The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 3 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
That we should contemne the world, and worldly vanities, in regard that wee are citizens of heauen, and heires of better hopes.
THe second reason, why wee aboue all other§. Sect. 1. That wee might easily contemne earthly things, if we would meditate of our heauenly priuiledges, and ioyes. Ephes. 2. 18. 19. should not much esteeme, nor immoderately louelove the world, and worldly vanities, is, because that as we are pilgrimes here, and therfore must necessarily leaue them in our passage; so we are citizens of the new Ierusalem, the Kingdome of Heauen. So the Apostle saith, that, We hauing through Christ an entrance vntounto the Father by one spirit, are now no more strangers and forrenners, but citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of God. And speaking of Abraham, the father of the faithfull, hee saith, that he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange country, and as one that dwelt in tents, who is alwaies readie to remoue and flit away; because he looked for a citie, hauing a foundation, Heb. 11. 9. 10.whose builder and maker is God. Neither was this peculiar to him alone, but general to all his children, who followed him in the faith; of whom it is said, That they hauehave here no continuing citie, but that they seeke one to come. And the reasonHeb. 13. 14. is apparant: for we are citizens and subiects of that kingdom, whereof Christ Iesus is Lord and King; but himselfe hath plainely told vsus, that his Kingdome is not of this world, butIohn 18 36. that hee raigneth and ruleth in that Kingdome of eternall glory; and therefore whosoeuer are subiects vntounto him, they cannot bee free denizens of the world, but citizens of Heauen. VntoUnto which we might adde, that as our Lord and King made but a short stay vponupon the earth, but keepeth his court and residence in the new Ierusalem which is aboue: so wee his people and faithfull subiects, who are also seruants of his familie, yea, members of his glorious bodie, shall make here but a momentanie abode; but after we are departed hence, shal hauehave in heauen euerlasting habitations; in which respect also, as wee are here strangers and pilgrims, so may wee bee rightly called citizens of Heauen, and as it were free but gesses of the new Ierusalem. Now what can be a more forcible argument to weane our hearts and affections from the world and worldly vanities, then to consider, that as wee are here strangers, and hauehave no abiding or resting place; so we are subiects and citizens of that glorious Kingdome, whereof the Lord himselfe, and his Son Christ is Ruler and chiefe Soueraigne? For who would not contemne a flitting tent, in comparison of a goodly mansion and stately palace? Who would not set light by a poore tenemēt, which is possessed at the will and pleasure of the Landlord, in respect of a rich inheritance, and a large lordship, in which he hath assurance to him and his heires for euer? Who would be a subiect of that kingdome, where the prince and soueraigne is but a slaue; whereas he might be an esteemed member of a great commanding monarchie? And who would preferre his pedling freedō in a country village for a few daies; before his enfranchizement and priuileges in the chiefe city of the countrie, which he may hauehave for euer? And yet all these similitudes are but some little shadowes and dark resemblances, to expresse the incomparable difference between ye earth and heauen, the momentany trifles of this life, and those vnualuable and eternall excellencies, which are reserued for the Saints in the life to come. For looke how much a monarchie is to be preferred before a molehill, the brightnesse of the Sunne, before the dim shining of a glow-worme, and the richest treasures, before the basest pebble stone; and so, and much more are those euerlasting ioies of heauen, to be preferred before the best things the world can brag off, though it were a long and flourishing Monarchie ouer all the Kingdomes of the Earth. It is true indeed, that these earthly things being neere vntounto vsus, and subiect to our senses, doe make a flourishing shew at the first sight, to those who are still conuersant among them, and neuer knew any thing better; but if in diuine contemplation, our minds and meditations could mount aloft, and be but a while exercised in the view and consideration of those incomparable ioies, which God hath prepared for his elect, these worldly and transitory things below would seeme little and little worth: for as hee who is feated on an exceeding high mountaine, iudgeth eueryevery thing small which hee seeth in a low valley; so if our minds were placed in heauen, and our hearts fixed on that diuine and endlesse glory, wee would thinke the greatest things on earth, as small as motes in the Sunne, and as smally also to bee regarded; according to the example of the Apostle2. Cor. 12. 