thou O man of God O godly man haue thou nothing to doe with that vnrighteous Mammon But partake with other godly in the happy interest of these substantiall and eternall treasures And what if the godlesse man goe away with the gaine of the world Looke not thou on his wealth with an enuious eye nor on his prosperity with an vnquiet spirit It is weakenesse of spirit to bee disquieted with variety of desire after the worlds gaine for thy selfe or to enuy at the fruition thereof in others Thou art a Christian indeed a greater gainer then the world can make thee and a surer keeper then that the world can hurt thee As for him he is miserable to be pittied not happy to be enuied thou art happy to bee enuied and withall so happy as not to bee hurt by enuy Let not the conceit of his prosperity molest thee but the assurance of thine owne felicity content thee As thou shouldest not reioyce at his soules losse so shouldst thou not be grieued at his worlds gaine He is a broken-stated bankrupt that takes vp for day and receiues a penny to returne a pound thou art a rich heir who liuest on thy small pension the time of thy minority thine inheritance is reserued for thee entire till thou come to age And what if for this spirituall gaine thou bee faine to sit downe with some temporall losse better it is to begge thy bread then to loose thy faith Better to cast ouer-boord some parcell of thy goods then to make ship-wracke of thy good conscience Neither shall this proue any losse at all but an happy exchange for thy better aduantage of wealth of delights and honour on earth for riches and pleasures and glory in heauen And thus did those godly ones of old solace themselues in their light losses with hopeful expectation of greater gaine Sic magnis sunt lucris leuta dâ—mâ—a solati Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 1. c. 10. a better and more enduring substance They esteemed with Moses the rebukes of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt Hebr 10.34 Hebr. â—1 26 and could not be with-drawen Nulâ—o praemio huius mundi ab aeternae illiuâ— patriae societatâ— seducti Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 5 cap. 11. by any wordly reward from the society of that heauenly country They had respect to the recompense of reward which was the rich returne of this gaine of godlinesse Heb. 11.26 a sure increase of a ful hundreth-fold Mat 19.29 with a promised inheritance of euerlasting life Come therefore now whosoeuer thou art that bearest the name and shew of a Christian dote no longer vpon these worldly vanities Rest not bewitched with the pleasing shew or smell or sound of worldly gaine And if thou hast heretofore either immoderately desired or vnlawfully obtained that copper-mettall guilt ouer to beguile thee leaue off betimes that hurtfull trade Turne thy selfe forth-with vnto a better course Take heed and beware in the name of God of godlesse couetousnesse of wicked worldlinesse of gracelesse voluptuousnesse and profane lewdnesse with all those open practises of cruelty and iniustice and secret mysteries of so many iniquities Those sworne enemies of religion those cut-throates of goodnesse those deuilish hauock-makers of the gaine of godlinesse and desperate ouer-turners of thy eternall good estate Desire new profits seeke for better gaines First seeke the Kingdome of God Mat. 6.33 and his righteousnesse First in time before all first in degree aboue all other gaine Yea first and last and without interruption euen in the middest of thy earthly imployments And giue all diligence hereunto For howsoeuer the world flowes in on many of it owne accord yet this gaine comes not in without good indeauour God indeed is free and ready to giue it but none that are carelesse are fit to receiue it Prou. 2.4 but must digge and delue and blow and sweate if they will enrich themselues with these hidden treasures Mat. 13.44 Well then doest thou from thy very heart desire thine owne true weale and wel-fare which if thou doe not oh foolish man thou and most miserable but doest thou indeed from thy soule desire it then vse I beseech thee all thy will and skill all thy industrie and circumspection in timely prosecution of such holy endeauours as God himselfe hath made the happy meanes of this most blessed gaine Be instant in reading hearing meditating and conferring of the holy Word of God be frequent in earnest inuocation of the holy name of God Exercise thy selfe incessantly in the duties of repentance and new obedience Labour for faith for hope for loue and feare of God and all other sanctifying and sauing graces as for life it selfe euen the life of thy soule Let slippe no time no occasion no helpes of daily increase growth in this heauenly wealth let the word of God dwell in thee richly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 3.16 through sacred and sauing knowledge Let those blessed rich graces of Gods sanctifying spirit bee treasured vp aboundantly in the store-house of thy soule Replenish both heart and minde memorie and conscience euery roome and corner of thy soule And when thou hast gotten aboundantly keepe it safely that so thou mayest both liue and die rich wealthy Prou. 4.23 in this gaine of godlinesse and being rich in grace mayest bee rich in glory And if thou shalt in this holy maner demeane thy selfe and through faithfull employment of thy spirituall talents shalt giue account to thy Lord of a good increase Then shalt thou hear with thy eare to the ioy of thy heart Mat. 25.21.23 Well done thou good and faithfull seruant thou hast beene faithfull ouer a few things I will make thee ruler ouer many things enter thou into the ioy of thy Lord Thou hast beene faithfull as a seruant I will make thee a Ruler Thou hast beene faithfull ouer a few things I will make thee ruler ouer many things Thou hast beene faithfull in the imployment of thy masters talents enter now into the ioy of thy Lord. And what is this ioy surely the blessed fruition of thy Lord and Sauiour in communion and fellowship of thy Father and Holy spirit Where thou shalt enioy euen ioy without sorrow welth without waÌ„t honour without disgrace pleasure without paine peace without disquietnesse light without darknesse health without sickenes life with out death This wel-contenting gaine of pietie and godlinesse that eternall fruition of felicity and blessednesse Now blessed Lord God thou God of all grace rich in grace in mercy and bounty to all that feare and call vpon thee Vouchsafe we most humbly beseech thee to make all grace to abound vnto vs all that wee alwayes hauing al-sufficiency in all good things may abound to euery good worke Enrich our hearts with the treasures of godlinesse settle our affections with godly contentment and grant vnto vs a dayly increase in this truest and richest gaine that we may comfortably enioy all needefull blessings in this life and full fruition of glory and felicity in the life to come And that through the al-sufficient merits of thine onely Sonne and our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ the righteous to whom with thee O father and thy blessed spirit one only wise and al-sufficient God bee ascribed of vs of thy whole Church all honour glory praise power dominion and thanksgiuing from this time forth for euermore Amen All glorie be to God
