The Christian Warfare Part 2, Book 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of the dangerousnes of worldly prosperitie.
NOw hauing seene what this worldly prosperitie is,§. Sect. 1. That the worlds tentations on the right hand are very dangerous. and in what respect it is our enemy, namely, when it is a tentation of the world to allure vsus vntounto sin, (as it is vntounto all those who immoderately louelove and set their hearts vponupon it, more then vponupon heauenly and spirituall things) let vsus in the next place consider of the dangerousnes of these worldly tentations which are on the right hand, that accordingly wee may prepare our selues to make resistance. The danger of worldly prosperitie is exceedingSeneca. great; for as by Hippocrates rule the height of health is the first degree to some dangerous sicknesse; so when our worldly estate seemeth most healthie, strong, and vigorous, then is our corrupt nature prone to fall into the perillous diseases of sinne, which are attended vponupon with eternall death and destruction. And therefore the wise man saith, that ease slaieth the floolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them. WhereProu. 1. 32. by fooles hee vnderstandeth sinners and wicked men, who abuse their prosperitie, by setting their hearts vponupon it, louing and trusting in it more then in God, and strengthening themselues thereby to commit all manner of sinne and wickednesse. So that worldly men enioying prosperitie, and taking all their delight and felicitie in it, are not vnfitly compared to the little infant, who sitteth at the hole of the Aspe, and plaieth with the Cockatrice, whose pastime is their ruine, and their pleasure death. Or like the childe playing with the fire; who no sooner toucheth it with his finger but is burnt, and changeth his sport into teares and crying; sauing that herein they are much more foolish then little children, for they feeling the smart doe euer after dread the fire; but these being often burned with the bright shining flames of worldly prosperitie, are not warned, nor made more warie by their owne harmes, but as being besotted in their louelove, they still imbrace their ruine, and hunt after that which most hurteth …hem; like vntounto the foolish flye, which is so delighted with the light of the candle, that it regardeth not the heate of the flame, but burning one legge after another, taketh no warning till he be wholly destroyed and consumed. And so doth the doting louelove of these fond worldlings bereaue them not onelyonly of all religion, but also of the vse of reason; yea it so stupifieth the senses that they are deafe to all admonition; insensible of their owne smart, and in no possibilitie of being ruled, and gouerned, ordered, or contained by any law: in which respect Chrysostome compareth them to such a man, as dwelling with a faire maid whom he fondlyChrysost. in Matth. 12. homil. 41. affecteth, is by strict order inioyned, that hee presume not to looke vponupon her with lasciuious and wanton glances; a thing to him no lesse vnpleasant then impossible.
But the great danger of worldly prosperitie will more§. Sect. 2. plainly appeare, if wee doe but consider, how farre it exceedethThat the state of prosperitie is much more dangerous then the state of aduersitie. the danger of the state opposed thereunto, aduersitie and affliction. For whereas affliction being an open enemie, terrible in appearance, and making shew at the first sight of all his forces, and sometimes of more then he hath, setting before vsus shadowes, in stead of substantiall enemies, doth make vsus more carefull and watchfull to prepare and arme our selues, that wee may make resistance: Prosperitie is a secret traitor, which hideth hatred and hostilitie, vnderunder the vizard of louelove and friendship, and thereby maketh vsus so retchlesse and secure, that in stead of opposition, wee are readie to receiue this serpent into our bosome, and when he incountreth vsus with all his forces, so bewitched we are with the pleasing sight of this glorious enemie, that we cleere all the passages, and set wide open the gates of our soules, to giuegive him entertainment, voluntarily offering our selues to digge in his mines, and in most slauish manner to row in his galleys, so as we may be assured to enioy his companie. And the reason hereof is, because hee deceiueth vsus with his treacherie: for at his first comming he displaieth not his bloody ensigne, but setteth vp a flagge of friendship, hee assaulteth vsus not with open force and violence, nor marcheth against vsus in a terrible and hostile manner, but like a subtile serpent he cunningly glideth and insinuateth himself into our companie; neither doth he as a martiall enemie strike at vsus with downe right blowes, but rather like a craftie witch he besotteth vsus with his pleasing charmes, and with cunning inchantments before he conquereth vsus, he maketh vsus willing to be ouercome. He doth incline, and not constraine, perswade, and not ouercome, or rather ouercommeth by perswading, and most forcibly constraineth by mouing and inclining. He doth not vse against vsus any outward terrible forces when hee doth besiege vsus, but (Sinon like) with bewitching eloquence, and counterfeit gifts, hee allureth vsus to breake downe the walles of our strength, and with our own hands to make a cleere passage for our owne ouerthrow. He doth not when hee commeth to execution, vse the dreadfull sword, but rather sweete and well-tasting poysons, which hurt with delight, and whilest they seeme to nourish, cast vsus into a lethargie or dead sleepe of deepe securitie. Finally, he inflicteth on vsus no griefly wounds, nor bringeth vsus to our end by a foule death; but as it were tickleth vsus to death with inueigling pleasures, making vsus most to laugh when wee are most tormented, and in a chariot of gold, strawed with roses, he swiftly carrieth vsus into hell.