7. Paul, who after hee had been rapt vp into the third heauen,Phil. 3. 7. 8. and had a sight and tast of those vnspeakable ioies, did in regard of them, esteeme the worlds chiefest excellencies, but as drosse and dung: whereas now alas these earthly things, though they be small and contemptible, do hide those superexceeding ioies of Gods Kingdome, from the eies of those men, who are still poring on the earth, and are neuer rapt vp on hie in spirituall meditation, but lie grouelling vponupon the ground, spending all their thoughts vponupon their worldly affaires. And as a small dish being held neere the eies, hideth from our sight a great mountaine; and a little hill or cloud, the whole bodie of the Sunne, though it be farre bigger then the whole earth: so these earthly trifles being placed neere our sight, do so shadow and ouercloud these great and shining excellencies, that we cannot truly behold them, nor rightlie iudge of their greatnesse and value. And therfore if wee would view them aright, and hauehave some true glimpse at least of this diuine glory, we must by heauēly meditation let the eies of our soule mount aboue them; or else we must remooue them further from vsus, and then they will seeme small, and smally to be regarded, in comparison of the incomparable greatnesse and goodnesse of those heauenly ioies, and euerlasting glorie.
It is no maruell if heretofore liuing in ignorance, wee did§. Sect. 2. That the louelove of the world may well fit an ignorant worldling; but ill …seemeth a Christian, who hath assurance of future …nes. not esteeme of these diuine excellencies, but preferred before them these worldly vanities, because they were subiect to our senses; for there is no desire of yt which is not known, and the bright shūshine day is al alike to him, who is stark blind, vntounto the darkest night. It is no wonder if before we heard of heauen, we esteemed the world as our chiefest Paradise, and worldly things, as the heauenly ioies; because eueryevery man naturally affecteth blessednes, and desireth that which is chiefely good; which when through his naturall ignorance and blindnesse, he cannot discerne, or attaine vntounto; he is readie to place his heart and affections vponupon that which is best, in his owne knowledge and opinion. But now after that the grace Tit. 2. 11. 12. 13.of God which bringeth saluation vntounto all men hath appeared, and taught vsus that we should denie vngodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and that we should liue soberlie and righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for the blessed hope, and appearing of the glory of the mighty God, and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ; it were more then madnes, if we shuld suffer our selues stil to be transported with worldly concupiscence, and prefer the present satisfying of our carnal desires, before the eternal fruition of our heauenly ioies. It is not much to bee maruelled at, if children wanting wit and experience, to guide them better, do afaffect childish trifles, and foolish vanities; for as the Apostle saith, Whē I was a child, I spake as a child, I vnderstood as a child, 1. Cor. 13. 11.I thought as a child: and it is counted in them no great absurdity, if they spend their time in idle sports, and prefer an apple before a goodly lordship, and a top and scourge before their patrimonie; but when they come to ripe yeeres, it is then expected, that they put away childish things, contemne those toies which before they so much esteemed, and affect things more graue and waightie, as befitteth their age and better knowledge; because hauing attained vntounto a more solid iudgement, they easily discerne the vanity of these worthles trifles: and so it is not much to be regarded, if worldly men, being infants in knowledge, before Christ Iesus was preached vntounto