excellent creatures in comparison of whose brightnesse the very sunne is darke in comparison of whose puritie the very heauens are polluted Iob. 15.15 for resplendencie of whose glory the very Angels couer their faces Esa 6.2 before whose dreadfull presēce the earth melteth Psalme 97.5 Esa 51.6 the heauens flie away the deuils tremble and all creatures stand astonished and amazed Iam. 2.19 Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-seeing eye Prou. 15.4 Hebr. 4.13 al-knowing wisdome al-beholding presence whereby God pondereth the pathes obserues the gestures heareth the wordes Ier. 17.10 searcheth the hearts tryeth the reines Prou. 15.11 Iob. 26.6 and pryeth into the bottome of hell and destruction it selfe Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-ruling prouidēce Mat. 10.30 al-commanding power soueraigne authority and vnlimited Lordship Whereby God can and will ouer-awe and order all creatures and actions conditions and estates and curbe and keepe vnder al proude resisters and rebellious opposers can bruise them in peeces with his iron rod Psal 2.9 and consume them to nothing with the breath of his nostrilles Yea command and worke the weale or woe life or death felicity or misery of all manner his creatures Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge and acknowledgement of Gods exact iustice and impartiall equitie whereby the Lord Rom. 2.11 not accepting persons nor taking rewards doth distribute and diuide to euery one his deserued right in good or euill rewards or punishments for obedience or breach of his holy diuine and soueraigne reuealed good will and pleasure And all these considerations doe strongly vrge and powerfully enforce vnto piety or godlinesse But that godlinesse may indeed bee wrought and grow and flourish in the heart of a Christian and that hee may draw neere to God and not be deterred from God hee must aboue al find and feele the quickening iuice of Gods eternall loue issuing out of the roote of the true vine Christ Iesus through conueiance and sweete influence of the spirit of God which arising into the heart of a true Christian will both mollifie heate and effectually affect the heart and most kindly cause therein true godlinesse and religious respect of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. And thus this true godlinesse wrought in the heart being an habite of good things as Nazianzene speakes doth take the possession and gouernment of euery part of the soule doth their reside and rule and causeth an exercise of goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and exerts and shewes it selfe in certaine actions and workes called the exercises of godlinesse or religious deuotion both inward in the heart The large extent of godlinesse and outward in the life which expresse the nature and power of pietie Of which kinde are these Effectuall faith diligent loue patient hope reuerend feare pure conscience sound repentance assured confidence all holy affections diuine meditations godly resolutions earnest petitions deuout gestures vnstained profession religious speach vnblameable conuersation At these actions of pietie doth our holy Apostle ayme when he aduiseth Timotheus to exercise himselfe vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 When hee exhorts that prayers and supplications be made for all men 1. Tim. 2.1.2 for Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Lastly at this doth the Apostle Saint Peter leuel vpon serious meditation of the finall dissolution of the world 2. Pet. 3.10 11 12 13 14. Seeing the day of the Lord shall come as a thiefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe away with a great noyse and the elements shall melt with feruent heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp seeing then that all these things shall be dissolued what manner of persons ought yee to be in all holy conuersation and godlinesse or duties of godlinesse being diligent in exercise of the offices of piety that yee may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse And this I take to be the sum and substantiall nature of this godlinesse which our holy Apostle commends vnto vs as the great gaine to which if we shall adde one seasoning grace it will abide the touch and bee approued of God Sincerity a seasoning grace This seasoning grace is sound sincerity of the soule and inner man freed and purged from dissembling and hollow-hearted hypocrisie so that it may abide the through tryall of Gods discerning view And so much the name godlinesse doth seeme to import as taken from God so that in my apprehension the godlinesse of a Christian is such inward disposition of heart as consorts with the nature and will of God such outward conuersation of life as beseemes the presence of God Without this soundnesse and perfection of the inwards and the heart our pretended godlinesse is little better then profanenesse Mat. 23. and our seeming pietie detestable hypocrisie Luk. 16.15 But shall this sound integrity and true candor bee dispersed as blood through euery veine of the whole body of true piety and as seasoning salt bee sprinkled on euery action and worke thereof Marke 9.50 this godlinesse shall be accepted for true and good the heart shall be sound and actions approued and then may this precious pearle of piety be commended of God and esteemed of vs as our greatest gaine and truest treasure This beloued in the Lord euen this is the comely feature of godlinesse the subiect of our gaine a thing of great worth and excellency euery way which yet notwithstanding is so smally respected yea so greatly contemned as is lamentable to behold of the most and greatest part of this foolish world Oh that our blind eyes were able to behold it Oh that our peruerse hearts were able to esteeme it Surely surely it would command both eye hand and heart and all to seeke it to embrace it to yeeld all kind and louing entertainment vnto it I will not now speake but pray That the God of all grace would graunt vnto you all this marrow of all grace true godlinesse and piety to guide both heart and life Thus much I thought good to premise concerning godlinesse alone which is presupposed as the matter and subiect of our gaine now I proceed to the attendant of godlinesse which is Contentment for godlinesse is not alone but attended of contentment Godlinesse with Contentment is our great gaine The 2. generall point of godly contentment The attendant of godlinesse is contentment a most worthy waytingmaide of so honourable a Mistresse True Godlinesse is as it were a royall Queene full of Maiesty and beauty striking admiration and reuerence into the hearts of all earnest beholders and Contentment as a young Lady and Princesse a pure and spotlesse Virgin of seemely feature and wel-pleasing demeanure euer attending godlinesse as her Lady and Mistresse Both for progenie of the blood
THE GODLY MERCHANT OR The great gaine A Sermon preached at Paules-Crosse Octob. 17. 