214 71tat richerarenet to be condemnedandreieEled. dersamong the Papilis,as thebeggingFriars,the Heremits, and Anchorills doe religioufly abfiaine from thevfe ofri- ches,and profeflevoluntary pouertie :It fltal not therfore be amiffe to adde fame thing more concerning this point, that thofe who maintaine this errour may beconuinced, and the weake confcience confirmed in the lawful! vfe ofthefe gifts ofGod. :Se.. Let this then bee the pofition,that Riches are not tobee That richera>e condemned and reiedied, but to beevied ofthem that haue not to be reie- them to the glorie ofthegiuer,thebenefit ofGodsChurch, lied,becaufe and the furthering ofthe owners in all Chrillian andhonell bleeng,a /God. duties. And this appeareth,becaufe they are the gifts and bleffìngs ofGod, which cannot bee contemned and call a- way,without contempt tohis niaieflie who bellowed them, vnlefre it be in fomecafes in which himfelferequireth it. A- gaine, they are (as I haue {hewed) the inflrumentsof doing good,efpeciaily ofChrit ian beneficence;and thereforeha- ving thofe meancs grantedunto vs byGod, we arenot con_ temptuoufly to reieót them, but to vfe thefe talents to the glorie of our great Lord and Mailer who hath intrufied Luk.16.50,.. them to our vfe. Soour Saviour Chril} :doth not bid vs to cafl them away, but tomakevs friends ofthem, byliberall bellowingthem to charitable vfes,that fowe may be recei- i.Tim.6.r7, ued intoeuerl aflinghabitations. And the ApofllePauldoth r8. notcondemne thepoffeffion ofriches,but would hauerich dúúÿrcupiditn men difTwaded from theirabufe, and perfwaded to a right totem copre- vie ofthem. Yeacon trariwife the holy Choi} teacheth vs to heredir,nenfa- prayagainll pouertie, as being in it felfe fo farre froma flate eultatem.Aug. ofperfetfion,that it is euill, and both acaufe and fruite of I de cca Dei thine : fo thewife Agurprayeth,Giue menot(faith he) poner- Pro.3o8.g, tie, left Thee Dore, andfleale, and take the name army Godin vain. And fo fame is he from inioyning thiswilful! potier- tie,thac he commandeth vs to labour and takepaines in our Eph.4.2s. lawfull callings that we may haue fufñcient, notonely to re- s.TheL3.8.ix. lieue ourown wants,but alfo that we may be able to relieue §Sell.$. the neceflìtiesofother men. wÚdrbent are But theyobie6l,that our SauiourChrifl and hisApofile vojl dtbe gm- calleth riches the mammon of iniquitie, thornes, which choke a
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