them, and the riches and glory of his Kingdome manifested, did like children affect worldly vanities, and because they knew no better, tooke their whole delight in these trifling toies; but now hauing attained to more ripe knowledge, and hauing been made acquainted, both with the vanitie, and basenesse of these worthlesse trifles, and with the excellencie and riches of Gods Kingdome, they are to lay aside their childish louelove, no more taking their chiefe delight in these momentanie vanities & earthly things; but rather to spend their thoughts and meditations, and imploy all their labours and indeauours to assure themselues of those incomparable ioies of heauen. And as the Apostle speaketh; they are now as obedient children not to fashion themselues according to the former 1. Pet. 10. 13. 14.lusts of their ignorance, but to be holy in their whole conuersation, as he who hath called them is also holy: knowing that they were not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer and gold, from their former vaine conuersation, receiued by tradition of the Fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ. For as there is nothing more vnseemely, or that argueth more ridiculous folly, then to see an old man dote after the vanities of youth, and with like heate of affection, following in his age those trifling and regardlesse toyes, which he delighted in when he was a child, as riding vponupon a sticke, building houses in the dust or sands, and such like childish exercises: and if any should so behaue himselfe, who seeing his great stature, and small discretion, his manly personage, and child-like folly, would not iudge him either out of his wits, or neuer in them? so much more ridiculous and foolish is the behauiour of worldlings, who being old in yeeres, remaine very babes in their knowledge and affections, and after those rich treasures of Gods heauenly kingdome are discouered vntounto them, do neglect and contemne them as heretofore, and prefer before them, both in their iudgements and affections, these momentanie vanities, and earthly trifles.
Whilest we remained in the estate of slaues, and were the§. Sect. 3. That it is seruile basenesse for a Christian who is the child of God, and heire of heauen, to set his heart on worldly things. deuoted vassals of sinne and Satan, our base desires did well sort and agree with our base condition; and whilest we were citizens of the world, and children of the earth, it might suit with our place and calling, to affect and desire earthly commodities, and to esteeme the riches, pleasures and preferments of the place whereof we were inhabitants, at high rates: but now that God hath dignified vsus with most royall priuiledges, and made vsus of citizens of the world, free denisons of heauen, and of the slaues of Satan, his owne children by adoption and grace, yea heires apparant of his glorious kingdome; let vsus, remembring this high calling, for shame forsake our base desires, not suffering our hearts to he groueling on the earth, wallowing in carnall pleasures, and worldly delights: but raising them vp according to the height of our hopes, let vsus aime at no lesse then crownes and kingdomes, and these not momentanie, and of this world, seeing they are vaine and of little worth; but those which are most glorious and eternall in the world to come: for if it be a base and vnseemely thing, that a Princes son, for a trifling gaine, should spend his time and strength in seruile and slauish actions, seruing hogs, and playing the skull, or running on atrands at the command of those whom he should command; how much more vncomely and abiectly base is it for vsus, who are (as the Apostle speaketh) the aAct. 17. 28.generation of God, his bIohn 1. 12.sonnes and children in Iesus Christ, yea cRom. 8. 17.heires of God, and coheires with Christ, that we should spend our precious time in seeking after contemptible vanities, and be at the seruice and becke of sinne and Satan, for the base hire of these worldly trifles; neuer thinking of our spirituall preferments, and glorious priuiledges, but setting all to sale for the present fruition of these momentanie toyes? Heretofore we were (as the Apostle teacheth vsus) dead in trespasses Ephes. