Chap. z. An Éxpofxion upon the Bookof J O B. Verf. q:' 243. man hath ? the Apofile ,james makes the queftion, and gives the anfwer, It is evena vapour that appearethfor a little time, and then vanifheth away, Jam. 4. 14. A mans breath it is but in his noftrils, it is gone prefently, yet you fee in a true value all the world is be low that. If you are to efteemyour lives fo , at what price will you fet your fouls ? To fave your lives, and fave your fouls, are two things. A man may fave his life, and yet lofe his foul ; yea, many labour to fave their lives in doing that, which will be the lofs of their fouls, poor creatures. Therefore look to that, let a high rate indeed upon your immortal fouls ; when eftates, and liberties, and livesare called for, count themall as trafh, that you may fave your fotíls, hazzard not your fouls : If life be more worth then all the world, the foul is more worth then a thou- fand lives: What will it advantagea man to gain the world, and lofe Math. a6. his foul ? Or what 'hall a man' give ißt exchange, for his Jòul ? The truth is, aman [hall not gain much to get the whole world and lofe his life, that lofs is a lofs irreparable, irrecotnpenfable from the creature. Nature teacheth us. to prize, our lives above the world, and Grace teacheth us to . value our fouls above our lives. Therefore how unnatural are they that prefer a little pro- fit before their lives; but O how ungratious are they, who prefer a little profit before their fouls !- Some will fin (as we fay ) for fix pence, felling their own fouls (as thole fall& Prophets did the foulsof their people)for handfuls ofbarley, andfor pieces ofbread, Ezek. r3. 19. And whereas a man thould give all for his life, they will give their fouls for a thing of nought. Know therefore the worth of your fouls. Jefus Chrift thought fouls worth his life, and therefore died to -fave fouls. How much then do our fouls tranfcend our own lives ? And if Chrift laid down his life to ranfome fouls , do you rather lay down a thoufand lives (if you had them ) then indanger your fouls, either by wing fin , or by fubmitting unto errour. In that cafe let eftate go, let liberty go, let life, let allgo, for lite bath not fo much preheminence over all as the foul hath over life. h'ourthly,Ifyour lives are worth fomuch,thenwhat is theGof- pel worth ? If a man wouldgive all for his life, what fhould he give for his Religion, to maintain and uphold that in the purity and power of it ? Life is a precious thitg, á thing of great value; but when the Gofpel comes in competition, then life is a poor I i z corn-
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