SpiritHal FerJeflion. ~· The plainefl Experience does not convince the Covetous of their Folly? a~d cor · reEt them. 'Tis univerfally vifible, that Riches cannot fecure Men from Mtfcnes and and Mortal ity : They are like a Reed , that has not flrength to fupport, but (harpnefs to wound any one that rcA:s on it. Earthly Treafures cannot fec~re us from ~he, Anger of God, nor the Violence aod Fraud of Men. How often are fa~r Eflates ravtfh d from the Owners? But (uppofe they are continued here to the Poffetfor, they are not Anudotes agai nft the malignity of a Difeafe ; they cannot purchafe a privilege to exempt the Rich from Death. And is he truly rich that mull be deprived of his Trea(ures when he leaves this World, and enter naked and folitary into the next World, where he will be poor for ever ? He is rich that carries wi£h him Divine Graces and Comforcs, the Treafitres of the Soul, when he dyes, and takes poffellion of the Inheritance tmd,fil,d, that paffu not awa7. How o~ren do Wori?Iy Men in their fall h~ urs, when the tho.ughts of the Heart are declared wah mofi fee hng, and leall affetlatton, condemn their un~ accoumable Folly, for their hav ing fer their .Aff(fliom on thin.~s htlow, 4nd ntgldlinJ!. thingJ abow ; that with fuch fe rvour and conflancy they proCecuted their fecul ar ends, and were fo coldly affc:Cl:ed to eternal things, as unworthy of their care and dil igence ( Thofe forlom Wretches in their eKtrcmities, with what fignificant and lively Expreffions do they decry the Vanity of this World, and the Van it y of their Hearts in (,eking it? 'Tis related of l'hilip King of the Macdoniam, that while one was pleading. before him, he dropp'd afieep ; and waking on a fudden, pall Sentence againfl the ngh tcous Cau(e : U pan this the inJur'd Perfon cried am, I appt41. The King with Indignation ask ,d, Q.uid J1&num To~>hom? He reply'd, Fromyour{tlfjluping , toyo•rfolfrvakinR; and had the Judgment P•M;, mnu;. f~~=~'get~~~;~~a~~~~~ ~~in:~~~~~~sa~;~~~~:t~h~~~e~t~~~~!~~~~~~i~e~;c~r:r:~ ~~~;~~~::~; the Drofs of falfe Trcafures, and the Glory of the true, what a change would it make in tumf.. t(t~ t, ra'f.li their Minds, AffeClions and ACl:ions? But 0 Folly and Mifery! they but fup:::rficially ~:;· ~=::~~~. conUder things, tit1 confl:rain'd when 'tis too late. toln'oftamhna. From thcfe Confiderations we underftand the Reafons of our Saviour's declaring, 'Tis · a; ,.fj for a C<mtl to go tiJrou.~h the qe of a medle, a; for a ri&h M•n,. that trufls in his Riches, t o enUr mto th' J(jngdom of H tavm. But what is impo/Jible wtth Mm, ts po(Jible with God. He can by (o firong a Light reprefent the Eternal Kingdom ro Men "s Minds, and purify their AffeCtions, that they !hall fo ufe the World, that they may enjoy God. We !hould from hence be excited to watchfulnefs againfl this Sin. Our Saviour gave a double Caution to his Difciples, Tak' hud andb•ware of Cov(lot~(n,fs. In fome, the Leprofy appears in th e~r Foreheads; their Company, the ir Converfacion, make it evident, that tho World is f" tn thtir Htart s : In others, the Leprofy is in their Bofoms; their AffeEt ions are inten!ly and entirely (et on the World, though the difcovery is not fo vifible: None but the circumfpeCt can be fafe. In order to the mortifying this Lull, the following means, with the Divine Blelling, will be very ufcful. The mward cau(es of the greedy defircs and tenacious humour of the Covetous, are the irregular efieem of Riches, and confequemly, the jealoufy of lofing what IS (o highly valued; and follicitude to prevent all pollible future wants. Now to take aw~y thefe caufes, confider, ,, T here are T rea(ores infinitely more precious and durable, and mQre worthy of our efleem and love, than all the Gold that is drawn from the Mines in Pem, the true in· richments of the Soul; without which a Man, poffefs'd of all the Wealth of the Flota, is not rich cowards God, but wretchtd, and mi{erable, and poor, and hlind, and nal:td. God Rev. 3· offers himCe lf to be our Portion, who is rich in all PerfeEtions, whofe Trea(ures are un- (carchable and un wafled: If we feel< his Love, and Grace to love him, we !hall inhe rit f•bflan" and durable Riehes• . The Apo!lle, when the fcales were fallen from his Eyes, difcovered fuch an '""Ueney tn t h, know/,dge of Chrijl, that h' &ount(d aU thiny,s lofs and dtmg , that lu rniK,ht havt an tntrrefl in h1m. This eminent advantage there is in feeking Heavenly Treafures, we !hall certainly obtain them, and never be deprived of them ; whereas the moll eager purfuit of Earthly Riches, is uncertai nly (uccefsful ; and if we do acquire th;m, they will certainly be loll•. No": as inward bleed ing that endangers Ltfe, IS flopp d by revulfion, tn openmg a Vem; (o tf the fire am of our AffeEtions be di. reCted to things above , it will flop their impetuous current to things below. 1 . The liberal u(e of Riches for the Glory of God, and in Chariry to others, is the bell ~ca ns to fecurc the tenure of our Temporal Poffellions: For the negleCt of paying the 1 n bute we owe to God, makes a forfetture of our Eflates ; and he can by Right and Power re ~urne them in a mo.mcnr. Be fid es, there is no Epithet more proper to be join'd with R1ches, than tmctrt atn. Is that Man certainly rich, whofe entire Efl:a te is in a Ship, fa iling through dangerous Seas, and open to frequent Piracies? There is no greater a dillance bet ween a Tempeft and a Shipwrack, t han between often and always Innumerable Dif. E e e e 2 afiers
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