Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The srorldlingtidolatrie. 253 the prair of God. With which corruption old Elle was Come- what tainted,who honoured his fonnes more then God,and r.Sam.z,z9. chofe rather to pleafe them,then to pleafe his Creator. And thus doe couetous woridlings offend,who more efleeme their gold then their God, and more affef earthly riches, then the fpirituall treafures ofGods graces, and gloriein his kingdome ; fpendingmore time, and taking more paines to attains vnto worldly abundance, then for the of urance of their owne faluation. And fuch an one was tudae,who fold Chrifl himfelfe for money, and made more account of his idoli then of our Sauiour ; and Demaa,whowhen the profef -. z.Tim,a,ro, fion of religion,and poffeflion of his earthly wealth would not be reconciled,forfooke that, and embraced the world. Contrarie veto which examples, was the affeélion and pra- dlife of the Prophet Dauid,who loued Gods word and com- PTl9.1 o.and mandements aboue gold,yea much fine gold,and efleemed n9.rz7. them fwceter then the honey and the honey combe. Final - ly,in the fame kinde voluptuous worldlings doe commit this groffe idolatrie, which as the Apofile faith, are loners of their pleafuresmore then lamer! ofGod;and as he of irmeth in ç,a ,,,, Fes» o another place, make a god of their owne bellies; taking s' o,bsm,. more care and paines to pleafe their appetite, then to pleafe Ph l..9 their maker, and preferring a daintie difh or fome vaine 3 i fport,before a good confcieuce,and the euerlaflingioyes of Gods kingdome. Wherein what doe thefe woridlings elfe but like foolifh Efau fell their birthright for a metre of pot- tage,like the feruile Ifraelites preferre the thraldome of E- gypt before the libertie of the fonnes of God, and the o- nyons & flefh -pots before their affured hopes of free pien.. tie in the land that flowed with milke and honey? What do they elfe but like foolifh children efleeme fhining braffe before pure gold, and their toying trifles wherewith they make themfeluesfport,before their patrimonie and inheri- tance? the which their follie and vanitie though they can- -not now fec,yet hereafter they Ihan both knowit,and with griefs confeffe it; when as thefe earthly vanities being rea- die to lcaue them, they (hall alfo bee abandoned of better hopes; and being neither able to retaine thefe, which their owne