle stone fell from the roofe of a house and killed him. And the like of King Pyrrhus Tullius Hostilius was slain with a Thunder bolt. How easily may some sudden sickenesse, an Impostum: or the like cut in two the thre… of life▪ when we thinke the least of death. There be as many little Sculs as great ones in Golgotha, sayes the Hebrew Proverb; for one Apple that falleth from the tree, ten are pulled before they he ripe: And the parents mourn for the death of their children, as oft as the children for the death of their parents: Which were it well considered, would make men more wise then so to value the things of this life, and under-value those of the next: For that which the sterne is to the ship, the eye to the body, the Compasse to the Pilot, the same is the consideration of his end to a wise Christian. Or
3. If he still enjoyes his wealth, together with his life for many yeares, yet what will it profit him when sicknesse comes? All the wealth in the world will not remove paine, neither will honour or greatnesse, if they be added to wealth. It is not the imbroydered slipper that will drive away the painfull gowt. Nor the golden Diadem, the cruell head ache; nor the Diamond ring, the angry Whitflow; nor the long Velvet Roab, the burning Feaver. Yea, the aking of a tooth, the pricke of a thorne; or some passion of the minde, is able to deprive us of the pleasures of the whole worlds Monarchy. Whence all earthly enjoyments are so often called vanities, because they are vain things to trust to, or dote upon, they cannot profit, or deliver in time of sickness or death, 1 Sam. 12.21.
4. And lastly, he cannot carry the leaft part of his riches away with him: For as with Iob, he came naked into the world, so he shalt returne naked out of it: onelyonly his evill deeds, and his accusing conscience (if he repents not) shall beare him company. Bona sequuntur mala persequuntur. Be not thou afraid (saith the Psalmist) when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is encreased: For he shall take nothing away when he dyeth, neither shall his pompe descend after him, Psal. 49.16, 17. And also Solomon; As he came forth of his mothers belly, he shall return naked, to go as he came, and shall beare away nothing of his labour, which he hath caused to passe by his hand, Eccles 5.15. And likewise the Apostle; We brought nothing into the world, and it is certaine we can carry nothing out of it, 1 Tim. 6 7.
Oh my brethren think of it! it is but a poor comfort, to have wealth, and want grace: It is far better while our health lasteth, to sow the seed of godly actions in the field of this world, that at the Autumne or end of our age, we may reap the fruit of euerlasting comfort. For to every man that doth good shall be glory and hunour, immortality and eternall life, to the Iew first, and also to the Gentile, Rom. 2.10. And so on the contrary: For unto them that do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soule that doth evill, of the Iew first, and also of the Gentile ▪ vers. 5. to 10. God hath said it, and they shall finde it: And that is it to flourish for a time, and perish for ever?
Whence let us learne this lesson; That Iustice hath lincked as with … iron chaine, goodnesse and blessednesse, sinne and punishment together, … the cause and the effect, as the body and the shadow, as the worke and the wages, as the Parent and the Childe, one begetti… another. He that sowes the seed of godly actions in the field of a repentant heart, shall at the Autumn, or end of his life, reap the fruits of everlasting comfort, and so on the contrary.
And so much of the time when we are to give. I should now come to tho meanes enabling thereunto, which are principally two, Labour & Industry, in lawfull getting, and frugality or thriftinesse in spending our goods lawfully gotten: that so having greater plenty, we may be the richer in good works, according to the French proverb; A seasonable gathering, and a reasonable spending, make a good house-keeping. But of these I have spoken in the means to attain riches, Chap. 32, 33. beginning at page 50. OnelyOnly I will add a few lines.