soule to God peace of conscience ioy in the holy Ghost comfort in affliction strength in temptation life in death and neuer-fading delights and riuers of pleasures the ioy and solace of a Sonne of God of a spouse of Christ of an inhabitant of heauen and of an enioyer of God in fulnesse of ioy and vnchangeable glory Oh consider I beseech you beloued in the Lord consider and weigh these things a little The matter is worthy your deepest meditation 2. A speciall comparison of the gaine of the worlding and godlieman Consider I say and you shall assuredly finde that the greatest gaine of the worldling is very smal the smallest of the godly is very great This of worth that worthlesse The greatest gaine the worldling can enioy is but outward and superficiall 1. The worldlings gaine is but outward and superficiall seruing onely for the vse of humane and corporall life which consistes in coniunction of soule and body vnited alone by the bond of nature but the gaine of the godly is inward and substantiall The godly mans inward and substantiall of vse to a life diuine and spirituall which consistes in coniunction of the whole person both soule and body with God and that by a bond of the spirit of God That frees but from some outward euill as pouertie the least of euils which one rich and ready friend may easily remedy From disgrace which may sometimes prooue glorious as for such cause or with such persons as where disgrace is honour From outward paine which may worke vs pleasure and prepare for greater ioy and solace But this freeth from the greatest euils from spirituall beggery ignominy misery and makes rich within glorious and well appayed And what were it to haue a purple coate a polluted conscience a gay gowne and a sick heart a bed of gold and a diseased minde a full chest and an emptie soule afaire face and foule affections to glister in iewels and to bee filthy in manners to bee in grace with men and disgrace with God One dramme of that true inwarde gaine is farre more worth then a thousand worlds 2. The worldlings gaine is mutable and vncertaine The worldlings gaine is mutable and vncertaine and soone God knowes is changed for a losse it is constant in nothing but in mutabilitie 1. Ioh. 2.17 the inseparable property of all earthly vanities Now a man is rich presently poore now in honour anon in disgrace now in pleasure euen now in paine Prou. 23.5 Riches take their wings and flie away honour with euery crosse blast is blowen away and pleasures melt in the taste as dew before the morning sun How soone are our feastes turned into fastes and our sweetest songs into mournefull lamentations Lament 3.5 They that did feede delicately are desolate in the streetes and they that were brought vp in scarlet embrace the dunghill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poet. Instin histor lib. 2. How soone fayre-shining Fortunes fall and faile Renowmed Xerxes the fame of antiquity passed ouer into Greece in passing state and pride but returned home in great basenesse and feare As he went he couered the seas with his gallant shippes but as hee came was scarce prouided of a meane fishers boate Hee went guarded with an army so huge and mighty that it emptied deepe riuers did eate vp large countries and was a burden to the very earth but he returned not attended of a wayting boy And he who of late was the terrour of the world a broade was presently in contempt with the meanest of his house at home Would you see an admirable spectacle of humane mutability Munster Chronol de Tureis lib. 4. c. 64. cast your eyes vpon Baiazet that terrible Turke and cruell scourge of Greece How soone was he subdued by Tamerlane the Tartar led about on a scaffold as a beast in a chayne of gold and carried with him abroad in all his expeditions as a footestoole to tread on when hee mounted on horse-backe and as a dogge to picke crummes from vnder his table And what became of the estate of this cruell conquerour who in deuilish pride disdayning the name of man would bee stiled the wrath of God the vastity and calamity of the world Hee left his kingdome stuffed with wealth and treasures to be dissipated and extinguished by his disagreeing sonnes Read the historie of Adoni-bezek Iudg. 1.6 7. Who hauing in his pride and cruelty caused 70. Kings hauing their thumbes and great toes cut off to bee g'ad like whelpes to gather crummes from vnder his table hee was requited of God and brought to like misery and experienced the mutability of all earthly states What should I mention the known History of Croesus Herodet Clio. sine lib. 1. who in the top of his prosperity would