Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

678 That worldly things' are the eaufe r óf iddistrie. and that feruice which they owe voto him, they are readie to make their getting of riches their religion, gold their god, r.riim.6.5. and gaine their godlineffe, as the Apofllefpeaketh. And this the Pfalmifl plainely aflîrmech, that when the couetous man Pfalmso.3 hath gotten flore of riches, he ble frith himf lfe in his abundance, .end conteeaneth the Lord. In which refpe&, the couetous per - Epf:eL q.s. fon is called an a idolater, and b couetoufneffe idolatrie. Yea k Co1.3.3. ofall otheridolatrie it is the moll contemptible and bate: for whereas other men adore the Sunne, Moone, and liuing crea- tures,or elfe fome glorious image, offome excellent man; they adore a dumb and fenfeleffe creature,which is their owne flaue, Na npulegÿodo _tobedifpofedofattheir command. And this idolatrie coue- r: Critonaaa. tous men commit,when they Pet their hearts vpon riches, more maedichtco then vpon God orthe riches of hiskingdome;as when the statedecbaleo , loue them better then him,taking more pleafurein their wealth cumßlomacbies wlailel they haue it,then in the Lord whobath inriched them ; aegieur. and more forrow when it is taken away, then for the Joffe of Luciliusapud Stoba:ueta. Gods loue and fauour: or when they repofe more confidence in it,either for the procuring ofthe good,theywant, or for de- liuering them from the euill they fearc, then in God omnipo- tent and al- fufficient:a finne which is moll commonly commit - Pfalm 49.6. ted by carnallworldlings, as the Pfalmin alto obferued ; 7 hey truff in their goedi (faith he) and baafi themfòluet in themultitn4e Prou.i8.x r. of their riches. So the Wife man faith, that the rich mans riches are hid flrong catie ; and as an high wadi": his imagination. Voto which vaine confidence wee are fo prone naturally, that the Pfalm.6n.io. Pfalmillthought a caueat neceffarie, that ifriches did incrcafe, we fhould take heedahat we doe not trufi in them, and the A- r.Tim.a.i7. poflle thought it needful,that richmen fhould hauetbis evaigh- tie charge laid vpon them, that they fhould not truil ria vncer- tame riches. Becaufe vnleffe an extraord inarie meafure ofgrace preferue them from falling into thisfinne, it is impollible for men to abound in wealth, and not to put confidence in it. Whereof it is, that lob in his great atfli &ion comforteth him- felfe,in the affurance oflais integritie and faithfulnes,by calling Iob 3 t.:4. this to mind,that he had not made gold his hope, nor Paid to the wedge ofgold, thou art my confidence. And the foisne ofSyrach maketh ita note of man fo bleffed and admirable, that hee is hardly to be found,but whenhe is found , much tobe commen- Jed.