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.and sinnes, and being in this condition it was sutable vntounto it, that we should be buried in the world, hauing our hearts burthened and oppressed with the cares of this life, and with the vnsupportable waight of these earthly things; but now we are reuiued with the blood of Christ, and quickned with his death, yea by vertue of his resurrection, God hath raised vsus vp together with him, and hath in Iesus Christ made vsus sit together in heauenly places, to shew vntounto ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace: and therefore as the Apostle exhortethColoss. 3. 1. 2. vsus, If we be risen with Christ, let vsus seeke those things which are aboue, where Christ fitteth on the right hand of God; and set our affections on things which are aboue, and not on things which are on the earth. For if it were a sufficient reason to moue Ia…ob to neglect his stuffe in the land of Canaan, because Pharaoh promised the best things of Egypt when he came into his kingdome; how much more should it be auaileable to perswade vsus, vntounto the contēpt of these worldly & worthlesse vanities, seeing we hauehave the assured promise of God himself,Genes. 45. 20. that we shal enioy the best things of his heauenly kingdome when we come vntounto him? It is obserued, that therefore with the Grecians man is called foreign, to put him in mind, that howsoeuer he dwelleth on the earth, yet he should still lift vp his eyes and hearts towards heauen, that so hee might be occasioned to meditate on his Creator, and on those diuine ioyes, and eternall glorie which are there reserued for him. And it is further noted, that of all the parts of mans bodie, the head which is the seat of the vnderstanding, and the place wherein the soule sheweth and exerciseth his chiefe faculties and functions, is most remote from the earth, and nearest vntounto heauen; by which fabrique and wise placing of these humane parts, the Lord would teach vsus, that we should as little as may be, trouble our heads with earthly cogitations, but rather exercise them continually in spirituall and heauenly meditations: and therefore according both to our name and nature, let vsus not hauehave our minds nailed to the earth, and wholly conuersant in worldly things; but let vsus continually lift them vp in diuine contemplation; and as the Apostle exhorteth vsus, hauehave our conuersation in heauen, from whence we looke for a Sauiour, euen our Lord Iesus Christ: and for as much as they are continually ouer-poised with worldly cares, and necessarie imployments in the earth; let vsus daily draw them vp, seeing they naturally descend like the peyses of a clocke, and exercise them continually in diuine and heauenly meditations, that so by their resting on the earth, our course in godlines be not hindred & stayed. Whilest we were without Christ, alients from the common-wealth of Israel, Ephes. 2. 12.strangers from the couenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world, as the Apostle speaketh; it is no maruell if we much esteemed our earthly habitation, and made idols of worldly things, as riches, pleasures and preferments, by setting our hearts and affections wholly on them; for so is this naturally imprinted in our hearts, that there is a God; that when we are ignorant of the true diuine nature and essence, rather then we will be without a deitie which we may adore, we are readie to serue and worship the basest creatures: but now that in Christ Iesus we which once were for … 13. 29.of, are made neare by his blood, and are no more strangers and forrenners, but citizens with the Saints, and of the houshold of Ambiant terrena Gentiles quibus coelestia non debentur; concupiscant presentia qui … tura non credunt. Matth. 6. 32. 33.God; let vsus leaue these idols to be adored by the Gentiles, who hauehave no knowledge of the true God, nor interest in his heauenly kingdome; and let them desire things present, who hauehave no hope to enioy Gods gratious and rich promises concerning things to come: and let it be a forcible argument (as our Sauiour vrgeth it) to restraine vsus from immoderate louing or caring for the things of this life, that the Gentiles who hauehave no better hopes, seeke mainly after these trifles; but let vsus who hauehave more knowledge, and better assurance, seeke first the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, Hebr. 13. 5. 6.seeing we hauehave Gods infallible promise, that these things, without our carking care, shall in some competent sufficiencie be ministred vntounto vsus.