needes haue Solon to pronounce him happy but anon ouer-topt by Cyrus and set on a pile of wood to bee burnt finding his sudden change from supposed happinesse to certaine calamity cryed out in griefe and sorrow of heart Oh Solon Solon Solon The cause of this out-cry when Cyrus vnderstood he gaue him his life and intreated him kindly fearing the like misery to befall himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hered ib. as knowing the instability of humane affaires and calamity whereto all men are subject as the Historian doth well obserue Of all the daies of this mortall life the latter findes him not as the former left him No maruell though Tiberius the Emperour refused the stile of Pater patriae father of his country on this ground of vncertainty of all these earthly thing saying All mortall mens estates are vncertaine Cuncta mortalium incerta quantoque plus adeptus foret tanto se magis in lubrico dictitaus Tacit. annal lib. 1. De Ciuit. Dei l. 1. c. 1 Esa 28.4 man hath gotten the more slippery is his condition Let me in one word with Saint Augustine speake thus of them all Sunt omnia terrena cacumina temporali mobilitaie nutantia All terrene heights doe reele with temporall mutabilitie Heare the Lord himselfe The glorious beautie of all earthly excellency which is on the head of the fatte valley shall bee as a fading flower and as the hastie fruit before the Summer which when hee that looketh vpon it seeth it while it is yet in his hand he eateth it vp The best settled states grow soone vnsetled and these adamantine kingdomes haue foundations of sand The godly mans chief gaine is immutable and certaine But the choise gaine of godlinesse is immutable and certaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Kingdome vnshaken The heauenly calling and special guifts thereof are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 12.28 Rom. 11.29 Beza in Locum Nec prodi nec perdi possunt Aug de ciuit deil l. 1. cap. 10. Such as whereof God can neuer repent himselfe that hee gaue them or repenting take them backe againe These good things can neither bee
both their owne and others The Lord for his mercie adde to this number of vncorrupt Patrones make a daily supply of godly and learned Pastors blesse and multiply the companie of sincere professors these Godly Merchants and glorifie his great name in propagation of his Trueth and enlarging of his kingdome The Lord doe good in his good pleasure to this our Zion Psal 51.18 The Lord build the walles of this our Ierusalem Psal 122.7 Peace be within her walles Psal 122.7 and prosperitie within her pallaces Psal 128.5 Let all that feare the Lord see the good of our Ierusalem all the dayes of their life Nehe. 13.14 And the Lord in goodnes remember you herein and wipe not out your kindnesse which you haue shewed vnto the House of your God and for the Offices thereof The Lord grant vnto your Honour long and comfortable life make you thrice happie and honourable in your person and posteritie and giue you a blessed increase in this great gaine of Godlinesse that you may assuredly finde much prosperitie in this life of Grace and fruition of felicitie in that kingdome of glorie Your Honours in all humble dutie in Christ euer bounden William Pemberton THE GODLY Merchant or the great gaine 1. TIM 6.6 But godlinesse with contentment is great gaine RIght Honourable and beloued in the Lord Gal. 4.26 The celestiall Ierusalem which is aboue the Mother of vs all is the chiefe Citie of the liuing God our heauenly Father wherein all our elder brethren and fellow-seruants after faithfull imployment of their spirituall talents Mat. 25.16 17 hauing giuen vp to God a good account doe rest from their labours and their workes follow them Ibid. vers 21.23 for they are entred already into the ioy of their Lord and enioy their desired felicity in fruition of God The Church of Christ on Earth is likewise a City of God Ephes 2.19 Gloriosissima Ciuitas Aug. de Ciuit. Dei l. 1. c. 1. yea a great Citie and a place of great Trafique and Marchandize all the Citizens whereof hauing receiued from the Lord their number of talents are become Merchants Mat. 25.15 c. or traders in one kinde or other all vnweariable in their painfull indeauour and all ayming at one common end their returne and increase in their profit and their gaine Or if any be sloathfull hee hopes to purchase ease and that in his account is a sufficient gaine Now as it fareth in other Cities so it falles out in this that all proue not wise and faithfull factors vsing faire and honest dealing in their trading and contenting themselues with a good