A Christian Library, Chapter 58
CHAP. LVIII.
NInthly, Is it so, that what we give here to Christ's poor members, we shall receive again in Heaven with ten thousand, thousand fold increase of God himself; What wise man then wil not disburse a good part of his Estate, even as much as he can well spare, this way, when it will bring in such benefit? Yea, one would think the more covetous men are, and the more they love their money, the more liberal and bountiful this should make them. Some love their money so well, that they would, if possible, carry in with them when they dye; If so, this is the only way: The onelyonly means to have the fruit and benefit of our riches for ever, is to send them before us into our Heavenly Countrey, where we shall have our everlasting habitation: Nor can we carry any more of our Wealth with us, then what we thus lay out; for these earthly things are lost by keeping, and kept by bestowing. Neither can they and we long continue together, seeing either they will leave us in our life time, or we shall leave them at the hour of death, when all that we possess shall be left behind us, and that onelyonly shal be our own, which we have sent before us. In which respect our riches are fitly compared unto Seed, which can no otherways be truly kept, then when we seem utterly to lose it; for if we keep it in our Garners, it will either be spent in the use, or in time must corrupt and perish; but if we cast it into the ground, where it seemeth to rot, and to be lost, it is the onelyonly way to preserve and keepe it from losing & perishing. Give then that which you can no otherwise keep, that you may receive that which you can never loose; for to part with that which you cannot keepe, that you may get that you cannot loose, is a good bargain.
Again, What folly is it, saith Chrysostom, there to leave thy Wealth, whence thou art a departing, and not to send it before thee, whither thou art going. To leave & lose thy riches in thy Inn, & the place of thy Pilgrimage, and not to transport it into thine own Country, and Mansion house, where thou art ever to reside; let thy Goods bee where thy Countrey is: Let us imitate herein wise Travellers, who being in a strange and dangerous Countrey, wil not carry their Riches and Treasures about them, because they be then in danger by thieves and enemies, to be spoiled of them, hazarding also therewith the loss of their lives, but deliver them rather to the Agents and Factors of sufficient Merchants, dwelling in their own Countrey, that so taking from them Bills of Exchange, they may receive them at their coming home. The best means of transporting them thither is, to put thy money into the Lords Treasury, to deliver it unto the poor, who like trusty Porters, will carry it for us; whereas if we carry it our selves, it will like heavy burthens, hinder our journey, & like the Camels Bunch, keepe us from entering into the straight Gate; whereas if the poor whom God hath appointed for this service, carry it for us, we shall avoid the trouble, and escape this danger.
Our Wealth can never do us so much good, as when it helps us in our way to Heaven, where there is no use of such transitory things; for there the valuation of Gold ceaseth, Riches are of no use there; and in Hell it was a drop of water that the Churl wished for; not a Bag of Gold, nor a Lordship of many Acres, he had too large an Inheritance of them before: Wherefore ye rich men, yea all men to the utmost of your ability, do that good before death, which may do you good after death, as Austin speaks; put a good part of your Goods (even as much as you can wel spare from your own use, and for the well furnishing of your Journey) into the hands of the poor, whom Christ hath appointed as his Agents and Factors, and so it shall most surely be repaid, with infinite encrease (here if we need it; however) having finished our Pilgrimage, and safely arrived at our heavenly home, when Death hath spoiled us of all the rest, we shall most richly be provided. And this is the right course to make us friends of the unrighteous Mammon, unto which our Saviour perswadeth us, Luke 16.9. This is to play the wise Stewards, that when by Death we are thrust out of our Stewardship, we having discreetly laid out our Master's Goods, may be joyfully received into those everlasting Habitations.
Nor will it so much grieve a good man (at the upshot of all) that he hath been a poor Treasurer, as joy him that he hath been a good Steward: Yea, it wil be the sweetest and joyfullest saying that ever our ears did hear, when Christ shall say to us, as you heard before, Come ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the Kingdom, &c. This will far more rejoice thy soul, then it does now refresh the others body.
Again, Is there any place so safe as Heaven? where no thief comes, where no Plunderer comes, where no rust comes: Is there any place like that? Or can you put it into a better and safer hand, then into the hands of God himself? If then you wil lay it where you may be sure to have it forthcoming, put it into Gods hand, lay it up in Heaven. But if thou wilt not, or if contrariwise, thy onelyonly care is to hoard up Riches upon the earth, this does plainly shew, that this World is thy native home and Countrey, and that thou hast no right or inheritance in the Heavenly Canaan; As how is Heaven our Countrey, when as we will send none of our Wealth thither before us?