More especially, seeing we hauehave assurance of eternall glorie,§. Sect. 4. That earthly honors, riches and pleasures, are base and of no worth, in comparison of the treasures, glorie, and ioyes of heauen. and be adopted heires of the kingdome of heauen; let vsus not in our iudgements ouerualue and esteeme, nor in our affections and endeauours immoderately louelove and seeke, the vaine glorie of the world, and these momentany honors and preferments; which befitteth them who hauehave no hope of better aduancement; but ill-beseemeth vsus who expect within a while such glory and greatnes. And this argument Ieremie vseth to disswade Baruch from looking after preferments in the world, because they were momentanie and of no continuance. Behold, saith the Lord, that which I hauehave built will I Ierem. 45. 4. 5.destroy, and that which I hauehave planted, will I plucke vp, euen this whole land; and seekest thou great things for thy selfe? seeke them not. And our Sauiour Christ by the same reason perswadeth his disciples not to aspire ambitiously after worldly superioritie and soueraigntie, because it better befitted earthly potentates, who had no hope of raigning in the kingdome of God: Ye know (saith he) that they which delite to beare Mark… 10. 42.rule among the Gentiles, hauehave domination ouer them, and they that be great among them, exercise authoritie ouer them; but it shall not be so among you, &c. So seeing this world is the place of our pilgrimage, & heauen our coūtrey, where vnualuable treasures are reserued for vsus, it is now no time to affect worldly wealth, and abundance of this earthly riches, for as the Apostle teacheth vsus, it becōmeth Saints to be so far frō imbracing & practising couetousnes, that it should not be once named Ephes. 5. 3.among them; both because their title is most tickle & vncertain to this earthly trash; & because also they hauehave sure interest in those vnualuable & eternal treasures which are reserued for thē in heauē. So that it may be fitly said to Christians, as Elisha speaketh to Gehazi; Is this a time to take money, and 2. King. 5. 26.to receiue garments, and oliues, and vineyards, and sheepe, and oxen, and men seruants, and maid seruants? especially when the leprosie of sin accompanieth them, which excludeth vsus from the societie of the Saints, and bringeth in the end eternall death. To this purpose one speaketh fitly: He (saith he) louethAugust. in Ioh. 8. Tract. 40. not his money too much, who loueth God enough, &c. O therefore that we could louelove the Lord as he worthily deserueth, and so should we louelove our siluer little or nothing: then would our money be only an helpfull instrument in our pilgrimage, and not a prouoking baite to our concupiscence, which we should vse for necessitie alone, and not enioy for delight, &c. Vse this world, but so as the world doth not fasten on thee; the end of thy comming into it, was not to make any stay, but to passe through it as a place of pilgrimage; thou camest in to go out againe, & not to remaine: thou art a traueller, & the world is thine Inne; vse therefore thy money as the traueller in his Inne vseth his table, cup, & bed, namely as being to leaue all behind him, and not to make any stay with thē. Finally, howsoeuer there may be some shew of reason, why ignorant worldlings should set their hearts vponupon worldly and carnall pleasures, because they are acquainted with no better delights; yet it is more then sottish madnes, for those to dote on them, who hauehave been enlightned with the knowledge of Gods truth, or hauehave euer had but the least taste of the heauenly ioyes, because they are vaine and momentanie, and these most excellent and eternall. And this argument the Apostle vseth to weane our hearts from these voluptuous and sinfull pleasures: The night (saith he) is past, and Rom. 13. 12. 13. 14.the day is at hand, let vsus therefore cast away the workes of darknesse, and let vsus put on the armour of light: so that we walke honestly as in the day, not in gluttonie and drunkennesse, neither in chambring and wantonnesse, nor in strife and enuying. But put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts of it.
