Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the excellencyo contentment,& the meant to el, tainit.gdY' let him doe tomearfeemcthyodinhis eyes. And this was that a.Sam.rf.ne. leffon which our Sauiour taught his Difciples,when as they ambitioufly flroue one with another who fhould be grea- tefl; not to fatisfie their ambition by fupplanting oneano- ther,or attaining vntopreferments,but to fitbduetheir pride, and moderate their concupifcence, becomming as meeke and humble as thofe little children which hee fet before Mac.iS3.4. them. And thus all() mutt we looke for fufficiencie ofriches, not 4.Se11.6. in our outward eflate,but in our mind; not by adding to our ¡j we wo,dld wealth, but by diminifhing our concupifcence : for though baue content. the world may thinke it a lirange paradox, yet it is an vn- mestinri- doubted truth, that a man is made truely rich, not by multi - i yard mod plicati on, but by fubfira6tion ; not by encreafing his riches,ueroafneffe. but by abating his immoderate deliires. For feeing the whole riches of the world are finite, and the mind of manin Tome fort infinite and vnfatiabie; therefore there can be no fulnes or fufficiencie by feting riches to our minds,which is impof- fible; but by limiting and circumfcribing our defires and concupifcence, making them fo little as that they may bec fatisfied, feeing the other can neuer be fo great, as to fill and fatisfie them in their full largeneflè. And if wee thus confine our vnlimited defires with true content,we (hall attaine vnto greater and better riches, then the wholeworld can yeeld, for that may giue vs much, but not enough, and where there is not enough there is want,and he that vvanteth is flil poore, feeing penurieand pouerty goe together; but content brin- gethfufftciencieto the nteanefl eflate, and hee that bath fuf- ficiencie wanteth nothing,and bee who wanteth nothing is aboue all others truely rich. And thus the Apoftleprefcri- beth away how a chriflian may bee rich, and neuer neede to feeke helpefrom the earthly mammon: Godlineff (faith hee) r.Tims.i, if great riches,w,thcontentation. So that a man may bee rich without riches,when godlines and contentation do meet to- gether. And to the fame purpofe one ofthe ancients well de- îneth riches:Thofe (faith he) aretrue and neuer wafting ri- chr foft. in ches,to delire that onelywhich is neceffarie for vfe,and well Geñ.to.Hom, to difpofe of thofe things which are thus to be vfed :for as an 37,