236 The Reputationof Riches to be denied. CHAP. XLIII. The Reputationof Riches to be denied. 3. A Nother part ofthe Honour which felf mull be denied in, is, The Reptstation of your Riches. For wealth is one thing that men are proud of. Some defire to be eiteemedricher then they are ; and therefore go in the bell apparel they can get, that they may not be thought to be perfons of the loweft pooreft fort. And fome that are Rich,do glory in their Riches, and think they are much more to be honoured then the poor. But alas if they had well read and confidered what Chrift hath faid of the danger of the rich, particularly in Luke 12. & 16. & 18. & 8. 14. Mat. 13.22. Mark 10. 23. And what lames faith to them, lames 5. 1,2. &c. they would fee that Riches is not a thing to be Proudof. Not manygreat and noble are called.Godhart chofen the poor of this world,Rich in faith,to be heirs of the Kingdom. The talents for which we mull give fuch an account at the bar, should be rather the matter of our fear and trembling then ofour Pride. That which makes our paffage to heaven to be as theCamels through a needle's eye, I think shouldnot much lift us up. All the Riches of the world do make you never the better thought of with God, or any wife man : Not will they caufe you to live a month the longer, or quiet your Confciences, or fave you from death, or the wrath of God. The only worth of Riches, is, that you are better furnithed then others to do God Some kindof fervice, by relieving the poor,andhelping the Church, and furthering many fuch good works : And for the fake of thefe good ends, you mull patientlybear a Rate of Riches, yea and thankfully receive them,. if they are given you by God ; though the care and labour in a faithful difiribution of them , and the danger of abufing them, and the reckoning to be made for them, are fo great, as may deterr a wife man from a greedy Peeking them, or glorying in them, CHAP.
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