It is true indeed that if the louelove of God, and the world§. Sect. 5. That they who louelove the world make a sorsciture of their heauenly hopes. would stand together, if wee could at the same instant place our hearts and affections both vponupon heauenly and earthly things; if wee could exceedingly louelove, and earnestly seeke the things of this life, and after be sure to finde the glorie and happinesse of the life to come; if wee could first be citizens of the earth, and afterwards obtaine the freedome and priuiledges of the new Ierusalem; there were some reason why we should so much esteeme, and with such ardent louelove affect and seeke after these worldly vanities. But the Scriptures hauehave plainly taught vsus, that the aIames 4. 4.louelove of the world is emnitie with God, that wee cannot bMat. 6. 24. andserue God and riches, that wee must c16. 24.forsake all, if wee will be Christs disciples; and finally, that as many as belong to his kingdome of grace, and afterward shall raigne with him in his kingdome of glorie, are dIohn 15. 19.chosen out and separated from the world: and therefore we are put to our choyce, whether wee will be louers of God, or the world, citizens of the earth, or citizens of heauen, seeing both will not stand together. For as those who were citizens of Rome, lost their freedome if they became citizens of any other citie; so shall we lose our freedome and priuileges in the new Ierusalem, if we become citizens of the earth. To this purpose one saith, that many by greedie coueting thatBasil. admon. ad filium spiritualem. which belonged vntounto others, hauehave lost that which appertained to themselues: these worldly things are alienated from vsus, and our possession is in the kingdome of heauen; and therefore let vsus take heed, lest by coueting that which is the right of others, we lose that which is our owne. It is said of Caine, that he built the first citie vponupon the earth, to shew, that he seeketh an habitation and abiding place in this world, who is excommunicate from the communion of Saints, and banished out of our heauenly countrey. Whereas Abraham the father of the faithfull, Isaac, and Iacob with the rest of the Patriarchs, liued in Tents, to shew that like pilgrimes they were still in remouing to their owne countrey,Heb. 11. 9. 10. as the Apostle obserueth. And therefore if we would not be like reprobate Caine, or desire to imitate these holy Patriarches, let vsus not settle our affections, and fix our hearts vponupon the world, and worldly vanities; but only vse them as necessaries for our passage, and contemne them when we finde them impediments, or when they come in comparison of Gods spirituall graces, or heauenly ioyes.
Which that we may the rather doe, let vsus consider, that all§. Sect. 6. That all the faithfull hauehave from time to time contemned the world. Gods saints and seruants hauehave gone before vsus in this holie practise, as precedents and examples: for no sooner were they made partakers of the gifts and graces of Gods holy spirit, and had but some little taste of the heauenly happines, but presently they contemned the world and the vanities thereof, they were readie to leaue all and follow Christ, and euen to lay downe their liues, for the profession of the Gospell. It were endlesse to name all; some few shall suffice. The Apostle Paul professeth, that he desired to a1. Cor. 2. 2.know nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified; and saith, bGal. 6. 14.God forbid that he should reioyce in any thing, but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ; whereby the world was crucified vntounto him, and hee vntounto the world. Yea he accounted all things cPhil. 3. 8.losse, and no better then dung that he might winne Christ. So elsewhere hee professeth, that he d1. Thes. 2. 6.sought not the praise of men, neither of the Thessalonians nor any other. Thus also Abraham at Gods commandement left his owne countrey, and contemned all the profits, pleasures, and preferments which it might hauehave yeelded vntounto him, in comparison of the land of promise, though hee dwelt there but as eHeb. 11. 9. 10.a stranger, and had little ioy and comfort in it, but onelyonly as it was a type of the heauenly Canaan. So Moses refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter, and was content to abandon all the prosperitie which hee might hauehave had in the land of Egypt; and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the▪ people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season; esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches, Heb. 11. 24. 25. 26.then the treasures of Egypt, and that because he had respect to the recompense of the reward, as the Apostle teacheth vsus. Yea Dauid himselfe though hee had all the royalties, profits, and delights, which a kingdome could affoord vntounto him; yet could they not allure him to fixe his heart vponupon them, but only hee vsed them as necessarie helpes for his iourney, remembring that hee was but a stranger and soiourner vponupon the 1. Chron. 29. 