Let vsus therefore learne to contemne and hate the world§. Sect. 3. That we are most carefully to take heed of the world when it fawneth on vsus. our wicked enemie, as well when hee fawneth as when hee frowneth, when he allureth by flatterie and deceit, as when hee constraineth by force and violence: for though hee be then more amiable in view, yet is hee no lesse malitious in truth; and because hee is then lesse suspected, hee is much more dangerous, as hauing better opportunitie to vse all his forces, and to effect all his malitious designes. Why then, alas, should wee giuegive eare to the worlds flatteries? why should we beleeue this dissembling Ioab who will mortally stab vsus, whilest hee professeth friendship, and offereth in kindnesse to embrace and kisse vsus? why should wee listen to this sweete singing Syren, seeing he bewitcheth in delighting, and maketh vsus leape into the sea of destruction? why should his flattering perswasions, ioyned with crocadile teares, moue vsus, seeing he either weepeth for ioy to think on his pray, or for spite because his hopes are so long deferred? why should the glorious beautie of his golden cup allure vsus, seeing we know that the potion within it is full of deadly poyson, which whosoeuer drinke shall eternally perish? why should we be moued with his inticing gifts to admire his kindnes, seeing by these baites he allureth vsus to swallow the hookes of sinne, and offereth these carnall toyes and earthly trifles, no lesse vaine in themselues, then momentany in their continuance, that he may cosen vsus in the exchange, mouing vsus to giuegive for them the precious iewels of Gods graces, and our heauenly patrimonie in his kingdome. To this purpose one fitly speaketh: How great things (saith he)August. enarrat. in Psal. 67. tom. 8. doth the world speake vntounto thee? how great things doth it clamour behinde thee to intice thee to looke backe, that is to say, that thou maist place thy hope in things present (if at least they may be said to be present, which are alwaies moueable and mutable) and maist turne thy minde from that which Christ hath promised, and not yet giuen (but will giuegive because hee is faithfull) and rest thy hopes vponupon this neuer resting and perishing world? Whereof it is that God mixeth bitternes with the sweetnes of earthly felicitie, that we may seeke after another felicitie, whose sweetnes will not deceiue vsus. And in another place: O world (saith he) filthie, O munde immunde fallax & proditor, nunquid non periculosior blandus quam m…lestu…? August. serm. de fallacia mundi, tom. 10 serm. 31. Idiota inter orthodoxogr. lib. depatient. ver… contemplatione, cap. 1.fraudulent and trecherous; art thou not much more dangerous when thou art kinde, then when thou art troublesome? art thou not much more to be feared whilest thou allurest, then whilest thou despesest? art thou not much more odious whilest thou dissemblest louelove, then when thou professest mortall hatred? To the same purpose speaketh that learned Idiote; Although (saith he) eueryevery estate is to be feared, yet rather the prosperous estate then the afflicted, because this, whilest it rageth, informeth and teacheth vsus, the other whilest it flattereth, seduceth vsus; this sharp…eth a mans sight, but the other maketh him starke blinde. O my God, exceedingly art thou incensed against that sinner, vntounto whom thou permittest all things to succeed according to his wish, and afterwards makest him to beare deserued punishment. Let vsus therefore bee alwaies watchfull ouer our selues, but especially when the world fawneth vponupon vsus in the time of prosperitie, for it is more dangerous being our friend, thenAugust epist. 