Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That worldly things makemen forgetful pfgod&,ntbankfiel.67' of ded. Bleed (faith he) is the rich, who Sc found Without blemifh, EccleI ícus and bath norgene after gold,nor hoped in money and treafures. Who 31.8.9. so he,nd we wíllc.,,smend born? for wonderful] things path be done among his people. Who hath been tried thereby, andfoundperfeîl The confideration whereoffhould make richmen careful!, that by their abundance,they be not drawne to the committing of this idolatrie. To which purpofe,let them remember that the Lord being difhonoured hereby is alwaies readie to frufirate their hopes,and to caufe their confidence to faile : fo the Wife man faith,thathe who trufeth in his riches Pall fall. Neither Thal Prom.'ts8. they (kale this fall vnfeene, but they fhall be cafì downe with shame and difhonour in the fight ofthe faithfull, and they who formerlyenuied theirprofperity,fhal now laugh to fcorne their Ter48.7. deferued miferie. For fo the Pfalinil faith, that the righteous beholding the deflru6lion of the wicked,fhal laugh at him,fay- ing: Behold theman that tookc not Gad forhisflrengtb, but trio- PCalls.fi.6.7. fled to the multitude of his richer, &c. CHAP. 31. Worldly things make men forgetful'of God, vnthaiskefull, proud,contemptuoas,flothfull,aadnegligent in theduties of Gods fruice. Hirdly,the world and worldly things,being excefliue- §.Sea. r. ly cltcemed,and ouerfondly loued, doe worke in vs a That worldly _ careleffeforgetfulncffeof God; for howfoeuer Gods abundance toar- giftsfhould put vs in mind ofthe giuer, and his manifold mer- kelp f `egetfe!- cies vouchfafed vs is the fruition of thefe earthly benefits, nee of fhould ferue as continual! remembrances,to put vs in mind of him,who hath been fo gracious unto vs : yet through our great corruption,themore of thefe temporal! blefïings wee receiue fromGod, the leffe we thinke we need him,and the fcldomer we remember him : like the prodigal! child, who all the while Luke r s. he was in profperitie, and had money tofpend infuperfluities, neuer remembred hisbountiful! father, fromwhom he had re- ceiued this rich portion;but when all was fpenr,and he brought towant and penurie,then he commeth againe frefh into his me- morie,and he hath a delire to rcturne vnto him. An example whereofwe haue in the Ifraelitesin the time ofthe Iudges,who X x 4 when