B THE RIGHTEOUS :N1AMMON·. I . TI M. 6. I7· ch•rgethem zlut are richi~ thi1r»orlti, th•ttht.! 6enothigh·mimki, nor lrNft ;,. N11&<r14im richu, &ut i11thelivi11gGoti, r»ho givtlh tl4 rj<h/y a/lthiftgllo enjOJ, &c. C gH0fethingswhich areexcellent, and beneficial! in their ufe,are dangerous in their mifcariage : It were loft labour furme to perfw;ule you howgood riches are : your paines andyour cares are fufficienr proofes of your eftimation ; and how deadlyrheabufeofthem is many a foule feelesrharcannor rerurne ro complaine ; The~e is, nothing more necetfary therefOre for aChriftian heart, then to bee rell:ified in the menagingof a profperous eetare; and to learn fo robehappyhere, tharitmaybemorehappyhereafier; a ratke which this Texrofoursundertakes, and (ifye be nor wanting to it and your felves) will befure ro performe: what lhould I need ro entreat your attention (!.tight Honourable, rightWorlhipfull, and beloved ) ro a bufineffe fo neere concerning you ? The errand is Gods; D the ufe ofit yours. I neverheld it fafe ro pull Scripture in peeces: rhefe words fall alone into rheir parrs. TimothJ i•ferupon rhefpirituall Bench, andmuft give thecharge.Acharge,to whom? Ofwhat? Towhom? To rhe rich.Ofwhat?whattheymuet avoid, what they m tilt indevour. Wharmuft they avoid ?High·mindednes and cruet in wealth : what are theduties they muet labour unto? Confidence inGod; Beneficence ro t~~en : And every one ofthefe is backed widi a reafon ro infurce it : Why lhould rhey nor be high·minded ? Their wealth isbur in rhis world ; Why lhould theynor rruft in riches? They are uncerraine. Why lhould they rruft inGod ? He is a livingGnd , and a liberall God : why lhould rheymend their Beneficence to men?By this they lay up to rhemfelves afure foundation; Here iswork enough, you fee, formy difE courfe, and your praClice: TheGnd ofHeaveo bleffe it in bothour hands. Tbe Clmge hath(J•n..,.Jike)adoubleafpefr; onerhat looks up roS.Paul,rheorher that lookes downe to Timoi/Jf, and from him ro the rich : In the firft rbere is A poetolicall fuperioritie; for ( ~»""' ) Ch•rge I hou,refers ro ~,_.,.., n'< verf. I 3, eh"''· !Ch~rge thee; (o P••l chJtges Timothj ro charge the rich ; He that gives theCharge, tfhebe not thechiefeofrheBench, yet he isgrearerrhen the Jury. The firft fOundation of the Church is laid in an inequality , and harh ever fince tO continued ; There canbeno harmony, where all the flrinr,s or voices areofone renor ; In the i>r~,as it lookesonTi.wolhj;itcaries in it Epifcopall power,Evangelicall fufficiency. Eptfcopall power: forthisCharge is by the vulgar turned , and the Tranllarionof theSyriac, Pf .ecipe, command ; and fo doe we rranflareir in the firft ofthis Epietle, L 11 ~- and
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