That tnorlelly things arevnprofitabl. 455 we aremade fopurfieandfhort winded,that we cantake no paines inrunning this fpirituall race, buteither fit downe in the mid-way for want ofipirituall li ength, or being utterly difcouraged and out ofhope, ofeuer coma-nog to the goale and obtaining the garland,returne backagain to the world that we may take ourEll ofplcafures,andglut our felueswith carnali delights. But concerning thehurt which we takebyworldly things 4.Set7.6. abufed through our corruption, I (hail haue occafion to Thatwo,rd!, fpeake more hereafter; heere oneíy I am to thew that they things donot arevnprofltable : which that we may more clecrely vnder- aáne dsat hand; let vsfurther conflder,that howfoeuerthey may fome- wf,ichmaime; what helpevs in folrre tin all trifles, and in attaining voto our as frtt tbeydo ends in fome bafe andflight things; yet they arealtogether net maitevs vnprofitable in furthering our maine ends at which wee "libeller. ihouldaime, as neither deriuingveto vs anygreat and defe- rable good, noryet freeingor helpingvs inour greateft dif- ficulties, andmolt beanie and dangerouseuils. For &(t, there outward things donot impart untovs any elfentiall good- nes,or by hauingthem, make vs better then thofethat want them; theydonot makevs more ef}eemable in Gods fight, for he acceprethnot the perfons ofPrinces, andregardetb not kb344. the rich more then the poore, for they be 411 the wortg of his bands : neither doth he meafitre mens goodneffe by their goods, butby their godlines;forbetter (faith theWifeman) is thepoore that snot/kerb in hisvprightnes, thenhe thatpercer- Pron.:S.6, tethhis limier, thonihhe be rich. They do not make vs better in ourfelues, for feting they arenotany way effentiall unto vs,but outwardaccidents,wehauenothing added to our per- fecRion,when we haue them,norany thingdiminifhed,when we want them;that which trulymaketh vs better, bettereth ourbeing, and addeth fome perfe5tton to oureffence; now whereas we hauea double being, one by generation asmen, anotherbyregeneration as Chriflians,the excellencie ofthe formerconfiftethintheperfedìion ofreafon, and ofthe lat- ter, in true godlincffe; and therefore feeing thefe outward things neithermakevsmore reafonable, noryet more godly andreligìous,they do not atall make vsbetter,our goodnes I i 3 confifiing
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