Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That worldly things withdraw men from cods ferstice. 697 to performe religious and Chrillian duties; fo efpecially and aboue all, they hinder Chrìhian apologie, and profeflion of Gods truth,in the time of danger and perfecution, and difcou. rage men from fuffering martyrdoms for the reflimonieofle= fits Chritl,aud for his glorious_.Golpell.For !DO ing thofe world- ly vanities,as well as they loue their liues,when the day oftriall commeth,they haue a double confliél,as much fearing the-loffe of their highly valued trifles, as the vgly image of a torturing death. And this was one reafon why oar SauiourChrill for the preaching-and planting of the Gofpell,made not choice ofho- nourabie perlons, or of thofe who abounded in wealth, and wallowed in worldlypleafures ;becaufe fuch,in regard of their fearefulnes,to lofe their earthly loue and delight, were aliogo. thcr vnfit to expofe themfeluesto dangers,& to beare the brunt of perfecution ; but of poore and contemptible fifherrnen; Mat.to.9.1o.. whô alto he inhibited the poffeffìon of much gold, filuer,appa- rel,andthe riches ofthe world,becaufe they fhould be no clogs or hinderances vnto them in their confeflion of him, and his truth,and in fuffering for his names fake. And fo accordinglie we fee,thatthefe men; who had little to lofe betides their own liues,wereboldand couragious, euen to the death ; whereas o- thers, who notwithflanding loued Chrifl, and beleeucd his. truth,inioying the profperitie of the world,were therebymade cowardly and fearefull to_indanger their great eflates,by ma- king an open profeflion of their faithin Iefus Chrifl. An exam- ple whereof we haue in Nicodemtu, a Ruler ofthe lewes; -who leim ;.z, beleeuing in Chrifl,durfl not publickly beknowne of it; "and therefore 1 cretly flealeth veto him by night. And fo it is laid, that many ofthe chiefs íalers beleeued m him, but becatafe of the Iohn Phari fes, they durit not confefe him, leFt they fnouldht -cui out. of the Synagogue. But how cold and flothfull,the world immoderately lotted;§.Segi;cy,, doth make vs in the feruice of God, and in the performance ofThat honours, Chrillian duties,it may further appeare in the fpectall inflanees riches and plea -.. ofhonours,riches and carnali pleafures: For thofe who are inf"res,magemen» honourable place,ánd much (land vpon,and efleente their dig ge$ot indG nitie and aduancemenr,are therby made exceedingly prophanefetuice, and negligent,or cold and fuperficiallin religious exercifes. For how manyacethere,who thinking it a great difparagetnentto their; 1