796 That worldly thingshinder mefro"attainiagbrawn!,ivies, preffed with Sr' cares of this life, & euen ouerburthened with fuperfluous riches, are in great danger neuertocome fafely into thehauenoften, becaufe the fpiricuall piratsare more eager in purfuing them, and theymorevnable to indure the tempefl of tentations; vnlefíe theycall fome of their flore acclefrr.t, vpon the f ceofthezvarers, as the Wife manexhorteth; and beflow theirfuperfluitie (which is vnto themas a trouble- fome burthen) in rcleeuing the poore members of Iefus Chrifl. In which refpecl, our Sauiour compareth riches to the bunch on thecamels backe,which maketh thofe,who fet their heartsvpon them,altogether vnfit to enter into thenar- row and (trait gate, that openeth into theioyes ofheauen. And as the camell bath not onelya natural bunch,but altoan accidentall loade,bothwhich hinder him from entring into any (trait paflàge: fo thefe couetous worldlings haue the naturall bunchofcarnall concupifcence, and the accidentall loade,bothofworldlyriches, andof the fines which they haue committed incompafing orpo(feffing them ; the one whereof theymuff whether theywil or no layafide in death; theother,vnlcffe they (hake off theirburthen by true repen- tance,(hallaccompanie them toiudgement, and liming the waight ofGodswrath added vnto them, (hall asan intole- rable loadepreffe them into hell. For as it is itnpo(fible fora man ouerburthened to climbe to thetop ofa fleepe moun- taine,vnleffche lay his loade afide,or haue force afliflants to carie it withhim : fo is it much more impoílible, being loa- ded withriches, and that guilt and fnne whichvfually ac- companieth them, to afccnd into the high mountaine of Gods holineffe,vnlcffe welay afide our burthen,or commitit to the poore,as ourporters to carrie it with vs; making with Zachexereflitution, to thofewhom we haue wronged, and impartingofthat which remainetha liberall (hare to chari- Sesaee.Ep'tft 8q table vies. In which refpe6l(as oneobferueth) riches in the Latine tongue arc fitly called impediments, or encumbran- ces, becaufe nothing more then theyvfually hindreth men from goingon in the way ofgrace,nor from attaining vnto the goaleofglory, theybeing commonly tomenlike bur. thensto thofethat runearace,which keepe them fromma- king
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