The Arraignment of Covetousness and Ambition, Chapter 18
CHAP. 18.
SEcondly, good men know, and well consider; that the greatest places, are subject to the greatest temptations: as the highest boughs of a tree, are most subject to be shaken with the winde. That greatest men have the greatest biasses to draw them away. Riches, honours, pleasures are such thorns: that for the most part, they even choke the good seed of G…ds Word, formerly sowen in mens hearts, Matth. 13.22. They are to Religion, as is the Ivy to the Oke; that even eats out the heart of it. The pleasures of the body, are the very po…ons of the soul. And the more any man hath, the more cause he hath to pray: Lord, lead us not into temptation. Nothing feeds pride, nor keeps off repentance so much; as a prosperous condition. If I could be so uncharitable, as to wish an enemies soul lost; this were the onelyonly way: let him live in the height of the worlds blandishments. For temptations on the right hand, have commonly so much more strength in them above the other; as the right hand hath above the left. They are more perillous, because they are more plausible and glorious. Whence the Devil did not appear to Christ in a terrible form; threatening the calamities of earth, or torments of hell; but makes fair promises to him, of many Kingdomes and much glory.
Neither hath God worse servants upon earth, then are the great ones of the earth. If adversity hath slain her thousand, prosperity hath slain her ten thousand. Commonly, where is no want, is much wantonaesse: and as we grow rich in temporals, we grow poor in spirituals. We use Gods blessings as Iehu did Iehorams messengers; David, Goliahs sword: we turn them against their owner and giver; and fight against Heaven with that health, wealth, honour, friends, means, mercies; that we received thence, and commonly so much the more proud, secure, wanton, scornful, impenitent; by how much the more we are enriched, advanced, and blessed. Saul was little in his own eyes, before God made him great: but when he was made great, God was less esteemed by him. Honour and Greatness will so swell some mens hearts, and make them look so big: as if the River of their blood could not be banked, within the channel of their veins. They spend their dayes in wealth, therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes. And what is the Almighty that we should serve him? Job. 21.13, 14, 15. Yea, with the rich Glutton in the Gospel, they scarce ever think of Heaven, till they be in Hell.
It is the misery of the poor, to be neglected of men: it is the misery of the rich and great men of the World to neglect their God. The poor, saith Christ, receive the Gospel: Luke 7.22. But, the Kings of the earth, sayes David, set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, Psal. 2.2, 3. All the life of Solomon was delicious, resplendent, and contentful: and therefore we finde, that he did even sink in the midst of delights: but David among so many publick and private calamities and disasters, kept his head above water, and stood upright in his heart to God.
Prosperity, makes us drunk with the love of the world: but as Sleep composeth drunkenness, so the cross will bring a man to himself again. The …cottish King prisoner in Mortimers Hole, by his own confession, learned more of Christ, then in his Palace, he could all his life.
Now hence it is, that Heaven is peopled with so few great ones. Not many mighty, not many noble are called, 1 Cor. 1.26. yea, of twenty Kings of Iudah, only six were good: and of eighteen Kings of Israel, all but two are branded by the Holy Ghost for wicked. Nor is it for nothing, that our Saviour says: It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle, then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 19.24. These men have their portion in this life, Psal. 17.14 and receive their consolation here, Luke 6.24. all here, nothing hereafter. But it is otherwise with mean ones: He hath chosen the poor in this World, to be rich in faith, Iames 2.5.1 Cor. 1.26, 27. The younger brother, shall not have all his Portion, left he run riot. Few men can digest great felicity: therefore as Dionysius gave for a reward to Plato Books; but unto Aristippus money: so God gives wealth and honour to those whom he least respecteth: but unto his owu, he gives his grace and Spirit; keeping them short of other things. Yet so, as each one hath what he likes best. As what sayes the worldling? Oh that I were so rich, so great and honourable. Yea, with Nero's Mother, let them be damned, so they may be dubde they care not. But the wise Christian as holding it better to be ranged with the Saints in Heaven, then ranked with the Kings on Earth: Considers thus, the enjoyment of all outward things, might add to my content; but it would endanger my soul: and it were better for me to swim a River of boyling Brimstone, to live eternally happy: rather then dwell in a Paradise, to be damned after death. He considers, that God not seldom strips the body of pleasures, to clothe the soul with Righteousness: and oftentimes strengthens our state of grace, by impoverishing our temporal estate, because commonly the more prosperity, the less piety.
To all which may be added as a greater misery, do great ones never so ill, they shall not be told of it; no, not by their Chaplains. Oh thou the Seer, sayes Amaziah to Amos, go flee thou away into the Land of Judah; and there eat thy bread, and prophesie there: but prophesie no more in Bethel, for it is the Kings Chappel, and it is the Kings Court, Amos 7.12, 13. So that it is a wonder! if any great man be saved, sayes Chrysostome, (alledged by Latimer before King Edward) because there are so few, to tell and admonish them of their faults. Whence many have sought by all means, to shun earthly dignities: lest by gaining a place upon earth, they should lose a better place in Heaven, as Millions have done: And upon this consideration: Isocrates refused the offer of a Crown, and told them that motioned it: That he had rather live poorly, being assured of the bliss of Heaven, as now he was; then by possessing all worldy riches and splendour, to put the same in hazard.