and lawfull aduantage but some are craftie and deceitfull Merchants who corrupt and adulterate their most precious wares and all to feed their couetous humour Such were the false Apostles mentioned in the former verses who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teach otherwise then they should Vers 3 4 5. who consenting not to wholsome words euen the words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according vnto godlinesse did set out religion vnto Sale and vsed false imposture for their priuate aduantage Supposing in opinion or avowing in practise that gaine was godlinesse While they measured Christianity by earthly commoditie and corrupted the truth of God and abused the precious name of Pietie onely to satisfie their greedy appetite as though the mysterie of godlinesse were a mysterie of iniquitie 1. Tim. 2.16 2. Thess 2.7 or a trade to serue to their sordide and filthy lucre And these are one sort of Merchants who trade in this Citie and these haue great doings and many partners who make their faire profession of pietie a sleight to further their earthly gaine yea and pretend religion the better to deceiue Of such false impostors the Lord himselfe complaines That their siluer is turned into drosse their wine is mingled with water Esa 1.22 of such our Apostle had experience that they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corrupt the word of God 2. Cor. 2.17 and concerning such he forewarnes Timotheus saying from such separate or withdraw thy selfe verse 5 There is another sort of Merchants that are wise and faithfull who hauing found the precious pearle of religion and pietie Mat. 13.45.46 preserue it entire and vncorrupt without all imposture or mixture of their owne And such a Merchant was holy Saint Paul 1. Cor. 15 10. 2. Cor. 11.23.25.26 that Great trader both by sea and land who accounted all things drosse and dung for Christ Iesus alone Phil. 3.7 8. the onely pearle of price and did impart it to others in all fidelitie That they might partake with him in this heauenly wealth while as of sinceritie as of God 2. Cor. 2.17 in the sight of God so hee did preach in Christ He accounted it great impietie to deale deceitfully and extreame folly to ayme at earthly commoditie and made this his rule of direction in all his trafique which was an vnmoueable conclusion of his most serious deliberation That Godlinesse with contentment is the great gaine The scope of the words The intent of Saint Paul that experienced Merchant that I may follow the allegorie is to perswade Timotheus a much intrusted factor and all others that trade in this kinde not to follow the guize of such deceitfull dealers as measured Christianity by outward gaine as though hee were the holier who is the wealthier and made their preaching and practise of the doctrine of pietie to become a base and sordide trade to compasse their earthly commoditie but to become partners with him in his approued course to embrace the Gospell in all integritie and to content themselues with their least increase in their outward condition so they were surely possessed of the rich pearle of pietie able of it selfe to cause a wel-contenting sufficiencie and therefore he backes this conclusion with all force of reason That Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Ver. 7 8 9.10 The contents of the words These words then containe in them a sound position of Saint Paul a true Apostle opposed to a fond supposition of the false Apostles Their fond supposition in effect was this Gaine is godlinesse Goods are goodnesse Where there is wealth enough there is religion enough For they preached and professed the religion of Christ onely to purchase the wealth of the world But Saint Pauls sound position most acutely opposed to their fond supposition is this Godlinesse is gaine True goodnesse is the true goods Where there is religiō enough there is wealth enough Yea godlinesse is great gain Naked piety is the wealthy commodity True grace is the richest treasure Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Godlinesse is attended with contentment True pietie brings true plenty and of it selfe will cause a wel-contenting sufficiency The summary conclusion of all is this It is most false which the false Apostles did so profanely and impiously
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