1613. By WILLIAM PEMBERTON Bachelour of Diuinity and Minister of Gods Word at high Onger in Essex 1. TIM 4.7.8 Exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse For bodily exercise profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things hauing the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come LONDON Printed by Edw. Griffin for Samuel Macham and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Bul-head 1613. TO THE RIGHT Honourable and truely religious Lord Robert Lord Rich Baron of Leeze c. my singular good Lord and Patrone all happie increase in the great gaine of Godlinesse and godly contentment OVr blessed day of Grace Right honourable Lord in this bright sun-shine of the Gospell in this Land as it affordeth vnto vs happie opportunitie so it exacteth of vs studious endeauour for prudent foresight and timely prouision of things most behoouefull for our future vse Luc. 19.42 And oh that we would know euen we at least in this our long and faire Summers day the things which belong to our eternall peace We fairely beare our selues and others in hand that our Couenant with God of life and peace Mal. 2.5 is firme and sure euen euerlasting because the word of this couenant is still remaining with vs and that God will not turne away from vs to doe vs good Iere. 32.40 because the Lords goodnes is yet magnified toward vs. And surely the Lord will not be vnmindfull of his Couenant with vs nor vnfaithfull in performance of his promise to vs Psal 103.17.18 if we start not backe and prooue vnfaithfull but keepe couenant and promise with the Lord our God 2. Chro. 15.2 The Lord is with vs while wee are with him if wee seeke him he will be found of vs but if wee forsake him he will forsake vs. Are our hearts then vpright toward the Lord and is the feare of God euen godlinesse within our hearts Esa 55.3 If this be so O happie wee and euer blessed for then shal our soule liue and the Lord will make his Couenant euerlasting with vs euen the sure mercies of Dauid True indeede Gods name be praysed Christs true religion the Doctrine of Godlinesse is by wholsome lawes of our most gracious Soueraigne constant Defender of the true Faith most firmely established by a good part of his Maiesties most loyall subiects sincerely embraced and generally approued or formally professed of all vnlesse of those vnhappie Romish Nurselings who haue more deepely drunke of the golden cup of that Babilonish strumpet Reuel 17.4.5 whose soule-killing poison doth secretly spread to more dangerous infection within the wombe of our complaining Mother complaining I say because her life is in daily hazard by them and yet she can neither cure and heale them as her heart desireth nor yet be cured and eased of thē as her safetie would require God graunt her mildnes toward them create not new dangers against herselfe Did the power and practise of Godlinesse in the rest attend the forme and shew thereof then had she not cause of so great complaint but matter of ioy and good contentment to see her children grow and prosper in Godlinesse though this viperous broode lie still crawling and gnawing within her bowels But alas alas our times are perilous our estate dangerous 2. Tim. 3.1 the world is a gainer God a looser And howsoeuer God hath graciously giuen all things that belong to life and godlinesse 2. Pet. 1.3 yet is there but little increase or embrace of Godlinesse either in heart or life Many through blindnes are sottishly ignorant of it and cannot be brought to sight of their miserie without it Many through securitie are carelesse of it and will not be affected with any liking to it Some through weakenes grow ashamed of it and are affraid to vndergoe any hardship for it Many through lewdnesse are a shame vnto it and by their inordinate liuing bemire and deface it And it is well if some through profanesse would not out-face and shame it and by their gracelesse impietie oppose against it Many by an art of seeming haue painted their faces but want the trueth and substance of being in the heart Many through sacietie grow weary of this Manna and their full stomacks begin to loath this honie-comb Numb 11.6 Prou. 27.7 And many hauing walked with God on earth are daily taken hence to liue with Christ in heauen Now while so many are seduced by the errour of the deuill so many are enthralled by the lusts of the flesh so many are insnared with the allurements of the world and many of the best are remoued from earth to heauen where doeth the sound Christian and true godly man appeare or if he be seene as God be thanked he is yet his life and courage is not such it may be feared as once it was or now ought to be Oh what shall become of Religion in this land if our first loue to religion shal languish in vs Reu. 2. v. 4. or what shall become of vs in this land verse 5. if our Candlesticke be once remoued from vs Iere. 9.1 Psal 119.136 Fountaines riuers of heart-bleeding teares suffice not to bewaile our sinnes which threaten our miserie nor to preuent our miserie deserued by our sinnes The Lord in his great mercie graunt vs grace to know the time of our gracious visitation Luc. 19.44 and to bethinke our selues of the things that belong to our peace last hereafter they he hidden from our eyes Oh that we could in time grow wise in heart and rich in grace and nourish the feare of God euen godlinesse within our hearts Then would the Lord surely reioyce ouer vs to doe vs good Iere. 32.40 and still plant vs in this land with his whole heart and with his whole soule No power nor plot of wicked enemies shall preuaile against vs if the God of power and wisedome be loued and embraced of vs. The Lord will soone subdue our enemies Psal 81.14 and turne his hand against our aduersaries No want of good or sense of euill shall discontent vs if this gaine of godlinesse be fully possessed of vs. Wherefore it behooueth all from the highest to the lowest to giue care to that godly exhortatiō of that religious Ruler Iosua Feare the Lord Iosh 24.14.15 and serue him in sinceritie and in truth Or if the foolish and vnhappie multitude will not embrace such blessed counsell but it seeme euill to them to serue the Lord yet must euery wise and couragious Iosua put on this constant resolution as for me and my house we will serue the Lord. What is that seruice of God in that holie resolution of that courageous Captaine but the exercise of that Godlinesse which ruled in the heart of that religious Ruler What was the groūd of
suppose that gaine is godlinesse But it is most true which the true Apostle did most fitly and religiously oppose that godlinesse with contentment is great gaine 1. Tim. 6.5 And therefore those are foolish and deceitfull Merchants of sicke braines corrupt mindes profane hearts that suppose gaine to be godlinesse while they publish professe the religion of Christ for priuate respect of the pelfe of the world But those are wise and faithfull dealers of wel-staied heads prudent mindes vpright hearts who esteeme godlinesse to be the true gaine and as therewith right well enriched rest well contented with a lesser portion in their outward condition And further those are certaine loosers that account gaine godlinesse for such crafty Merchants as are so cunning to deceiue others become so wilie that they beguile themselues and shall find themselues but bankrupts when they make vp their accounts and are cast into prison till they haue paied their debts Mat. 18.3 4. In stead of an estate of plentie which they vainely expected they shall meete with an estate of misery which they little feared But those are sure sauers who make godlinesse their gaine Who purchase to themselues not so much this worldly wealth as those heauenly treasures who fill not their houses but their hearts not their coffers but their consciences who are rich not so much in earth as in heauen not in themselues but in God euen in Christ Iesus in whom are all treasures of godlinesse euen the fulnesse of the God-head Who became poore to make vs rich Mat. 8.20 and by his extreame outward penury purchased our exceeding inward plentie Who was poore for a time that wee might bee rich for euer Who will cast vnto vs here after our godlinesse begunne a wel-sufficing competency and will replenish vs hereafter when our godlinesse is perfected with al-sufficient felicitie So then godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Hetherto we haue beene taking a generall suruay of the coherence and scope and summe of this sentence Now let vs enter into a more speciall view thereof as it is in it selfe an heauenly position and a diuine conclusion short but pithy in very few wordes very greatly commending the worth and excellency of godlines as the only pearle of price worthy the purchase of the