On the Excellency of the Soul. 3 9 it shall bee with thee, as with them, that is, you fhall have as much as they, and there is all the good you are like ever to have from mee; would you not fee caufe to give a dread- ful skreek, if fuch a meffage fhould come from Heaven to you ? what a foolifh thing were it for a childe that bath a loving Father, and a great Inheritance that hee expeas from him, becaufe hee fees a Rranger that comes and fits at the Table, and have better provifion than hee hath, to grumble and grutch, becaufe hee hath not filch provifion made for him every day? Oh hee hath no caufe to do fo, for the Inhe- ritance is referved for him. God, hee is a rich Houfnolder, and hee can give fach things as thefe are to his enemies, as wee fpeak of, but the Inheritance is referved for thee; en- vy not the ungodly in the enjoyment of the world, for the truth is, their portion it is but very little, it is but a poor pittance for an immortal foul to have, though hee should have all the world. It is true, wee should bee fenfible of our unworthinefs of the leafl cram of any good thing , yet though wee fhould bee fenfible of our unworthinefs, yet wee should not bee fatisfied ith: having, all the world for our portion. It was a moll admirable fpeech of Luther, when divers of the Princes of Germany made much of him, bee began to bee afraid lea bee fhould have his portion in there outward things, and here fhould bee all, hee breaks forth in this exprefion, fearing lei .God fhould give him his portion here; I did, faith hde, pro_ea toGod with all my power and flrength that hee fhould not put mee off fo with thefe things, bee would not bee content with them; that is the firfl fife; Little,caufe to envy at the men of the world; for the truth is, it is but a poor pittance they have, and they have made a moll miferable bargain : If you . fhould fee one that proteges himfelf to be a Merchant,' and hee fhould venture many thoufand pounds, but bring home nothing but a fair painted bauble for children to play with, would you envy it to him ? Jufi thus it is with the men of the world, they flatter and pleafe themfelves with their baubles, but their fouls are-gone in the mean times.. Secondly, ,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=