Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

4ób That worldly things are vnproftradle. when the molt bold profeflion was to bee made,and the Mat.ro.p.so. greateflperfecutions to be fuffered for the name ofChrift, not onely the immoderate loving and defring,hut euen the poffefling of thefe worldly things, more then for neceflaiie vfe were forbidden, becaufe Chrifl knew well enough, that their poffeffion procured loue. visto them, and their loue wrought a feare of being bereaued of the things beloued, and this feare made them cowardly and backward in doing or fufferinganygreat thing for Chrifland the Gofpell. 4.Se17.7. And thus it generallyappeareth,that thereworldly things That we are not doe not better vs in that which is bell andmoll defireable; bettered by be- the which alfo might be eafly (hewed inthe fpeciallinflan_ rtours,riehes,or ces ofhonours,riches and carnal!pleafures; for thefe world- carnal! pica- toes. ly honours being things outward and accidental!, doe no more better the perlons of thofe that hauethem, nor make them more eminent and high, in true worth andfelfe excel- lencie, then it increafeth a mans flature when hee fheweth Howl top of a tree; and therefore as hee were tidi- Mac. kl md. culous, who being a d wade,fhouldboaflof his talneffe,be- 59- caufe bee bathgotten an high 'landing : fo no lcffeabfurd were he to be efleemed, who being aduanced veto eminent place of honour and dignitie, fhould thinke himfelfc bet- tered bythis outward addition, being otherwife delitute of vertue, worth, and felfe excellencie, the cffentiall parts of true nobility.For without thefe he is bettered only in place, and not in pet fon; and having aspired to that height, not by vertue and defert,but by the vanity and proud ambition of his heart,his highneffeofplace may rather be afcribed to his vaine lightnefle, then to his folid goodneffe, euen as the chaffe lieth- higher then the wheat, becaufe it is lighter, and not becaufe it is better. Neither are wee made better by worldly riches in thole refpeé}swherin we are chiefly good, becaufe thefe are inward and fpirituall, and thole external! and accidentali ; in regard whereof one truely faith, that thofe who nothauing in themany good parts or felfe excel - lency,doenicafuretheir goodneffeby the;rgoods, are like Afatter unto a peonie purse full of money, which hash all it worth. trccuhato. f QW that whichit containeth ; and therefore. is contemned as.