betrayed nor lost The same God that gaue them will still maintaine them and second his kindnes with a supply of newgrace This grace of God hath no end knowes no stint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chryst in Rom. 5 Temptation may obscure the outward glosse but cannot hurt the in ward substance Some leaues may fall and some fruit may fade but the feede and roote of grace shall still remaine Some showres and cloudes are heere below but aboue these mountaines there are no clouds in the highest heauens is no mutability But in that day shall the Lord of Hostes be for a crowne of glory and for a durable diademe of neuer-fading beauty vnto the residue of his people Esay 28.5 3 The worldlings gaine is for a short time The worldlings gaine though it were firme and certaine yet is it but for a time The longest terme is but the short life of man and what is the life of man short and vncertaine Iob. 14.1.2 breuis est vita ipsa breuitas semper incerta Aug. de verb. dom serm 10. As grasse in the field soone withering as a flower in the garden soone fading as a bubble on the water soone falling as an vnconstant shadow soone flitting as a drowsie mans dreame soone vanishing A gnat a flie ill smell moisture of dew infected blast or suspense of short breath dislodgeth the soule of body and dispossesseth both body and soule of the world and heere is farewell to all and thus all this gaine is gone Vnlesse he hope his name shall liue in the mouthes of commenders which gaine if but for worldly respects is a smoke of no weight in St. Augustines ballance or to purchase a tombe for his liuelesse carcasse which somtimes proclaimes to the world his not yet-dying ambition and whereon oft-times for his ill demeanure are instamped the characters of long-lasting disgrace Euseb de vita Constant lib 1. cap 3. Tacit. Annal. lib. 3. Alexander the great as likewise Caesar Germanicus liued but 32 yeeres his raigne was little more then one third of that In his short raigne hee was glorious for slaughter and crueltie and withall ignominious for reuelling and drunkennesse The glorious raigne of Cyrus ended in an ignominious death hee was conquered by a woman Euseb de vit Constant lib. 1. cap. 3. Thomyris Satia te saenguine quem sitisti cuiusque insatiabilis semper fuisti Iustin histor lib 1. and his head was cast into a vessell of blood with vile exprobration of his bloudy designes Yea and all godly Kings and religious Emperours must part with this part of their aduantage gaine and must trust to that more refined portion of their wealth The godly mans gaine is for euer Prou. 8.18 that proper gaine of godlinesse which is constant and durable not dying with the body or left below but liuing with the soule through indissoluble vnion and communion with God in Christ 1 Ioh. 2.17 Bona huius vitae sunt vanescendo transeuntia futurae sine fine mansura Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 20. cap. 3. the wel-spring of life to the soule while the body lies in the graue who shall raise the bodie to partake in glory When the world is passed and vanished away this gaine shall be constant for euer remaining That gaine is like a sudden showre which speedily falles and hastilie is gone this like a wel-spring or flowing fountaine euer streaming and streaming vnto all eternity * Facile contēnit omnia qui se semper cogitat esse moriturum Hieron op 2. lib. 2. He will easily contemne that earthly gaine who alwaies thinkes that once hee must needes die euer highly prize that heauenly wealth which shall make him euer blessed neuer forsake him For it were much to passe from small wealth to extreame penury from short honour to eternall disgrace and from momentany pleasure to euerlasting paine 4. The worldlings gaine is mixt and infected with losse The worldlings gaine is not sound and sincere but mingled and infected with some attendant losse heer 's no good entire without some losse no commoditie without some inconueniency Ipsemundi qualiscunque status plus anxietat is quam iucunditatis habet si qua tamen est praeterit iucunditas non reditura manet anxietas non relictura Bern. ep 113. The best prouided earthly estate hath more anxiety or vexation then sweetnesse and the sweetnesse if any passeth away not to returne the anxiety remaineth and will not goe away So that a worldling is most-what affected if not afflicted with vngratefull remembrance of some euill past or vnpleasant sense of some euill present or distractiue feare of euill to come And man is naturally affected more with euill then good with paine then pleasure A short sickenesse more affecteth then long health small paine swalloweth vp much pleasure a little disgrace defaceth much honour and a little losse of wealth sustained doth more disquiet then much wealth retained doth content Now no worldling so happy but feeles some calamity none gets such gaine but