Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

Oatworldly things hinder méfróattaining heaaerrlyioie4795, the Kingdome ofGod. And the Apofile Pani agreeingwithEpbef S.t. his Lord and Mafter,faith,that the cour:oua perfon which is an idolater,hathno inheritance in the Kingdome ofCbri5t and of God. And this com:neth to pafle,firfl,becaufe few ofthole whoabound in riches, are effc 5lually called, either becaufe God paffethby them, and preferreth the poore before them; orbecaufe when they are called, they refufe to come,being whollytaken vein their worldly imploiments. Ofthe for- mer,the Apofile Paul faith, that God hath not called the mitohtiein theworld, but the weal¿e and helpeleflè. Andmore s.Cor.s.24 plainly the Apoflle lames faith, that we are notto refpe& the roch more then the poore (vnleffe alto they be rich in faith and good works)becaufe God bath chafen the poore ofthis Lames :J. world, that they Jhotrldbee rich sofalth, andheires ofthe King- done,whichhebathpronrifed to them that lout him. Where- upon an ancientconcludeth, that ifriches were abfolutelie good, God would not haue made fpeciall choice of the ponce to fhndbefore him inhis one familie. And iffome- Chryrolì.hotn. timeshe make choice of rich men, it is nowonder; for it is ad pop.hoto. not, that they fhould fltll hold in their hands their great a- mß.tom.4. bundance,but asa wife and mercifhll Phyfition, he maketh choice ofthefe patients, that he may purge them oftheir lit- perfluities, and free them from that (welling whichmaketh them altogethervnfit to enter intoGods Kingdome. Of the other we haueanexample in them, who were inuited to the Mudr.37.3. Kings fupper,whowere fo imploied in their worldlyaffaires, thatthey had no leifitre to come ; whereby is fignifed, that they who let their hearts vpon the earthlymammon, haue notfomuch as any delire tovfe the mcanesof their ovine faluation; but when they areby Gods meffengers inuited andperfwaded hereunto,they pretend worldly excufes, and will not hearken voto them. As therefore the(hip which is too heauily laden,is in greatefi hazard,andmot} vniikely to come fafely tothe defied hauen; becaufe it is in dangertó bepurfuedbyypirats,whoare readie to fncke her,and is not fufit tobrooke the feaes, or indure a tempeft, vnit ire fomc of ber burthen be call over booed, and the lightned of het furcharging loade : fo thefe worldly richmen,whoale op- prcfled r

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