15earth, and that his daies were like a shadow which hath no abiding. Finally, no sooner were the disciples of the Primitiue Church conuerted to the faith, and had some assurance of their saluation, and some little knowledge and taste of the treasures, glorie, and ioyes, prepared for them in the kingdome of God; but presently they contemned earthly riches, and hauing sold their houses and lands, laid the price downeAct. 4. 34. at the Apostles feete, that there might bee a distribution, to eueryevery one according to his need. But aboue all examples, let vsus propound vntounto vsus our Sauiour Christs, who by his contempt of the world and worldly things, hath taught vsus also to despise and contemne them. For being the most glorious and eternall sonne of God, he did not here in this world seek for honour and soueraigntie, yea hee refused it when it was offered, and when he iIoh. 6. 15.perceiued that the people sought after him to make him a King, he departed & hid himself in a desert place. And though he were the King of heauen & earth, yet he professeth that he came into the world not to be kMark 10. 45.serued but to serue, and that he did not receiue lIoh. 5. 41.honour from men. Yea in his greatest glorie which he had amongst men, and when he would make some shew that indeed hee was a King, it is said that he came mMat. 21. 5. 6.meeke and lowly, sitting on an asses colt, hauing only some of his Disciples spare clothes vnderunder him, in stead of rich and kingly furniture. So though hee might hauehave had the riches of the earth at his commandement, yet hee contemned abundance, and contenting himselfe with necessaries only, he gaue the ouerplusse to the reliefe of the poore. Thus we reade that certaine women ministred to his necessities, that he had not money in his purse to pay his tribute, but was faine to borrow it of nMatth. 17. 27a sillie fish, whereas hee might as easily hauehave commanded the seas to hauehave cast vp her treasures and pearles, if hee had regarded them. So himselfe saith, that oMatth. 8. 20.the foxes had holes, and the birds of heauen nests, but the sonne of man had not whereon to rest his head. All which pouertie hee willingly vndertooke, that hee might inrich vsus with heauenly treasures; as the Apostle testifieth, p2. Cor. 8. 9.Ye know (saith he) the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that he being rich for your sakes became poore, that ye by his pouertie might be made rich. The like contempt he also shewed of worldly pleasures, spending his time in watching, and praying, preaching, and teaching; in wearisome iourneys, and sore trauell, accounting it his chiefe pleasure to please his heauenly Father, and euen his qIoh. 4. 34.meate and drinke to doe his will. Finally, in all things our Sauiour Christ humbled himselfe, setting light by worldly prosperitie, in comparison of that glorie which was reserued for him with his Father. Whose example we also are to imitate, as the Apostle exhorteth vsus: Let (saith he) the same minde be in you, that was euen in Christ Iesus, who being in the forme of God, thought it no robberie to be equall with God: but he made himself of no reputation, and tooke on him the forme of a seruant and was made like vntounto men, and was found in shape as a man. He humbled himselfe and became obedient vntounto the death, euen the death of the crosse; wherefore God hath also exalted him, and giuen him a name aboue eueryevery name. O why therfore should wee ambitiously aspire vntounto honours, seeing the sonne of God himselfe was content for our sakes to bee thus abased? Why should the seruant desire immoderatly to bee aduanced, when his Lord and Master was thus humbled? Why should wee greedily seeke after those riches which Christ Iesus the wisedome of his Father contemned; seeing if they had been absolutely good, and worth the hauing, he who is Lord of heauen and earth, might hauehave abounded with them? Why should wee dote vponupon voluptuous pleasures, seeing our Sauiour spent his time in painfull labours, and attained vntounto the eternall ioyes of his fathers kingdom, by trauelling in the vnpleasant way of troubles and afflictions? In a word, why should wee adore the world as our earthly idoll, and set our hearts and affections vponupon these momentanie vanities, when as all the faithfull from time to time, hauehave by the contempt of them entred into euerlasting glorie? Why should we dreame of hauing a speciall dispensation and priuilege, aboue all the rest of Gods faithfull children, and thinke that wee may cleaue and cling vntounto the world and worldly things with our hearts and affections, and yet neuerthelesse rise to be possessors of that glorie, and to enioy that heauenly inheritance, notwithstanding that all these clogs doe hang vponupon vsus, and keepe vsus downe; whereas all the rest of Gods children in former times hauehave by many tribulations entred into the kingdome of heauen; and hauehave inAct. 14. 12. respect of their heart and affections (though not in regard of the possession) shaken off these cumbersome burthens, and by the contempt of worldly vanities, hauehave entred into that heauenly happinesse, and euerlasting glorie?