meetes with some losse and this losse doth make the gaine to seeme but small The godly mans gaine is sound and sincere But the gaine of godlinesse principally after this life when the chiefe returne thereof comes in is throughly sound and truly sincere without mixture of losse or concurrence of euill Apoc. 22.3.5 Ther 's no vngratefull remembrance of euill past but ioyfull triumph ouer euils escaped Ther 's no vnpleasant sense of euill present but sweete and sincere delight and pleasure Ther 's no distrustfull feare of euill to come but safe security and interrupted tranquillity 5. The worldlings gaine is imperfect and cannot content The greatest worldlings gaine suppose it greater then euer it can be onely good without positiue euill yet is is imperfect and cannot content the minde of man The desire of man doth farre exceede the modell and compasse of all inferior obiects they are all too scant and narrow to fill mans heart So that the worldling is vsually much disquieted with discontent at the imperfection of some good attained or with languishing hope of some good expected Hee often deuoures that in hope whereof he misseth or if his happe be so good as to hit on it yet is his ioy farre past before the thing bee had or if it be had with expected ioy yet is it enioyed with lesse then expected comfort while it melteth and dissolueth in the very taste Hence it comes to passe that a Godlesse man who hath gained the world but not godlinesse and therewithall godly contentment is like to a sicke man tumbling on his couch and finding all repose wearinesse tediously conuersing with things present and longingly desyring things to come Stilthe desire exceeds the fruition so the affectiō still wants contentation yea and though the present desire be granted yet is not the minde herewith satisfied for men vse highly to
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
ecclesiae magis quam in terris regnare Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 1. c. 26. then a Monarch in the world to be truly stiled constant Defender of one true faith then to be rightfull Ruler of three larg Kingdomes Let him make choice with King Dauid rather to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God Psal 84.10 then to rule raigne in the tabernacles of vngodlinesse Much more to bee keeper of both the Tables of Gods law a Prince and feeder of the people of God and by lawes and authoritie by learning and industry in heart by hand Pietas est verus Imperatoris ornatus Euagr. hist praefat 2d Theodosium iuniorem imperaetorem a resolute Patrone and bright shining patterne of this chiefe ornament of an Emperour religion and godlinesse Let the Queene his happy yoke-fellow ioyne heart and hand in this and become a blessed helpe to promote their mutuall blessednesse Let her make it appeare with the Queene of Sheba 1 King 10. that her chiefe end of comming from farre was to heare this true wisdome from the mouth of her Salomon Let her try him with questions and receiue his answers and account her selfe happy to be partner with him in this wisdome and prosperity of pietie and godlinesse Let the most hopefull Prince in the morning of his state lay the ground foundation of his princely greatnesse in the desired returne of these rich reuenues Let him esteeme this gaine of Godlinesse the chiefe part of his patrimonie and his hopes in heauen his happiest inheritance Let the Ho. Lords and Counsellors of state who aduise for the weale and wel-fare of this land consult for the enriching of this renowmed Kingdome with a blessed increase in this gaine of godlinesse Let the noble Lords and Peeres of the land innoble their bloud in the bloud of Christ enrich their estates with his treasures of grace and place their felicity in the fauour of God Let goodnesse be their greatnesse and religion their renowne and this gaine of godlinesse their desired Happinesse And you right Honourable the Lord Maior with other the Gouernours and all the inhabitants of this famous City giue me leaue to speake vnto you You trade by your callings you gaine by your trading and you rise by your gaine vnto honour and respect Gods blessing be vpon you in your outward estates and blesse your trafique with comfortable increase and giue you your hearts desire so your hearts be vpright But take heede to your selues I pray you that you goe not downe the winde Leaue of betimes I beseech you from the Lord those hurtfull courses incident to your places Mich. 6.10.11.12 of worthlesse profits too too much vsed by too many of your company Their corrupting of wares ingrossing of commodities inhaunsing of