Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That worldly thing! are vnperofitable. CHAP. XXI. That worldly thingsprofit not to the attaining oftbof things which are chiefly good, nor to the euoi- ding ofourgreat& mils. Vt let vs defcend to Tome particulars, andwe 4.Sehf,t, (hall eafily fee,that chofe worldly things nei- That *aridly ther heir vs to the attaining of thofe things thing, hetpe not which are vnto vschiefelygood, norto the toinrubour auooidin of our reatefi euils:the do not sae Go g g Y u axdGodr mrich our minds with trueverme, and Gods fauinggraces, fauinggracer, they do not make vs more humble, merciful!, patient, zea- lous, norany other way religious : yea rather doch not corn- moo experience teach vs, that worldlyprofperitie is a fiep_ mother to vertue, thofe being mof} defiitute of it who mof} abound in worldly things; and they moll: rich in fpirituall grace, who are Ina wanting in them? Do we not continu- ally fee with our owne eyes, that it is not thofe who are ad- caned to the highefi honours, nor thofe who abound in vvealth,and wallow themfelues in worldly delights,that fre- quent the fchoole ofvertue and godlineffe, the Church and houle ofGod; or ifthey do,are fo apt to learue fpirituall in- flruéìion, and to profit in the knowledge of Gods facing truth; but thofe who are ofineane condition, pooreeflate, and affliaed with worldly croffes ?fo as it may be truly Paid, that thofe who goon foot, yea thofe who are old and decre- pite, ficke, lame, and blind, do make more diligent (peed,, and go much falter to the Church ofGod,the fpirituall mar- ket-place of our foules, wherein they are ftcrnifhedwith all venues and fauing graces;then thofe who ride on their foot cloathes, and are fwiftly hurried in their gilded coaches, or they who haue bell health, moll firength, and the greatefl' fharein all man nerof worldly happineffe. And therefore as fobrietie and abfliaence preferuc our bodilyhealth,and help to free vs from thole difeafes which come Offulnefk and re- Fiction ; fo the wont or fearing vfe of thefe worldly things. preferues 491