wisest and richest Merchant In this golden sentence or heauenly aphorisme wee may consider a simple or naked assertion godlinesse is gaine The parts of this assertion 1. The subiect or antecedent godlinesse 2. The attribute or consequent gaine are either amplifyed and illustrated by their seueral attendant 1. The attendant of godlinesse is contentment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 true pietie is attended with an autarkie or wel-contenting sufficiency True contentmēt being as I conceiue it a fruit and effect and as I may so speake a daughter of godlinesse borne of her bred vp by her an inseparable attendant of her and therefore they are by this particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 linked together as with a golden chaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 godlinesse attended with contentment 2. The attribute of godlinesse that is gaine is amplified and enlarged by an attendant quantity great Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine And this attendant quantity or greatnesse imports a commendation of this gaine which the greater it is the more cōmendable Godlinesse is such a gaine as is great 1. Great in it selfe simply considered as a rich treasure of great sufficiency 2. And great comparatiuely in respect of other gaine Godlinesse attended with contentment is of all the greatest gaine The true gaine the great gaine the greatest gaine of all is Godlinesse attended with contentment Euen true pietie which bringeth with it good contentment or a wel-contenting sufficiency The particular branches of my future discourse as by that which is spoken you may discerne for order and number may well be these The first concerning godlinesse the subiect of this gaine The second concerning contentment the attendant of godlinesse The third concerning gaine the attribute of godlinesse And herein that 1. True godlinesse is true gaine 2. True godlinesse is great gaine 3. True godlinesse is the greatest gaine of all And of these in order as God shall inable and your patience and time permit The matter or subiect of this true this great this greatest gain is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 godlinesse or pietie The name imports as much as true worship or religious adoration Which Nazianzene distinguishing from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sometimes signifies worship of false gods describes to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Definit 152. The religious adoration of the blessed Trinity The thing it selfe which wee vnderstand by the name of Godlinesse is of verie great and large extent It consisteth of the concurrence of all those precious gifts and louely graces of the sanctifying spirit of God and conteyneth the whole body of those diuine vertues of Christian religion expressed sometime by the feare of God as where it is sayd of Cornelius that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a deuout or godly man Act. 10.2 and one who feared God Where the feare of God which ere-while notes out one special grace or gracious disposition may well comprize all religious deuotion due respect of God both in heart and life and may plainly and briefly be thus described What ' godlinesse is Godlines is that religious reuerence awefull respect of God which ariseth frō the true knowledge of God and sense of his loue and causeth a studious endeauour to walke with God in all holie duties both inward and outward and that in sincerity This true godlinesse the character and cognizance of true-beleeuing Christians which distinguisheth the new and right-born sonnes of God from the bastard-brood of Satan and corrupt generation of Adam is for nature and propertie a religious reuerence and awefull respect of God possessing the heart of man with all due regard of the holy presence of God The wel-spring or roote thereof is the feeling and effectuall knowledge of God which is the ground of happinesse the seed of all vertue that groweth in the heart and the first gift which God imparteth to a people selected to serue him and to bee admitted into league and couenant with him Ier. 24.7 First God giues an heart to know him that he is the Lord and then and not before he will be their God and they shall be his people Without this sacred and sauing knowledge man is not godly but godlesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.12 Eph. 4.18 not in Couenant with God but a stranger from the life of God Men cannot liue well that doe not beleeue well nor beleeue well that doe not know well Whence godlinesse springeth But from what knowledge of God doth godlinesse spring surely from knowledge and acknowledgement I. Of the glorious maiesty and sublimity of Gods diuine nature and of his pure holinesse infinitely surpassing the modell of the most
Royall of of-spring diuine drawing their line and linage from God himselfe For as godlinesse is from God so is Contentment from godlinesse borne of her bred vp by her and of bounden duty an inseparable attendant of her both are sent of God into this world together that being entertayned into the hearts of men they might make both heart and life Godly and gainful holy and happy And holy sure and happy is that heart that house that towne that city that country that court that church that kingdome where godlinesse and contentment doe rule and beare the sway These surely will cause an heauen on earth and bring in time from earth to heauen What the word signifieth The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated contentment soūds as I may so speak selfe-sufficiency and points out such an estate and condition as hath sufficiencie of it selfe to furnish it selfe withall and needs not to seeke for supply else-where and therefore affords contentment within it selfe Gen. 17.1 such properly and absolutely is the estate of God alone who alone is El-schaddai the almighty and al-sufficient God God al-sufficient in himselfe of himselfe and for himselfe and for all his creatures of whom all creatures stand in need but he in need of none but resteth euer wel-contended within himselfe as beeing Iehoua Exod. 34.6 the fountaine infinite and inexhaust of his vncreated beeing wel-being life wisdome will power felicity and glory daily delighting and reioycing alwaies within himselfe Prou. 8.30 and such is the autarkie of the Nature diuine abounding in it selfe not needing vs. Contentment from God aswell as godlinesse Now as godlinesse is from God and goodnesse from this first good so is sufficiencie and true contentment from this al-sufficiency of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our sufficiency is from God 2. Cor. 3.5 From God we deriue our beeing our wel-beeing our ability to doe well to suffer ill our godlinesse our goodnesse and our good contentment in our owne condition which with our godlinesse wee receiue from our God Which our holy Apostle most elegantly and emphatically expresseth to the magnifying of Gods bounty and our felicity 2. Cor. 9.8 And God is able to make all grace abound towards you that yee alwaies hauing all sufficiencie in all things may abound in euery good worke As God is able so is he willing as in grace to bestow godlinesse so with godlinesse to giue this happy attendant of Contentment By what meanes and that 1. While by faithfull promise hee endoweth godlinesse with so rich a portion as may wel suffice and giue contentment for godlinesse hath the promises of the life that now is 1. Tim. 4.8 and of that which is to come 2. While hee causeth the godly minde recounting with it selfe it owne inward plenty as beeing enriched with treasures of spirituall goodnesse to rest wel-pleased