Bolton - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.B65 A2 1641

comfortable walking with God. 299_.. even friends,andacquaintance;nay,f eligiion,conrcience,ad allto be ferviceable, and contribucary to a greedyWolfe, and raging Gangren of hoarding up Gold, and worldly pelfe. In a word, it makes a man with a Bedlam cruelty to con- temne himfelfe, body and foule, fora little tranfitory trafh; wilfully toabandon both the comfortable enjoyment of the fhort time of this prefent mortalitie, and all hope of the length ofthat bleffed eternity to come. And as the object ofit is moft earthly, bate, and incompetent, fo of all other vileaffe&ions, it is moft fottifhly, and fenfeleflyunfatisfiable. For how is it poffible that earth (hould feede or fill the im- materiali, and heaven-borne fpirit ofa man ? It cannot be, and the Spirit of Godhath faid, it (hall not be, Ecclef.5. io. and 4.8. Hee that lovetb f lver, ¡hall not be fatisfiedwitl,filver. The eje isnet fatisfied with riches. Henceit is, that the deepe- lier and more eagerly the dropfie heart of the covetous man doth drinkeof the golden ifreame, the more furiouflyí}i11 it is inflamedwith unfatiablethirii : nay, certaine it is,that ifhe fhould purchafe, andpoffeffe a Monopoly ofall the wealthin the world: were heableto empty the Wefterne parts ofGold, and the Eaffofall her Spices, and precious things; fhould he enelofe the'whole face of the earth fromone endofheaven to another,andheape uphis .hoard to the Rarres ; yet hisheart would be as hungry after more riches,as ifhee had never a penny, and muchmore. If it fall in lovewithbeauty, and the fwaggering bravery of good fellowfhip, it begets lufi, and fenfuality; which make their minions madde with bitterneffe and malice a- gainft thevery leaft glimpfèof holineffe, or any religiousre- firaint; enrage themwithmutuall fury,to engulfe themfelves into the bottomleffe whirlepoole of fenfuall pleafures, and foempoyfon their hearts with a furious unqueei'chable thirff after them, that they will never leave their hold, and haunt, untill they either be broken with the hammer of theWord, or burft with thehorrour of defpaire. You may trace thefe peftilent properties in thepraétife of thofevolup- mous Gallants, Wifidome 2, (a Booke though not of Q,2 divine

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