prices falshood and deceit in buying and selling weight measure and the like Lest you finde gaine in the chest but losse in the conscience increase of goods but decrease of goodnesse proue rich in the world Luk. 12.21 but not in God Oh purchase pietie gaine godlinesse grow rich in grace so shall your hearts and liues bee holy your estates wealthy and your persons happy in the day of your great accounts You reuerend Iudges and Ministers of iustice bee louers of iustice and not of reward Mich. 3.9.11 Suffer not your eyes to be blinded with bribes and your hearts to bee corrupted with gifts in your bosome to make you wrest iudgement Prou. 17.23 and peruert the right Oh iudge you right for the fatherlesse and widowes Esa 1.17 though your sentence and pleading should passe both without gift and gaine so shal you waxe rich in this gaine of godlinesse your cause shall goe well at the great assises and you shall escape the dreadfull sentence of the highest Iudge of all You Patrones and bestowers of the reuenewes of the Church consecirated to their vse who serue at Gods Altar no more enrich your selues with the price of blood while by bargaine and sale you passe them ouer Esa 56.10.11 into the hands of vnable and vnconscionable men Who through negligence in teaching or bad example of lewde life doe little lesse then murther the soules of the poore people of God Oh make wise choyce I beseech you of men of desert for learning and life fit to bee pastors of soules so shall you gaine comfort to your selues and good to Gods Church through increase of godlinesse and religion of Christ You Land-lords and letters of houses of tenements and grounds in no wise oppresse and grind the faces of the poore Esa 3.15 by racking and exacting aboue due measure or ouer-charging with burdens too heauy to bee borne Oh deale in loue deale in pittie with your poore Christian brethren that they may not as many distressed ones doe droope and languish with griefe and sorrow but may ioyne with you in cheerefulnesse in the seruice of God so shall you both grow rich in this gaine of godlinesse and find a better increase in this heauenly wealth Let the poore whose estate is weake in the world amend his condition by this gainefull purchase of grace into his heart that this spirituall wealth may supply his wants and the riches of Christ may releeue his misery Mat. 20. Let the poore labourer toile all the day of his painefull life that hee may receiue this peny at the night of his death Let no time seeme long no trauell tedious This peny will bring him true felicity and make vp his want of that golden drosse which worldlings so admire in this present life And whom should I further name Let byting vsurers become free lenders Let blood-sucking extortioners become ready restorers Luk. 19.8 Let poore-murthering oppressors become comfortable helpers Let pinching misers become bountifull benefactors And all of vs good to our brethren in conscience vnto God that all may attaine this gaine of godlinesse Let the high Lords Treasurers 1 Cor. 4.1 Mat. 13.52 the Seruants of Christ the learned scribes and faithfull stewards of God 1. Cor. 4.2 bring out of the Scriptures the Treasuries of the Lord 2. Cor. 4.7 the true treasure to enrich the soules of the people of God Though gold and siluer wee haue none yet such as wee haue let vs giue Act. 3.10 2. Cor. 6.10 so wee being poore shall make many rich and grow rich our selues by enriching our brethren While we are liberall to others God will be bountifull vnto vs and multiply our talents vnder our hands Lastly let all that professe the name of Christ ioyne stocke and become partners in this happy gaine or if the foolish and vnhappy world will needs graspe at the shadowes of transitory gaine and will needes grow wealthy by falshood and forgery bribery and extortion and all kinde of vniustice and vnderhand dealing Eating the bread of deceit taking the wages of iniquity and expecting rewards with vnhappy Felix Act. 24.26 Yet
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