144. tom. 2. being our enemie, and more to be taken heede of when it inticeth vsus to louelove it, then when it forceth vsus to contemne it; for it smileth that it may rage, it flattereth that it may betray Arridet mundu… vt s…iat bland…tur vt f…llat, illicit vt occidat, extollit vt deprimat. Cyprian. Hieronym. ad Heliodorum, tom. 1. pag. 3.vsus, it inticeth that it may kill vsus, and exalteth that it may ouerthrow vsus. Although therfore this dangerous sea looketh smooth, and as it were smiling vponupon thee, like a standing water, and hath scarce a wrinkle raised on it by the winde; yet this large plaine hath great hils, the danger is within included, within the enemie lurketh. Weigh therefore your ankers, hoise vp your sailes, let the crosse be fastned to the saile-yard, for this calme will proue a tempest.
But how farre the state of prosperitie is more dangerous§. Sect 4. The f…uits of affl…ction much better then of prosperitie. and pernicious then the state of aduersitie, it may hereby more cleerely appeare; in that whereas affliction commonly maketh vsus carefull of our waies, increaseth Gods spirituall graces, causeth vsus to be more respectiue of our dutie, and either preuenteth or mortifieth our sinnes: Prosperitie most vsually worketh in vsus the contrarie effects; for it makes vsus proud, insolent, forgetfull of God, and of all duties which we owe vntounto him, it choketh and extinguisheth, or at least cooleth and abateth the heate and vigour of all grace and vertue in vsus; and as the Iuie whilest it embraceth the oake, sucketh the sap from the roote, and in time maketh it to rot and perish; so worldly prosperitie killeth vsus with kindnes, whilest it sucketh from vsus the sap of Gods graces, and so maketh our spirituall growth and strength to decay and languish; neither doe men euer almost suffer an eclipse of their vertues and good parts, but when they are in the full of worldly prosperitie. And as it staieth our course in godlines, and quencheth our vertues, so also it increaseth our corruptions, corrupteth our manners, and maketh vsus prone to fall into all sinne, if we be but a little rouched with the least tentation. And as the fertill soile being more fat and slipperie, is apter to giuegive a fall to those that walke vponupon it, then that which is grauellie and barren; so this rich and fruitfull ground of prosperitie is much more slipperie, then the barren heaths of aduersitie and affliction, and not one of a thousand doth goe long vponupon it, but hee catcheth many downfalles, not only into sinne. but also into danger and punishment which border fast vponupon it. To this purpose one of the ancients speaketh fitly, that abundance of prosperitie, is a notable Ambros. de Interpell. lib. 2. cap. 5.baite to draw vsus vntounto sinne, for it puffeth vsus vp with pride, and maketh vsus to forget the author of our welfare. And in this respect another saith, that felicitie is more to be feared then miserie, August. enarrat. in Psal. 67.seeing miserie for the most part bringeth good fruite. from the bitter roote of tribulation; whereas felicitie corrupteth the soule with peruerse securitie, and maketh way for Satan the tempter. By which it appeareth that our danger is far more when the world allureth vsus with the baites of prosperitie, then when it threatneth and afflicteth vsus with trouble and aduersitie: from whence an ancient father obserueth, that Christ comming into the world that he might shew vsus the way to heauen, both by his doctrine and example, made choice rather of the afflicted way, then of the faire passage of worldly prosperitie, that we might follow his steps, as being farre the safest way, to bring vsus to our heauenly countrie. Our