2 z 6 Ofthecisniions tobeobferued in the right vfeofriches, felfe; for ifwe could delire and feeke abundance of riches, which are in themfelues good, bygood and lawful! manes in amoderate manner, in refpe&ofour affeaion, and vnto good ends, namely,that according toour proportion ofri- ches we might abundantlyglorifie God, and difperfe that which we thus gather veto the poore,and weremade there - bymore thankful! vnto God, according to the meafure of his gifts, and more humble becaufe we are more indebted unto him, I donot fee how this delire fhould be vnlawfull ; for if we may lawfully vfe this abundance when Godbe- floweth it, it cannot be that it is fimplie and abfolutely vn- lawful to delire that whichwe maylawfully vfe.But yet this delire ofabundancebyaccidentand by reafonofour corrup- tion, iseuill and vnlawfull; becaufe they whodelire abun- dance doe immoderarly delire it, and oftentimes vfe euili meanesin feeking to compaffe it. Secondly, becaufe in re- fpedtofour corruptionwee cannot propound purely thofe endsofdoing good, but delire and lecke it forfelfe- lobe, and forour owne vfe. Thirdly, becaufewe delire more then we can, or will imploy to good vies, neither is the fault in the quantitieofour riches, but in our inordinatedefires,and vniufi detention ofthem fromgoodvies : for if we had loch an euer fpringing fountaine ofwealth that could neuer be drawne drie, therewere no hurt in it, ifwee would retaine thereof onely fo much as might fufficevs, and ferue forour owne neccffarie and lawfull vfe, letting all our fuperfluitie run abroad thecountrie for the reliefe oforhers, and for the refrefhing offuch poore affli &ed foules asare dried vp with griefe and pouertie. For foalthoughwe fhould hauealwaies abundance, yet fhouldwe neuer haue fuperfluitie, becaufe we haue no more thenwe well vfe.Fourthly,becaufe defiring and feeking abundance, wedo accordingly take paines in vling the meanes, whereby we mayaminevntoourdefires; and confequently our thoughts and laborsbeing ofnolarge extent, are wholly takenvp in thefe earthly imployments,fo, as in themeane time we neitherdelire norfeek as we ought things offar greater excellécie, as Gods fpiritual graces,and the eternal! ioyesofhis kingdorne. AndJafly, in refpeót of our
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