and wel-appayed with what outward estate or condition can befall him which whatsoeuer it is is that which his heauenly Father hath shared out vnto him and therefore hee is resolued to rest content therewith till it shall please God to better the same hauing by the instruction of godlinesse learned with Saint Paul Phil. 4.11 in all Estates to be content and if any occasion of discontent befall him hee retires himselfe into his counting-house and there findeth himselfe so well stored through Godlinesse that hee sees no place for discontentment Godly contentment is no stoicall senslesnes Where note by the way that this godly contentment whereof we speak is no carelesse stupidity of stoïcall minded or rather mindelesse and gracelesse humorists who are no way affected with any change but as they neuer tasted of this godly sufficiency so rest content in their insensible misery But this our contentment is such as the heart affected with the sweetnesse of Gods house can comfortably recount and doth daily obserue to issue from true pietie which as it bringeth with it wel-contenting sufficiencie so it poyseth the heart to holy equabilitie and quieteth the minde in all Estates When contentment attendeth godlinesse Now the estates and times wherein contentment attendeth godlinesse are generally two One in this life the other in the life to come in this of grace in that other of glory And as this and that life are not two in kind but only one and two in degree of grace and happinesse so is godlinesse it selfe and godly contentment in these two seuerall times not two in nature but onely in degree either suiting and consorting with either condition both liue and loue goe and grow togither When godlinesse beginnes then beginnes contentment as godlinesse increaseth so contentment is inlarged and when godlinesse is growen to full perfection then shall the godly heart finde full contentation Perfect holinesse shall be attended with perfect happinesse perfect pietie with perfect felicity and all this through full fruition of God in Christ who is the wel-spring of our godlinesse and goodnesse and the ful-flowing fountaine of our sufficiency and contentment Contentment attendeth godlinesse in this life That godlinesse in this life is attended of contentment it is manifest out of the word of God especially out of the Gospell which the Apostle stiles the truth Tit. 1.1 1. Tim. 6.3 or doctrine according to godlinesse which holy doctrine directeth vnto godlinesse and vnto godly contentment Vnto godlinesse in this tenour Mat. 6.33 seeke yee first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse-purchase pietie gaine godlinesse Then exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 inure thy selfe vnto the practise of pietie Vnto contentment in this maner Be not carefull for your life saying Mat. 6.25.31 what shall we eate what shall we drinke wherewith shall we be cloathed where prudent prouision is enioyned distractiue care condemned For your heauenly Father knoweth Ibid. vers 32. that you haue need of these things Verse 33. These things shall be cast vnto you beeing godly without your vngodly care let your conuersation be without couetousnesse Hebr. 13.5 and be content with those things which you haue And when piety prouokes to pray for more it prescribes godly moderation with this limitation Giue vs this day our daily bread Mat. 6.11 that is a reasonable competency of necessary prouision But it condemneth couetousnesse as the enemy of godlinesse 1. Tim. 6.10 1. Ioh. 2.15.16 and permits not the King himselfe to multiply his horses his siluer or his gold Deutr. 17.16.17 aboue due measure of godly moderation or in any measure arguing his discontent or want of dependance on God for a competent portion or needfull protection by good and godly meanes What ought to content Yea beloued in the Lord this doctrine of godlinesse doth informe what ought to content viz. Meate drinke and apparell if God giue no more If we haue food rayment let vs therewith be content 1. Tim. 6.8 Nature saith the Physician is content with
a little as not to thirst not to starue Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cibus potus sunt diuitiae Christianorum Hieron Bp. and grace ought to content it selfe with lesse In this case meate and drinke are the riches of Christians yea bread and water with the Gospell are good cheere More ought not to discontent if God giue more Lesse if God giue not so much Any thing is more then any man can chalenge The smalest good is aboue mans greatest desert all is of mercy nothing of merite Whatsoeuer God measures out vnto vs that ought to giue contentment to vs. And a godly man may wel content himselfe in all estates and if in any hee finde himselfe not well it is not because he might not therein be well but because hee doth not in such holy manner demeane himselfe Why a godly man is sometime not content as godlinesse would direct for so out of question hee should bee well True indeed it is that contentment which attendeth godlinesse in this life is not such a settled composednesse of minde and quiet tranquillity of all the affections as neuer meeteth with any turbulency of passion or is neuer interrupted nor assayled of discontment For as godlinesse in this life is not perfected so is the minde of a godly man not fully contented But through inward distemper and outward occurrence is sometimes shaken with vnsetlednesse and discontent The sea is not so calme in Summer but is sometimes troubled with some boysterous winde no not the stable mountaine so firme but may bee moued with some fearefull earth-quake So is it with the minde of a godly man it is sometimes moued sometimes tossed with windes and terrours Yet so well is it ordinarily composed through habituall resolution of dependance on God and equability of affection in all estates that it 's neither oftē disturbed nor long disquieted but after some lesser or shorter distemper it doth quietly compose and settle it selfe againe and through the power of godlinesse doth recouer it selfe and enioy againe this sweete Contentment Happy happy yea thrice happy is that soule that is so quietly setled and so well composed that it is not much shaken and tossed with discontent and so happy may euery one of our soules become shall we seriously consider How to come to godly contentment how wee may become so happy Which if any desire indeed to know let him lend his eare yea his heart a little and cast his eye of faith vpon the doctrine of godlinesse and hee shall therein behold such strong foundations of true contentment layde as that the gates of hell may well assaile but shall not preuaile against it 4. Grounds of godly contentment The foundation of godly contentment hath these foure degrees 1. Gods powerfull prouidence 2. Gods prudent loue 3. Gods gracious promise 4. The present portion which God bestoweth vpon a godly man The first ground of godly contentment is Gods powerfull prouidence 1. Gods powerfull prouidence whereby hee wisely ordereth and sweetly disposeth all actions and euents conditions and estates The Lord killeth and maketh aliue 1. Sam. 2.6 he bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 7. The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 8. he bringeth low and exalteth he rayseth vp the poore out of the dust and listeth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them amongst Princes and to make them inherite the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lords and hee hath set the world vpon them The Lord Psal 147. v. 4. vers 8. the Lord guides and numbers the starres in heauen hangs the clouds in the firmament Mat. 6.26.28 feeds the fowles of