Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That worldly things are vnprofira6le, 489 as a thing of no value when it is emptied. of the G1uer. And in the fame 'refpedl they are not vnfrly compared to the iheepe with the golden fleece, for when the skin was much fought after by all the gallants of Greece, the body in the meane time was contemned,andrefpe ledofnone. Neither in truth doth this outward wealthmake vs better,and more efleemeable before either God or good men; if they be feue- red from the chide riches, fpirituall grace, and true godli- neffe. For lob telleth vs that god rcfpeéterh the richnemore Iob.34.T.9 de then the poore, and that hee regardeth not our riches and our 36.19. gold. The Pfalmiftfaith ,, that afmall thing to the ;4/l man, is pia! '37.1 6. berserrhesr reatrIPhesta the wicked and miehtie:and the Wife man teach.th vs,that the poore it better who walheth in bis vp- rrghtnep, then he that peruerteth bis males, though he be rich ;. and prefenreth a poore and wife child, before an old and fooliJi Pro.t8.6. king that will no more be adrnontlhed. And as God doth not E clef.4.t1: regard any for their wealth; fo neither doe the godly value any according to their gold, but according to their good-. neife: for as one faith, irio not meato defpife the poore man Eccicfxo.a4, that hath vnderfianding, neither is it convenient to magnifie the rich, that is a wicked man. So that riches are fo farre from be- ing able to make vs glorious in heauen, that they haueno fufficiencie in them to make vs honourable on earth; fo far from cornmendiugvs vnto God, that they doe not aduance our worth and efleeme in the iudgcment ofgodly men. And therefore the Apoflle lames taxeth and reproueth chofe,vvho refpe6ted the perlons of rich woridlings more then poore chriflians,orone exceeding in wealth, before another fur- pafling him in godlineffe ; faying to the one becaufe he hath a gold ring and gay apparel1, fit thou heere in a good place ; and to the other becaufe he is in meane attire, flandthou there, or fit heere vnder my footfloole; becaufe having no skill inchriflian heraldrie they Cooke vpon them- to difpofe ofpl,ces,fcatinghìm in a lower place who is of better def- cent,ofa more noble houle, better fliled,and better manne- red,euena child ofGod, and hare of heauen, becaufe of his, plaine habite; and advancing another of bate quality, the child of the diuell,and flaue of finne,becaufe he is clothed in. rich.