Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

$.Sea.2. i.Tim.6a.io. Fíovv ,satan raorl¿eth vpon mens contour- nes. Afts r9.:4. 74 O, fSatansfratagem$. creations vnlawfullie,and immoderatelie (pendingall their time inpleafure, which they fhould bellow in the feruiceof God, by imploying themfelues in the generali duties of Çhriflian_itie,and in the fpeciall dutiesoftheir callings. But ifhee finde that men are giuen to couetoufneffe, then hath hematter enough to worke vpon : for as the Apoflle faith,' .Tint.6.9..t o. 'They that will be rich fullinto temptations andfnares, andintomanyfoolif, andnoifnne ire ts,tivhich dro:rne men inperditim anddefttrtglion: for the delre ofmoxie is the roote o fall euill. With this baite hee allured Laban todeale churlifhly and vniuíllywith -lacob,and his own children;and to inrichhimfelfeby impouerifhing them, for whole fake he fhouldhauegathered his riches.. He inticedBalaa»s to curie the people whom God hadbleffed, byoffering himmonk, thewages ofwickedneffe. Hee tempted Gehani to take the talent and change of raiment of Naaman, felling for this finall trifle Gods honourandhis Mailerscredit. Heallured e.4chab to murther Naboth, that hemight purloine his vine- yard,and fopurchafe aplace ofpleafure with the blood of his faithfull fubie61. With this baite heeinticed tides tobe- trayhis Maf}er,fellinghim for thirtiepeeces offiluer,whofe worth couldnotbe valued with many worlds. And hereby alle hee prouoked Demetrius to oppofe himfelfe to the preachingof the Gofpell, becaufe bee would not lofe his gaine in making filuer (brines to the Idol,A6l.I9.25.Neither was this argumentdrawne from profit forcible onely in for- mer times, but now alto it doth no leffe perfwade to finne. For whom almoil doth not Satan catch, orat leaf+ intangle in this golden net ? Doth he not infnare as well profefhors,of religion, asprofeffedworldlings, fo that in greedyfeeking ofgaine it is not eafie to difcerne the one from the other? Dothhee not ouercome all forts and conditions ofmen, as weil thofe who abound in al things,as thofethat enjoy little, by proportionatinghis offers ofriches, according to their feuerall efiates ; much to thofe thathaue much, and little to thofe thatpoffefle little ? For hee commeth to Princes, and promifeth themhuge:fummes ofmonie, if they will lay in- tollerable taxations on theirfubieas, or rob the Church of her

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