c.íl Difourfe o. f true dappinefJ°e. 53 more honorable fervitude and glorious miferie. If hee meete with a bate and earthly-minded fellow,that preferresa little tranfitory traíh before the precioufnefle of his owne foule, and the laying treafuresof immortalitie; why, he can eafily provide a golden wedge, and call inhisway toenrich him;. lee can compafle for him, though by bloudy meanes and mercilefie enclofure, a..Nabothsvineyard to enlargehis pof- feffìons. For all is one to him,fohe keepe him his own,whe- ther by want andpovertie hee drive a man to impatiencie, murmuring and independency upon the providence ofGod;. or by heaping upon him abundanceof wealth , and filling him a full cup of temporali happinefle , hee call him into a deepe tleepofcarnali fecuritie, and a fenfelefnefle of all mat- ters offan6lification andfalvation. But whereas Satanpath found by much experience, that fuch as are fenced with riches and honours, doe many times falfely affume unto themfelves a conceit' of greatnefle and goodneffe, of protecuion and immunitie from dangers ; fo that they are more feareleffe ofthe judgements ofGod, be- caufe they arenot plagued like other men; morecareleffe of floring themfelves withfpirituall comfort againfl the day of vifitation, becaufe they are in the meane timeplentifully ent compaffed withworldly contentments; more regardlef?fe and negleclive ofthe minitlryof the Word,becaufe they would not willinglybe tormentedbefore their time; therefore, I fay, hee followes with more hope and better fuccelfe this tentationby profperitie : And the rather, becaufe croffes, af- flidlionsand heavie accidents , are many times lively inflru- &lions and compulfions to bring aman to theknowledge of God and himfelfe ;. and to abandon all confidence in earthly things, and to embrace the moil comfortable and heavenly ftateof true Chrillians. Wherefore ifany man becontent to Hand for Satanskingdome, either by open and profefl im- piety, or by 'dole conveyances and fecret praitices acid con- nivency;hewill be fure toprepare,incline and difpofe all oc cations, meanes and circumflances forhis advancement into reputation with the world. And howpotent he is in thefe cafes,
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