Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v9

3 3-6 Chap. 3 i. An Expofftiox repon the Took of J o E. Verf. 25. Sixthly, So to rejoyce in wealth as by our wealth to make provifion for our lufts, or (as it were) to let out our wealth to the ufeofany luft is very finfuli ; All fuck rejoycing the Apoftle forbids (Rms.' 3 .ult.) Matte noprovifion for the flefb,to fo lfit the hills thereof. Godly men provide for their neceflities,wicked men lay up and lay out for their lofts. Seventhly and laftly, any fuch rejoycing in wealth as cloth but abate the edge, and allay the fweetnesof our Joy in God is fin- full ; and that's it which }0bheredifclaimes ; he did not fo re- joyce in his worldly wealth as to leffen his heavenly joy. His joy in riches was a poore joy compared with his joy inGod ; Hisjoy in Godwas above and conqueredall his other joyes.The Church Tfal. i 37.6. ) preferr'd fereefalem before ber cbiefe `joy. The Godly Jewes incaptivity could have rejoyced, and did in the re- ítoring oftheir civil liberties and priviledges ; but they made fe- ruf'lem their chiefeft joy ; And why was ferufalem their chicle joy? Surely by ferufalem they intended their fpirituall liberties and priviledges; the chiefeft ofwhich was their freer and fuller enjoyment of God inhis holy Ordinances and appoyntments for publicke worfhip. Nowwhen fob faith, I rejoyced not becaufe my wealthwasgreat ;it is as ifhe had fayd,Mygreateft foy in world- ly things was notfo mush or my leaft foy in ffiirituall things, or the highefi ofmy earthly joy was lower then the lowefi ofmy heavenly joyes. Yeahis greatcft joy in his great wealth was in that refpecg fo litle,that he could fafely profeffe he didnot at all rejoyce in it. 706 was doubtleffe very thankfull for, and fencibleenough oldie favour ofGod in beftowing lochgreat wealth upon him,yet the fence which he had of the favour ofGod in beftowing grace and falvation, yea and himfelfeupon him, did even fwallow the re- membrance of, and fo the joy which he tooke in all other fa- vours. 1f I rejoycedbecaufe my wealth was great. Hence obferve. Firft , Manta apt enough,to rejoyce in worldlywealth. Were it not fo,it had not not been worth the while for fob to haveprotefted that he didnot. Wee have a natural! bent to re. joyce in what is pleating tonature,thertfore in riches,which fur - nifh nature with all varieties of pleafures and contentments; yea fìnfull nature is heft pleafed with thofe things which are work and

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