That worldly things through our abrufearehurtful!&c. 66 andneighbourhood. The which as it is true ofall wealth im- moderately loued, fo cfpecially when in refpe61 of quantitie it isBrowne toabundance and fuperfluitie; for as the fhipwhen it is is oucrlodcd cannot be kept from finking in the leafl tem- ppefl, byall the careand cunningof the skilful! pilot,.vnlefl'e it bevnbutthened of fomepits of it lading ; fo when our minds ate furchargedwith thefeworldly fuperfluities,it is almofl im- pofliblewith al our careand.vigilance to keepeour foules from finking into the gulph of finne,vnleffe we vnburchen our felues ofthis abundance,bybeflowing our ftperfluitieson charitable vfes,and in thereli.euing ofourpoore brethren.In regardwher- ofone truely faith, that hee who addeth to thewealth ofa co- limnsman, giueth wine to him who is ficke ofa burningfe- uer, honie to a cholericke man, banquetting difhes to a f ckePlutarch.. and furfetted flomacke; which though they may pleafe the taf+, yet theyincreafe the difeafe, and hurt in (lead of helping: For they whoabound in riches doe commonly keepe them like thevnprofltable feruants talent, doing no goodwith them to themfeluesor others; or elfe imploythem in fuch fnfull ferui- ces, that theywere better tohaue lien hid flit!, then tobecome the in ftruments of wickedneffe, and furtherances vnto fin. As for example, when they are abufed to furfettinganddrunken- ncffe,andfpent vpon harlots and parafites, in gaming and re- welling, in exceflìue brauerie, or in furthering reuenge,op- preflìon and cruelty :. for then they become the harbin- gers of hell, and likepioners, fmooth and layopen theway which leadeth to deflru&ion. In refpee& of which finfull abufes,the Wifeman faith, that hee had obferued, riches re- EcdéC..ra feruedto theowners thereof for their euill : and the fonneof Syrach aflirmeth, that many are deflroyed byrearm ofgold, andEccletailicus- haue foundtheirde/iruflion before them. And in regardofthis 3s.6' harmefulneffe of abcired riches, theyareby one compared vn- tothornes,asourSauiourChrifl alto hiwfelfe lskeneththem fdr asthornes arebarren offruits, fo theyof good workes; as' they pricke the hands that touch them, fo there the hearts that are fet vpon them ; as theyare eafily caughtwith the fire,' and arehated of thehusbandntan;fothere being hatedofGod are earlyconfiwned with thefire ofhisdifpleafure; and finally,Chryfofl.io as inthetnharmeful beafls,vipers,and féorpions 'do,hidethem- loan.homiJ:23. felues
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