Baxter - BV4253 B39 C78 1658

i $6 The Crucifying of the world, from the Church thofe Tenths which neither they nor their Fa.. thers before them had any propriety in any more then in the Lands ofany of their neighbours, as in thecafe of Impropriators they are forced to confefs. Let a men give all that he bath to the poor , and he (hall be defamedas covetous, becauíe he will not give more then all. For ifhe give to nineteen and have not wherewith to fatisfie the twentieth, he that bath nothingor lefs then heexpec`ed,is as much unfatisfied, and as forward to fpeak evil of him,as if he had given to noneat all.. And ufually fo un- rrafonable are thefecovetous expeftations thatyou may fooner difpleafe ten of them, then fatisfie one. Whence alto comes the Theevery, the Lying for the fake of Commodity, the over-witting and overreachingof each other , but from this fin. Whenceis it that moll Ale fellers and Vintners will make a trade of poyfoning fouls, and will nourifh that odi- ous vice,which is the ruine of mens bodies,the impoverifhing of their families, the difhonour of God and the shame and danger ofthe townsand Common-wealths in which they are committed? but only for the loveof a fordid gain: And were it not more for fear of men then God, the moll of themby far, wouldmake the Lordsday their chief Market-day ; for they carenot to rob even God himfelf for this unprofitable gain. And its well if Butchers, and manyother Tradefinen would not do the like, if the Lawsof theLand and the feverity of Magiflrates did not rearain them. This is theLove they have to God and eternal Glory ! Thus you may fee whether they aredead to the world, or rather to atilt l.Gehezi thought himfelf wifer then his Mailer, when he went after Naamanfor his prize : And .khan thought himfelf wifer then all Ifrael, when he hid the gold : And Saael thought it wifdom to fpare Agag and the bell things from deflruftion. Rut the Leprofie taught one, and the fiones taughtanother, and Gods - rejeftion taught the third , to know that by experience which theywouldnot learn by the warnings of the Lord. The like may be faid of contentious Law-faits, the common effeets of Covetoufnefs and Revenge ; and fo of all other unlawfull gain. If indeedyou aredead to the world , do not fomuch as tell a fie to get all the riches ,of theworld. Remember allo the com- dxof GQd, L&. I9,tr;aThanflsdt'notdeframsdthy;neighboor, neither

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