the ayre clothes the flowers of the field takes care for the oxen in the stall multiplies the fishes in the sea numbers the sands by the shoare preserues the haire on the head and the drowing of a swine Mat. 8.31 32. Mat. 10.29 30. the falling of a sparrow the perishing of an haire doth not escape the powerfull prouidence of our most gracious God Act. 17.28 Yea and our God in whom we mooue liue are is able for bread to giue manna from heauen Exod. 16.14 15. Exod. 16.13 Exod. 17.6 ver 78. Exod. 13 21. Deut 29.5 for flesh to send quailes from the sea for drinke to giue water out of the flinty rocke for shelter a cloude For direction a pillar of fire for want of new apparel can preserue the old Ios 3.15 16 Exod. 14.21 22. for a passage can diuide Iorden and make a drie lane with watry walles through the deepe channel of the red sea Out of bondage can giue deliuerance out of sicknesse health out of death life out of sinne good and out of miserie can draw felicity Numb 11.23 Esa 50.2 His hand is not shortened that hee cannot now helpe hee is now God al-sufficient as well as euer he was And what cannot our God doe for vs God is able saith our holy Apostle to make all grace to abound toward you 2. Cor. 9. ◠that yee alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound to euery good worke Euery word hath it waight Our God al-sufficient hath al-sufficiency for vs all alwaies in all things to cause all grace to abound to vs and to cause vs to abound to euery good worke Oh the powerfull prouidence of our gracious God Oh the vnmoueable foundation of godly contentment What feare of want or woe can discontent vs seeing our God hath al-sufficient for vs our God hath sufficient wisdome for our instruction sufficient power for our preseruation sufficient grace for our infirmities sufficient plenty to supply our penurie sufficient mercy for all our miseries sufficient comfort for all our maladies sufficient honour to wipe away our infamy sufficient life to ouercome our death and sufficient glory to perfect our felicity Thus is our God able to make all grace to abound toward vs that wee alwaies hauing al-sufficiencie in all things may abound to euery good worke On this foundation may a godly man beginne to build his house of godly contentment thus Vse The meditation of Gods povverfull prouidence Doth any euill or crosse befall mee It comes not from the haplesse stroke of blinde Fortune but from the al-ruling hand of an al-seeing God Did the spitefull tongue of my enenemy defame me Or his powerfull hand oppresse and iniure mee Or did any other creature bring any euill vpon me Whatsoeuer was the meanes or how ill soeuer affected to mee Gods ouer-ruling prouidence hath some hand therein Not indeed himselfe vniustly striking or instilling malice into the striker or exciting him to sinne or excusing him in sinne yet guiding the blow and directing it to me as an actor in not an idle spectator of the action yet no author or approuer but iudge and reuenger of the euill of the action Ier. 25 12.14 Threatning punishing the instrument
of godlinesse Surely we can say no lesse of godlinesse but that it deserues the name and title of true gaine 2. Godlinesse is great gaine and how As godlinesse is true and as I might haue said Great gaine as it is in it selfe a diuine habite of grace in it selfe considered so is it great gaine indeede as it intiteleth and interesteth into further aduantage in that it hath the promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1. Tim. 4 8. Of life naturall and life spirituall 1. The spirituall returne of godlinesse The first and chiefest part and parcell of that rich returne which godlinesse by Gods promise is interessed in is that heauenly reuenue of rich holinesse and happinesse which belong to a life spirituall both this of grace and that other of glory And here wee must know that this promise is made and made good in Christ from whom as our Head wee deriue our Godlinesse and in whom we finde all our treasures of goodnesse Christ our treasury emptied as it were himselfe to replenish vs became poore to make vs rich Poore in outward estate to make vs rich in our inward condition poore in our nature that we might be rich in his grace poore temporally to make vs rich eternally In Christ we gaine sufficient treasures of righteousnesse to discharge our debt of disobedience 1. Cor. 1.30 2. Cor. 5.21 Hebr. 9.14 10.14 The al-sufficient sacrifice of his death to ransome vs from the death of sinne Esa 53.5 6. 1. Pet. 2.24 Col. 2 3. 2. Cor. 5.18 19. The treasures of wisdome and holinesse to remoue our folly and deformities Wee gaine reconciliation with God Eph. 3.12 Hebr. 10.20.22 in sted of emnity accesse to God in stead of alienation from God Rom. 5.1 Rom. 15.13 Peace of conscience in stead of terrors Ioy in the holy Ghost in sted of sorrow in our soule Rom. 14.17 1. Ioh. 1.4 comfortable hope in sted of dreadfull despaire In Christ wee gaine priuiledge of Son-ship and spirituall adoption Rom. 5.2 Ehpes 1.5 Apoc. 1.6 title to a crowne and fellowship in a Kingdome Blessed communion with God our Father 1. Ioh. 1.3 the sonne himselfe our redeemer and the holy spirit our blessed guide and strong supporter sweet comforter perfect sanctifier In Christ we gaine the prayers of the Saints yet liuing with vs the loue of the Saints glorified before vs Hebr. 1.14 the Ministery of Angels working for vs grace in earth and glory in heauen In Christ our gaine is such as that we shall haue all losses recompensed all wants supplied al curses remoued al crosses sanctified all graces increased all hopes confirmed all promises accomplished all blessednesse procured Satan conquered death destroyed Ose 13.14 1. Cor. 15.54.55 the graue sweetened corruption abolished sanctification perfected heauen opened for our happy entrance Lift vp your heads Oh yee heauenly gates Psal 24.7 and bee yee lifted vp yee euerlasting doores that the King of glory may bring vs in Now when Heauen shall be our gaine what can be our losse Vnlesse we loose our teares wiped from our eyes Vnlesse wee loose our sorrowes expelled from our hearts Vnlesse we loose our daungers remoued from our persons Vnlesse we loose our infirmities our deformities our transitory estate our temporall condition which we account for precious to change them for permanent and eternall happinesse And what is or rather is not the gaine of godlinesse when it hath brought man to happinesse That indeed which no mortall eye hath euer seene Esa 64 4. 1. Cor. 2.9 no eare heard no tongue vttered no heart conceiued What hand can measure the boundes of infinitie What minde can number the yeeres of eternitie What hand what minde can measure can number the vnmeasurable measure and innumerable number of the wealth and treasures of piety and godlinesse Oh that I had the tongues of the glorious Angels in some sort for your sakes to vtter Oh rather that you had the hearts of the glorified Saints in some little small measure to conceiue of some part and parcell of this spirituall gaine of godlinesse But this glorious Sunne doth so dazle my weake eyes this bottomlesse depth doth so ouerwhelme my shallow heart and the surpassing greatnesse of these rich treasures doth so euery way ouercharge mee that I must needes stand silent amazed and astonished at the serious consideration of the exceeding aboundant excellencie of these reuenues of godlinesse 2. The temporall returne of godlinesse As those who finde their tender eye-sight dazeled by gazing directly vpon the body of the Sunne doe learne to behold it in some oblique reflexion as we obserue the ecclipse in a basen of water euen so let vs perceiuing the eye of our mind now dimmed