Sauiour Gregor. pastoral. curae, 1. par. cap. 3.Christ (saith he) might by best right hauehave raigned ouer them as King, whom himselfe had created: but because he therefore appeared in the flesh, that hee might not only redeeme vsus with his passion, but also might teach vsus by his conuersation, shewing himselfe an example for vsus to follow, hee refused to be made a King, and contrariwise voluntarily offered himselfe to suffer on the crosse, hee auoided the glorie of regiment, and embraced the punishment of a shamefull death; to this end, that his members might hereby learne, to flee the worlds fauours, and little to feare his threats and terrors, to louelove aduersitie for the truth sake, and fearing prosperitie to auoid it; because this oftentimes defileth the heart with swelling pride, and that helpeth to purge it by repentance. In that the minde doth exalt it selfe, by this after it is thus exalted, it is againe humbled; In that a man forgetteth himselfe, in this whether he will or no, he is forced to remember that which he had forgotten; in that good things before done perish, in this faults cōmitted long ago are cleansed and purged. For oftentimes with the tutillage of aduersitie, the heart is kept downe vnderunder discipline, whereas if it rush vp to the sterne of gouernmēt, forthwith it is changed in pride through vse of vaine glorie.
But this may yet more plainly appeare, if we consider the§. Sest. 5. The great danger of prosperity shewed by examples of former ages. effects of both, in the examples as well of former ages, as of our owne times. For how difficult, and almost impossible it is to walke in this sunshine of prosperitie and not be tanned, to breathe this infected aire and not to bee corrupted with noisome and carnall lusts, it is euident, both on the one side, by the huge multitudes of those who in abusing it, hauehave bin abused by it; and on the other side, by the exceeding raritie and paucitie of those, who by the good vse thereof, hauehave bin made more vertuous, and better fitted for the seruice of God. For if you take a computation of both, you shall finde a greater disparitie betweene them in their number, then betweene the seruants of God and the seruants of Baal, according to Elias account; the one exceeding the starres in multitude, the other being as rare as black swans, vnlesse we will reckon of some sew, who had their prosperitie tempered with a great measure of affliction, which as an antidote expelled the poyson of the other, and like a cold frost nipping their rancknes, made them to become more fruitfull. How many hauehave we read and heard of, that hauehave valiantly resisted the assaults of aduersitie, and hauehave patiently endured pouertie, and that which is worse, losse of wealth, sicknesse and diseases, banishment, and imprisonment, yea death it self, and horrible tortures, much worse then death? But shew me enow to intitle a number, of those who hauehave by worldly prosperitie, riches, honours, and pleasures, been made more religious and zealous in Gods seruice, more vertuous, wise, humble, temperate, and more carefull & watchful ouer their waies, that they might not offend God the author of their welfare. Yea shew me almost ye man, that hath not by worldly prosperitie bin made worse, more forgetfull of God, more negligent in Christian duties, & vicious in his whole course and conuersation. Whereas contrariwise a whole age were too little to reckon vp those who hauehave come out of the fire of affliction more purified, profited vnderunder this schoolemaster, and by these fatherly chastisements hauehave increased in their louelove towards God, and in their care to please him by their holie obedience.
