Prov.a7.z4. Job Eccles .1, Gen.;. t 9. After what manner mull wegive Alms, Senn.' a'tyim , declare to them , but xaPylye?Js, charge, command them. Well did the Apoille know how forward on the one fide richmen are to be high minded, and to crua in their riches ; and on theother fide, how backward they are to truíi in God , and to (hew charity to the'' poor , and thereupon faw it requi(ïte that a Minifter fhould cake+` courage to himfelf, and not think it enough,clofely to intimate to rich men what Vices they are addiéted to, or what Verrues they are bound unto, but remembring the placewherein they hand, which is Gods,in the Nameof his moil excellent Majehy, to requite, charge and com- mand them to forbear the one, and indeavour after the other. In the next place follows the parties to whom this charge is to be g.ven, namely, To the rich in this world , Charge them, faith the A.- pale who are rich in this world, that is, in this preen( world ; noting our riches tobeonely for this world ; for true is that Proverb of the Wife-man, Riches are not forever, they cannot be carried out of this world. As naked we came into this world, fo naked 'hall we go out of it. And therefore it tnua needs be a point of great wifdom by that which is but for this preterit world, to 'lore up a fure foundation for the time to come. In the next place follows the Vices here forbidden , the firfl is, High-nsindednefs, whereunto rich men are very prone , in that their wealth is as wind, and though wind be but a vapour, yet it puffeth up exceedingly, as we fee in a bladder blown up with wind. In like manner, Riches, though they be but meer vanity, as the wife manex- preffeth it, yet are they apt to puff up men extreamly, even to think of themfelves above what is meet. Whereas if rich men would but well weigh, that they came from, and muff return to the fame mould that others do ; for dull they are, and to dull they mull return ; Yea, if they would confider, that they carne from the fame curfed flock that others do, and are by nature no better than the meanef; efpecially if they -- wouldconfider, that outward riches cannot add the leafl dram of real worth to the owners of them; but though they maybe the more honou- table partsor members in the civil body of the flare, yet in the myfli- cal body of Chrif} they may be lets honourable than the poor ; I fay, if rich men did but ferioufly confider theft things , they would not be fohigh-minded as theyare. The other Vice here forbidden unto rich men, is, Vain-confidence, or trufting in their riches, and this is very fitly joyned ro the former; for where ourpride is, there will be our confidence. That rich men are apt to put too much trui and confidence in their riches, doch ap- pear
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