and dazeled with the exceeding brightnesse of the gaine of godlinesse in the chiefest glory therof looke vpon it more indirectly in the secondary reflexions of earthly blessings which as you may remember were entayled on godlinesse by the gracious promise of God 1. Tim. 4.8 Godlinesse hath the promise of the life that now is Whatsoeuer true gaine can bee found in this life it is annexed to godlinesse as an auctarie or appendant and is as an ouerplus or ouer-measure cast vnto him Mat. 6.33 who shall first haue sought the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse Hebr. 1.2 conueighed by Christ the heire of all vnto him that is truly godly or truly beleuing A godly man hath two treasuries without him of gainefull reuenues Heauen aboue a replenished treasurie of blessings spirituall Mat. 19.21 and Earth below a wel-furnished store-house of benefits temporall As those aboue are bestowed onely vpon a godly man so these below are by most iust title to descend to him who is fellow heire with Christ Rom. 8.17 the heire of al things Strangers may haue some portion of them but the right of inheritance belongs to the sons of God Riches and honour delights and pleasures life and length of daies Prou 3.16.17 8.18 Deut. 28. Ps 1 12.2.3 seed and posteritie are entailed to such as are truly beleeuing and feare the Lord. And howsoeuer the vngodly man may lay some claime vnto them and that by some kinde of right from God as a preseruer of nature How a godles man may lay claime to temporall blessings a sustainer of his creature a maintainer of callings a rewarder of industry as a god of mercy alluring by benefits and a god of iustice to make men refusing his mercy excuselesse And howsoeuer no man can despoil him of them without great sinne yet can he not enioy them with any great comfort as wanting the best title through the want of Christ Now then if any man bee possessed with an ouerweening conceit of the exceeding woorth of worldly gaine be it knowen vnto him that whatsoeuer it is rightly to waigh it and properly to speake of it it
account the things they would haue and when they haue them count them little worth And though they haue neuer so much yet be their any thing else which they cannot haue the want of that more troubleth them then the fruition of al they haue can please them Yet more then this let a meere godlesse worldling haue what hee can desire yet can he but suppose that he might haue more that vaine and foolish supposition will much detract from his good contentment What should I say more The heart of man is for possibility of desiring so vnlimited that no earthly thing can fully replenish it All may bee in it Anima rationalis ad imaginem-Dei facta caeteris omnibus occupari potest repleri non potest Ber◠Serm dedicat Esa 28.20 Esa 29.8 but cannot fill it This bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himselfe on it this couering is narrower then that hee can wrappe himselfe in it A godlesse worlding shall be euen as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but hee awaketh and his soule is empty or as when a thirsty man dreameth hee drinketh but hee awaketh and behold hee is faint and his soule hath appetite in it The reason is God made the reasonable soule in his owne image Animam rationalem-Dei capacem quicquid Deo minus est nonimplebit Bern. Serm. dedieat in some sense capable of himselfe as Bernard speakes of the vnlimited disire of the soule therefore whatsoeuer is lesse then God cannot fill it full But the gaine of godlinesse is absolittlely perfect The godly mans gaine is perfect and can giue content and sit alone to giue contentment as being the gaine not of earth alone but the heauen alone but of him also who filles both earth and heaven Ier. 23 24. and heart and all euen Iesus Christ with the infinitenes of his aboundant store as far as mans heart is capable of that which God communicateth when he shal be all in all Then also shall the desire of the glorified soule be wōderfully enlarged and the desire enlarged shall be fully contanted Where betweene temporall and eternall good things obserue this difference Those temporall are most desired before they be obtained and when they are enioyed are lesse accoūted of which because they are imperfect giue not full content but these eternall are lesse esteemed before they be attained but assoone as they are tasted they are more ardently loued the more ardently loued the more earnestly are they desired and most of all admired when most aboundantly enioyed and that in that blessed kingdome of heauen where our loue shall enioy asmuch if not more as our minde can conceiue Esa 64.4 our heart desire our faith beleeue or hope expect And what is that gaine which can giue full contentment but this infinite aboundance of incorruptible good The worldings gaine exposeth to many daungers The worldlings gaine exposeth to daungers but godlinesse directeth how to escape them all Those daungers doe meete with if not enuiron this worldly trader on euery side both in getting and keeping and parting with it 1. In getting Such is the basenesse of this worldly gaine that it may be gotten not onely by Truth and Vertue but also by Fraud and Falshood Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 5.12 Not only by the bounty and blessing of God but also by proffer and promise of the deuill who proclaimes himselfe owner of this world Luk. 4. with the glory thereof and bestower of them on whom hee will And the fayrest dealing in the course of trading is sayd to bring in most commonly such slender returne that it is growen a prouerbe among the multitude That plaine dealing is a Iewel but hee that vseth it shall die a begger And many are of minde especially tradesmen that if they deale truely they shall not bee able to liue Whereupon it followeth that many runne on in the wide way of the world that they may better compasse the wealth of the world Ios 7.21 Achan gaines his goodly garment his shekels of siluer and wedge of gold by stealth Balaam would curse to obtaine his wages Ahab and Iezebell get the vineyard by murther 1. King 21. Act. 19. Demetrius for his gaine-sake doth raise an vproare against Paul Demas for his better aduantage this way 2. Tim. 4.10 forsaketh the Apostles and embraceth the present world And Iudas for the price of thirty pieces of siluer Mat 26.15 betraieth the Lord his Lord and master And to adde one more to increase the number That Anti-christ of Rome the pretended Vicar of Christ but successor of Iudas in his wicked practise and sonne heire of the Prince of this world maketh marchandize of Gods word of religion of heauen of hell of the soules of men of Christ of God and all and all for the purchase of this gaine of the world The loue of money is the roote of all euill the step-mother of goodnesse the mother of naughtinesse the mother-city of all iniquity This thirsting desire in the godlesse worldling that is may make way for richer returne will expell and abandone naturall duty out of the familie humane cruility out of the city religion out of the Church respect of good lawes out of the commonwealth and all difference and respect of iust and vniust good and euill It doth perswade many to violate friendship to falsifie promise to cozen their friends to oppresse the poore to defraud the Orphanes to murther the innocent to spoile the Temple to betray the country blow vp the Parlament-house The Gunpowder treason Nou. 5. 1605. to kill the Prince to forsweare themselues to damne their soules maliciously to blaspheme the God of Heauen and if it were possible to confound both heauen and earth and to leaue no wickednesse vnattempted Desire of gold and gaine what doth it not constraine to vndertake It is an assertion as true as ancient That Ouer whomsoeuer couetousnesse hath dominion hee is euidently subiect to all kinde of vices And such is the rode-way wherein many a worldling doth ride and runne to leape thereby into faire houses large possessings and places of account sometimes it may bee into the Emperours Throne and very often into the Popes Chayre And what gaine is this Gen 25.33 Heb. 12.15 to gaine the pottage and to sell the birth-right to gaine the garment and to loose his faith to gaine the siluer pieces and to betray his Lord and Master this is gaine in the coffer but losse in the conscience gaine of the world but losse of heauen And such is often the worldlings godlesse gaine in getting 2. In keeping Secondly as the worldlings gaine exposeth to daunger in getting so it inwrappeth in danger in keeping It intrappeth his minde it winnes his affection it insnareth his heart it bewitcheth his soule it stealeth his loue and affection from God and placeth and fixeth them vpon it selfe and causeth him