Yea let vsus if you will obserue the same men, and you shall§. Sect. 6. The great difference betweene the same men in prosperitie and aduersitie. 1. Sam. 10. 22. see them not the same, but exceedingly differing from themselues in these different estates: look vponupon Saul in his meane condition, and you shall see him modestly hiding himselfe, as vnworthie to be King; but being once seated in ye throne, and swelled with drinking this royall poyson, how proud he is and insolent, disobedient and rebellious, louing his kingdome better then his God, and against his knowledge and conscience, making warre with heauen, rather then hee would not hauehave it continued to him and his posteritie, though he were iustly deposed for his sinne. See also how in the entrance into his raigne he spareth his enemies, and deliuereth1. Sam. 11. 13. offenders from deserued punishments, but afterwards with deadly and implacable malice persecuteth his friends,1. Sam. 22. 17. and tyrannically murthereth the guiltlesse and innocent. But if worldly prosperitie were only powerfull with wicked worldlings, it were no great wonder: see therefore how it hath also preuailed against Gods Saints. Behold holy Dauid, who in his afflicted estate exceeded all in pietie, and was esteemed by God worthie that praise, to bee pronounced a man according to Gods owne heart; how foully hee was foiled with ease and prosperitie, and after many famous victories, now enioying secure peace, was assaulted and vanquished with his owne lusts. See here his great humilitie, comparing himselfe to a dead dogge and a flea; and there1. Sam. 24. 15. (not content with the royalties of a kingdome, vnlesse hee knew ouer how many hee commanded) enioyning, yea forcing, in pride of heart, his seruant Ioab to number the people. In this consider his tendernesse and pious merciemercy, sauing his enemie when hee had him in his power, his conscience checking him for cutting the lap of his garment, when hee spared his throate; but in that, murthering his faithfull and well deseruing souldier, for no other fault but because his wife was too beautifull for a subiect, yea rather then hee1. Sam. 11. would not hauehave him dispatched, adioyning others of his innocent seruants in the cruell massacre. Which bloodie sinne hee was now able to disgest without remorce for a long space, and stifly to stand vnderunder this intollerable waight, whoPsal. 38. 6. before was very crooked with the farre lighter burthen of his infirmities. So looke vponupon Ezechiah in his bed of sicknes, and there you shall see him humbling himselfe before God, and praying; and then behold him being recouered to his health, and you shall finde him glorying in his wealth, and in pride of heart boasting of his treasures.
And if these single victories ouer these great Worthies do§. Sect. 7. That prosperitie hath corrupted and destroyed whole nations. not sufficiently shew the strength of this enemie; see what conquests this worldly prosperitie hath made of whole nations: and to say nothing of heathenish people, nor of the foure great Monarchies, who hauing conquered all others, were themselues ouercome by their prosperitie, which first made them licentious in all manner of sinne, and afterwards slaues to their conquered enemies; looke vponupon the Israel of God, in the whole time of the Iudges and Kings, and you shal see them in the time of aduersitie, religious and deuout, forsaking their sinnes and seeking the Lord; but being restored and repossessed of Gods blessings, and florishing in prosperitie, you shall finde them polluting Gos house, erecting idolatrie, forsaking God, and worshipping diuels. And this good Ezra obserued and confessed, namely, that the people hauing obtained but a little breathing time fromEzra 9. 8. 10. their afflictions, did take occasion thereby to forsake Gods commandements. And Nehemiah acknowledgeth that the people abounding wth all plentie did eate, fill themselues, and became fat, and then grew rebellious and disobedi…nt, committing all manner of sinne and outrage; for which being deliuered into the hands of their enemies and afflicted, they humbled themselues and cried vntounto the Lord for merciemercy and deliuerance, but hauing againe obtained rest, theyNehem. 9. 25. 26. 27. 28. returned to doe euill before him.
