That worldly things withdraw menfromcodsferstice. 697 to performe religious and Chrillian duties; fo efpecially and aboue all, they hinder Chrìhian apologie, and profeflion of Gods truth,in the timeof danger and perfecution, anddifcou. ragemen from fuffering martyrdoms for the reflimonieofle= fits Chritl,aud for his glorious_.Golpell.For !DOing thofeworld- ly vanities,aswell as they loue their liues,when the dayoftriall commeth,they haueadouble confliél,as much fearing the-loffe of their highlyvalued trifles, as the vgly image of a torturing death. And thiswas one reafon whyoar SauiourChrillfor the preaching-and planting of the Gofpell,made not choice ofho- nourabie perlons, or of thofe who abounded in wealth, and wallowed in worldlypleafures;becaufe fuch,in regardof their fearefulnes,to lofe theirearthly loue anddelight, were aliogo. thcrvnfit to expofe themfeluesto dangers,& tobeare thebrunt of perfecution ; but of poore and contemptible fifherrnen;Mat.to.9.1o.. whôalto he inhibited the poffeffìonofmuchgold,filuer,appa- rel,andthe richesoftheworld,becaufe they fhould be no clogs or hinderances vnto them in their confeflion of him, and his truth,and in fuffering for his names fake. And foaccordinglie we fee,thatthefe men; whohad little to lofe betides their own liues,wereboldand couragious,euen to the death ; whereas o- thers, who notwithflanding loued Chrifl, and beleeucd his. truth,inioying the profperitie ofthe world,were therebymade cowardly and fearefull to_indanger their great eflates,by ma- king an open profeflionof their faithin Iefus Chrifl. An exam- ple whereofwehaue in Nicodemtu, a Rulerofthe lewes; -who leim ;.z, beleeuing in Chrifl,durfl not publickly beknowneof it; "and therefore 1 cretly flealeth vetohim by night. Andfo it is laid, that many ofthe chiefs íalersbeleeued m him, but becatafe ofthe Iohn Pharifes, theyduritnot confefe him, leFt theyfnouldht-cui out. of theSynagogue. But how cold and flothfull,the world immoderately lotted;§.Segi;cy,, dothmake vs in the feruice ofGod, and in the performance ofThat honours, Chrillian duties,it mayfurther appeare in the fpectall inflanees richesandplea-.. ofhonours,riches and carnali pleafures: For thofe whoare inf"res,magemen» honourableplace,ánd much (land vpon,and efleente theirdig ge$ot indG nitieand aduancemenr,are therby made exceedinglyprophanefetuice, andnegligent,orcoldand fuperficiallinreligious exercifes. For howmanyacethere,who thinking it a great difparagetnentto their; 1
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