4ób Thatworldly things are vnproftradle. when the molt bold profeflion was to bee made,and the Mat.ro.p.so. greateflperfecutions tobe fuffered forthe name ofChrift, not onely the immoderate loving anddefring,hut euen the poffeflingofthefe worldly things, more then for neceflaiie vfe were forbidden, becaufeChrifl knew well enough, that their poffeffion procured loue. visto them, and their loue wrought a feare ofbeing bereaued of the things beloued, and thisfeare made them cowardly and backward in doing or fufferinganygreat thingfor Chrifland the Gofpell. 4.Se17.7. And thus it generallyappeareth,that thereworldly things That weare not doe not better vs in thatwhich is bell andmoll defireable; bettered by be- the whichalfo might beeafly (hewedinthe fpeciallinflan_ rtours,riehes,or ces ofhonours,riches and carnal!pleafures; for thefe world- carnal! pica- toes. ly honours being things outward and accidental!, doeno more better the perlons of thofe that hauethem,nor make them more eminent and high, in true worth andfelfe excel- lencie, then it increafeth a mans flature whenhee fheweth Howl top ofa tree; and therefore as hee weretidi- Mac. kl md. culous, whobeing a dwade,fhouldboaflof histalneffe,be- 59- caufe bee bathgotten an high 'landing : fo no lcffeabfurd werehe to be efleemed, who beingaduancedveto eminent place ofhonour and dignitie, fhould thinke himfelfc bet- teredbythis outward addition, beingotherwife delitute of vertue, worth, and felfe excellencie, the cffentiall parts of truenobility.For without thefe he is betteredonly inplace, and not in petfon; and havingaspired to that height, not by vertue and defert,but by the vanity and proud ambitionof his heart,his highneffeofplace may rather be afcribed tohis vaine lightnefle, then to his folid goodneffe, euen as the chaffe lieth-higher then the wheat,becaufe it is lighter, and not becaufe it is better. Neither are wee made better by worldlyriches in tholerefpeé}swherin we are chiefly good, becaufe thefe are inward and fpirituall, and thole external! and accidentali ; in regard whereof one truely faith, that thofe who nothauing in themany goodparts or felfe excel- lency,doenicafuretheir goodneffeby the;rgoods, are like Afatter unto a peonie purse full of money, which hash all it worth. trccuhato. fQW that whichit containeth ; and therefore. iscontemned as.
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