But vntounto the experience of ancient ages, wee may adde§. Sect. 8. The danger of prosperitie shewed by the experience of these present times. our owne times: for who seeth not that commonly where there is most affliction, there is also most deuotion, religion, and obedience? and contrariwise where there is prosperitie and plentie of all things, there is most want of the feare of God, and greatest penurie of grace and vertue. For the cleering of this, compare the prison with the Court, and the house of mourning with the house of feasting and reioycing; and whereas in the one you shall heare religious discourses, prayers to God, and inuectiues against the worlds vanities; in the other you shall finde nothing but riot and ribauldrie, vaine iesting and blasphemous swearing, surfetting and drunkennes, chambring and wantonnes, audacious boldnes in euill, and shamefastnes in nothing, vnlesse at vnawares, being among their wicked consorts, they hauehave said or done something that sauoureth of religion, as though there were neither God, nor diuell, heauen, nor hell, and as though they had sold themselues vntounto sinne, and had exchanged the eternall ioyes of Gods kingdome, with the temporarie vanities of the world. But lest this dissimilitude of behauiour should seeme to arise from the difference of the persons, and not of their estates, let vsus consider the diuers effects of these two estates in the same men. And leauing worldlings to the world, who seeth not that those who make profession of religion, are exceedingly cooled in their zeale, and corrupted in their liues and conuersation, through the prosperitie of the world? and that not only counterfeit Christians, but euen such as in their meaner and more poore estate, would rather hauehave suffered any persecution, euen to the taking away of their liues, then they would disgrace their profession by offering any scandall, or bee drawne to slacken their pace in the way of godlinesse, are by degrees so carried away with the inticing baites of prosperitie, that first they abate of their heate, and afterwards become lukewarme, or keycold in their religious profession and practise? And howsoeuer they retaine still the name of Christians, lest they should bee branded with that dreadfull badge of apostasie, yet come to the touchstone of their liues, and to their carriage and demeanour in their particular places and callings, and you shall finde many of them, as worldly, couetous, and niggardly in contributing to religious and charitable vses, yea as proud and vaine in apparell, as deceitfull in their dealings, and riotous in needlesse and idle expenses, as professed worldlings. So that whereas aduersitie could not foile them with his sharpest incounters, when hee purposely bent all his forces against them; prosperitie hath subdued them, and made them captiues to the world, as it were in play, taking no great paines to obtaine the conquest.
Now the reasons why wee are so easily foiled and ouercome§. Sect. 9. The reasons why prosperitie is so dangerous▪ by worldly prosperitie, are, because it doth soften and effeminate our mindes, so as they can indure no labour, nor sustaine the least force and violence: for as the lute string being softned in water swelleth much in bignes, but loseth all his strength; so our hearts being moistned and mollified with these waters of prosperitie, exceedingly swell in pride, but in the meane time lose all their strength and Christian fortitude, so as they cannot indure the least incounter of an enemie. Or else it is because it maketh vsus retchlesse and secure, so as we fearing no assault neuer muster vp our forces, that we may hauehave them in a readinesse, and so being taken at vnawares, and vnprouided, we are not able to stand or make resistance: for whereas the cold of aduersitie gathers and vnites all the powers of the soule, and by vertue of this vnion inables them to make resistance, when they are incountred, so the heate of prosperitie dissipating and scattering them, maketh them much more easie to be ouercome. Or which is most probable, because prosperitie puffeth men vp with pride, and making them leaue their dependancie on God, causeth them to trust in themselues and their owne strength; and so God resisteth them in their pride and forsaketh them, who had first forsaken him: and therefore no maruell it is if being left of God, they be easilier ouercome of the weakest enemie. Whereas contrariwise affliction maketh vsus flee vntounto God for helpe, and distrusting in our selues to relie on his power and promises; and so though we hauehave to deale with a mightie enemie, yet being shrouded vnderunder the shadow of his wings, we become safe through his protection.
And thus hauehave I manifested the great power of this monarch,§. Sect. 10. That a great measure of grace is required to the well managing of our prosperitie. by the greatnes of his victories, and hauehave shewed how much more dangerous he is then affliction and persecution. Whereby it appeareth, that a farre greater measure of grace and Christian resolution is required, to beare and resist the encounters of worldly prosperitie, then of the other which seemeth to flesh and blood so terrible and vnresistable. For as it is much more intollerable to indure a tickling itch then a smarting paine; so it is much more impossible to retaine a Christian constancie in the course of godlinesse, when the world tickleth vsus with this itch of prosperitie, then when wee feele the smart and paine of troubles and afflictions;Vbi plus sortunae licentia, ibi plus virtutis negotium. for where there is greatest libertie of estate, there vertue hath the greatest imployment. To this purpose one saith fitly, that it is a note of singular vertue, to striue and contend with worldly felicitie, that it may neither allure, corrupt, nor ouerthrow August. s…rm. 13. tom. 10.vsus, and great vnhappinesse to be ouercome of this earthly happinesse.