oft-times not onely most vniustly to defraud both himselfe and others of the vse of it but impiously and superstitiously to honour it as a God to place his affiance confidence therein to turne base-slaue to Mammon his Lord and his God The ambitious worldling is in the same case for al-beit the people serue him yet his ambitious desire to dominere ouer others doth most imperiously dominere ouer him Hee adores honour and authority as his Prince and God so his glory is turned into shame The voluptuous worldling Phil. 3. who drownes himselfe in pleasures yeelds himselfe captiue to his imperious Dames turnes slaue to his luste Phil. 3.19 and makes his belly his God and purchaseth to himselfe damnation in the end and such is often the worldlings gaine in keeping 3 In spending Thirdly the worldlings gaine exposeth him to daunger in spending while it draweth from humility to pride from sobriety to riot from moderation to excesse from labour to voluptuousnesse from chastity to vncleannesse from loue and practise of vertue and piety to liking and following of iniquity and vice Oh how many and great are the daungers and difficulties which attend this gaine of the world in getting and in keeping and in spending the same Cum itsis opibus lascâ—uire coepit Ecclesia Platina in Bened. IIII. The Church of God had experience hereof which when it waxed wealthy beganne to waxe wanton and it was not causelesly obserued by one of the Auncient That Religto pepâ—â— it diuitiaâ— filia denorauit matrem Aug. religion brought forth wealth and the daughter deuoured the mother many in the Church of God God knoweth who haue stood in aduersitie haue fallen in prosperity haue increased in goodnesse while the world frowned but decreased in grace when the world fawned The world by fawning deceiueth and by embracing killeth and blessed is hee that hath both worldly wealth and heauenly wisdome And so euery way dangerous is this gaine of the world while it insnareth with desire of getting oppresseth with care of keeping corrupteth with voluptuousnesse in spending Who therefore can easily account these goods which are gotten so badly or this wealth which is kept so woefully or this gaine which is spent so hurtfully and what great gaine is this of the world that brings in daunger of the losse of heauen The gaine of godlinesse is free from daunger 1. In getting There is no such danger in the gaine of godlinesse It is not got but by good and godly means through the ordinances of God and worke of Gods spirit No ill meanes can be an immediate cause of any spirituall good but if any euill be occasion of any such good it 's by the skilfull hand of Gods omnipotent goodnes that turnes poison into potions and euill to good 2. In Keeping This gaine is not kept but in good and godly manner not layd vp in a napkin but put out to Gods vse It is not bestowed but to good and godly purposes 3. In bestowing And it doth not only make the owner therof good through getting better through keeping and best of all by vsing it well but it doth teach and direct to vse the worlds gaine well which without this wee could not but vse very ill Godlinesse teacheth how to vse worldly gaine well and that while it wel aduiseth not to place our happinesse in it but to further our happinesse by wise employment of it by making friends of this vnrighteous Mammon that wee may bee receiued into that euerlasting habitation Luc. 16.9 And when this gaine of godlines hath brought vs to our best condition heere it will put vs into possession of perfection elsewhere and that not in this earth below where this worldly gaine is got and vsed and left behinde vs but in heauen aboue whence this is receiued where it is reserued where it shall be most happily enioyed 7. The worldlings gaine cannot make happy this of godlines can Lastly that I may not bee infinite in this discourse but may come to a conclusion of this comparison That gaine of the world makes many miserable none happy this of godlines all happy none miserable Those goods Aug. de ciuit Deâ— lib. 5. c. 1. such men may haue as are not good and therefore not happy These none but such as are good and therfore not miserable That worldly wealth makes neither vs nor our children happy for either while we liue wee loose it or when wee die wee leaue it to whom wee know not or to whom we would not But this is such as neither leaues vs nor we it but remayneth euer with vs euer to enrich vs. And whereas happinesse is not enioyed but in fruition of God who is the onely felicity of the soule of man This gaine of godlinesse vniteth vs to God and worketh our blessednesse Psal 144.15 while the Lord is our God And that not onely in this couenant of grace but specially in that communion of glory Eph. 1.2 3. with God in Christ which is the fulnesse and vp-shot of all felicitie Eph. 3.19 where God filleth all in all and where wee shall be filled with all fulnesse of God Now to apply all this vnto our selues The Merchants of whom I speak are among the rest you Right Honourable and beloued vnto whom I speake The gaine at which I would aduise you to aime is the purchase of Godlinesse That true that great that al-sufficient gaine Your talents and meanes of purchase are your abilities of body minde estate ioyned with the holy and diuine ordinances of God Your traficke and trading is your manner of cariage in your purposes desires delights studies and endeauours both of heart and life The Mart-day is at hand the day of grace is come the the Sunne is vp the Gospell is preached These precious wares of godlinesse are readily exposed to the open view of all willing beholders all wise and prouident merchants all prudent professours are busie at their worke and redeeme fore-flowed time by double diligence in their painefull endeauour The owner of all this wealth doth cal vnto you by the ministery of his seruants in the preaching of his word saying What lacke you what buy you Come see buy gaine be happy be blessed Come purchase the hidden treasure this goodly pearle Mat. 13.44.76.45 The prizelesse wealth this wel-contenting gaine of pietie and Godlinesse Come now while the day lasteth God knoweth how soone our sunne may set Come all young ould rich poore learned vnlearned meane great None t is too good too great too meane too miserable to trade in this merchandise Let the King himselfe account it the crowne of his glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bee first of this company as it is his deserued honour to bee chiefe of all the rest And let him more feelingly reioyce with good Theodosius to bee a member of the Church Se esse membrum