By the croft ofChrifl. 167 nous, grofsand fcandalous fin, as long as he is a covetous world- ling I If covetoufnefs be idolatry, and the fin of thole with whom we maynot fo much as eat, and if the covetous (hall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven, and be fuch as the Holy Ghoft doth joyn with thieves and the vileft tanners, who then but an Infidel can think that it is not a fcandalous fin , and fuch as will be the damnation of all that be not throughly cured ofit ? See Epb. 5. S,6,7. Y Cor. 5. I o, I I . Pfal.10. 3. 2 Tim. 3.2. 2 Pet. 2.14. Luke 16. 14, Mark 7.2a. 2 Tim. 3.2. 7er.8. I O. 0, 6. 13. David prayeth God to encline his heart tohis teflimo niet, and not tocovetoufnefs, Pfal. i i9. 36. and now men think they may beenclined to both, and-that they have found out the terms of reconcilingheaven, with earth andhell. I marvail thefe men will not fee their own faces, when the Prophets and Chrift himfelf do hold them fo clear a glafs ? Ezek. 33. 3% They come unto thee as thepeople cometh, and they fit before thee as my people , and they hear thy Words, bat they Will not do them ; for with their mouth they fheWmuch love, but their heart goethafter their cove- toufnefs.J Mat. r 3.22. [ He that receivedfeedamong the thorn; is he that heareth the Word, and the care of this world, andthe de- ceitfalnefs of riches choakthe Word , and he becometh unfruitful.] I know the men that I am now fpeakingof have many excellent gifts; and in other refpetis do Teem the forwardeft for godlinefs in the Countrey ; but the more is the pitty that men of fuch parts Mould be rotten-hearted hypocrites , and damned for woridlinefs after fomuch pains in duties : For an heathen may as loon be faved as a worldling : When they have prayed , and preached, and cryed down prophannefs let them hear what the Lord faith to them Luke 18. 22, 23, 2.1. and there fee again their faces in that glafs : [ Yet lackefi thou one thing : ( even loch an oneas none can be faved without , even a Love toGod and Heaven above earth: ) fell all that thou hafland dillrihureunto the poor and thoufliale have treefare in heaven, and c,9rne e: And When he heard this hewas very forrow`ul ; for he was very rich. e.4nd when ?efu; faw that he Was forrowfal, he pad How hardly [hall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of Set not then fo high a value on a full elate. Let your conver- fationbe Without covet' ufnefs,andbecontsnt with fach things at 7e
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