The consideration whereof should make vsus to keepe a§. Sect. 11. That we ought to keepe a narrow watch ouer our selues in the time of prosperitie. narrow watch ouer our selues, as at all other times, so especially in our florishing prosperitie, because (as hath been shewed) this enemie is much more dangerous, and wee, through our retchlesse securitie, and carnall louelove of earthly things, much more vnable to make resistance. To this purpose one saith, that when the persecution of enemies ceaseth, our Gregor. lib. 40. Homil. hom 32.heart is much more vigilantly to be obserued: for in the time of peace whilest we hauehave libertie to liue, wee take libertie also to couet, and compasse our ambitious ends. The which was practised by another, as himselfe professeth: I feare no lesse (saith he) prosperitie then aduersitie; for prosperitie maketh me with his Bernard meditat. cap. 14.sweetnes retchlesse, and so deceiueth me; but aduersitie, because it hath some mixture of bitternes, like vnpleasant potions, makes me fearefull and suspitious. Whose practise let vsus also follow, casting aside carnall security, and carefully arming our selues against the tentations of prosperitie, which are pleasantly pernicious, and most hurt vsus, when they most delight vsus, and seeme to threaten least danger. Now if wee would know how to fight against this enemie, where our chiefe strength lieth, and what are the best weapons to be vsed for the obtaining of victorie, wee must consider that the Christian champion must not vndertake this combat, nor enter the lists in his owne name, but (as Dauid against Goliah) we must come out against him in the name of the Lord; we must not relie vponupon our owne strength, but vponupon the Lords assistance, and vponupon the power of his might, through which alone we are inabled to ouercome; neither must our comfort and confidence be grounded vponupon any conceit, that wee are able in our selues to subdue this enemie, but in this, that our Captaine Iesus Christ hath ouercome him for vsus. And this mustIoh. 16. 33. make vsus to flie vntounto him by earnest and effectuall prayer, desiring the helpe and assistance of his holy spirit, whereby we may bee deliuered in the day of tentation, and may hauehave these worldly lusts killed and crucified in vsus.
With which our prayers wee must ioyne a Christian care§. Sect. 12. How we are said to resist the tentations of prosperitie. to arme vsus for the fight, not with Sauls carnall armour, for this being vnfit and combersome, will rather betray vsus to the enemie, then defend vsus from his force; but with the spirituall armour of a Christian, euen the gifts and graces of Gods sanctifying spirit. And being armed, we must obserue the best maner of fight for obtaining the victorie: to which purpose let vsus know, that wee proclaime warre against prosperitie and worldly vanities, and manfully resist in the combat of tentations; when wee thrust them out from hauing a chiefe place in our hearts, making them as slaues to follow and obey vsus, and not as Lords to rule and raigne ouer vsus. When as wanting them, wee doe not greatly desire their companie, much lesse vse wicked and vnlawfull meanes, for the obtaining of this vnprofitable societie. When as hauing them we do not set our hearts vponupon them, but esteeme them base and contemptible, in comparison of the rich iewels of Gods graces, & the eternal ioies of his kingdom; being contented to lose thē, rather then in the least degree to hazard the other. And when wee immoderatly grieue not, but rest well contented, if it bee the pleasure of God to take them from vsus; yea when wee our selues can willingly cast them away for Christ sake, and renounce and forsake them, when as they will not stand with our profession and practise of religion; being content to leaue all the worlds glorie, and to take vp our crosse and follow Christ. In a word, wee fight against worldly prosperitie, when we defie it; we kill it, when we contemne it; we obtaine the victorie when we flee from it, and renounce it; as often as it is the diuels solicitour to perswade vsus vntounto sinne, or a corriuall with God or his graces wooing vsus for our hearts; or an alluring baite which inticeth vsus to swallow the hooke of tentations, and to giuegive entertainment to the wicked suggestions of the diuell.