is all and onely entailed to godlinesse The best title being lost in Adam restored by Christ for godlinesse hath the promises both of this life present and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. vngodlinesse the threats and curses of them both Yet if any be so retchlesly peeuish and peruerse that hee will still contend that the gaine of the world belongs aswell to the vngodly as godly as de facto so de iure To leaue the deciding of that controuersie as a fit Nisiprius for the great Iudge of all at the generall Assises be it granted vnto him that his claime is as good yet his gaine is still lesse then the godly mans is for howsoeuer the gaine of the world be granted to bee great yet the gaine of godlinesse is of all the greatest gaine And in this I am to spend the last part of my discourse 3. Godlinesse is the greatest gaine of all That the gaine of Godlinesse should be of all the greatest gaine it is holden a Paradox and a strange assertion among many in the world The godlesse worldling take him in his humour would be loath to be thought so foolish as to exchange his gaine with a godly mans His eyes are so blinded and his heart so possessed with the supposed worth and excellencie of this earthly gaine that hee hath neither eyes to see nor heart to esteeme the price of the heauenly Yea the euer-thirsting desire and restlesse endeauour after that gaine of the world and the carelesse neglect and retchlesse contempt of this of Godlinesse which is seene in the most doeth plainely demonstrate that of all the fewest doe account of godlinesse as of all the best and greatest gaine A comparison betweene the gaine of the world and the gaine of godlinesse Let vs now enter into a comparatiue discourse betweene that temporall gaine of the world which a godles worldling may haue in common with the godly and the spirituall gaine of godlinesse which a godly man doth alone possesse besides his part and portion in that other and it shall soone appeare I hope to our profit that the gaine of godlinesse is far the greater gaine 1 Generall and that in 1 Profits of the worldling 1. And worldlings gaine may be great in deede shall we to helpe him suppose him possessed of pleasant gardens fruitfull orchards fieldes and vineyards faire pallaces and large prouinces shall we suppose him enriched with wealth at will Eccle. 2. in store and aboundance of gold as siluer of siluer 2 Chron. 1.15 as stones of pearles as pibbles in the streetes yet were the gaine of godlinesse greater then this and a godly man farre richer then he Profites of the Godly man For Christ the Lord of all is his Lord-treasurer and the infinite fulnesse of his al-sufficient deity the store that 's laid vp in the godly mans treasurie some Iewels which Christ doth heere bestow are these Prou. 3. Wisdome which is better then fine gold more precious then the Rubies Iob. 28. faith which is precious loue of God hope of glory pietie righteousnes holinesse all heauenly vertues and diuine graces treasures inualuable of incomparable woorth And what were those worldly goodes in the iudgement of the wisest among the heathen surely but indifferent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peripatet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Platonic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zeno. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Eth. Neither good nor euill Or good not so much in their owne nature as in the iudgement of men Others accounted them vsefull to some good end Or let them bee good as indeed they are the good blessings of God yet are they good things but of the lowest rancke of good Bona minima Aug. retract l. 1. c. 9. The couetous worldling may esteeme wealth the most Honourable good And siluer to him may be blood and soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. and when he hath lost his goods hee may hange himselfe as hauing lost already his life layd vp in his goods Let all bee trifles compared with his gold Yea let him say to the wedge of gold thou art my hope Iob. 31.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand and esteeme siluer and gold his most profitable gods Yet what of all this is he therefore rich The godly hath wealth which is a God in deed for Christ is his gaine and God is his portion Phil. 1.2 â— 3 7. Ier. 10.16 It is not good simply to be wealthy but to be wealthy in good things especially in God who is goodnesse it selfe 2 Let the worldlings wealth bee graced with honour 2 The honour of the worldling backed with Empire and authority royall Let him sit on the Throne weare the crowne saay the scepter prescribe lawes command forbid reward punish Let him be able to helpe his friends to hurt his foes to aduance his fauorites to debase his opposites Let him be royally attended highly honoured lowly saluted as victorious wise prudent politique Let him be heartily loued and loyally embraced as the piller of the weale-publique father of his countrie patterne of antiquity Amor deliciae generis humani loue and darling of wholem man-kinde with Titus Vespasian Let him be esteemed the light of the eyes Bonus Deus Constantinum Imperatorem tantis terrenis impleuit muneribus quanta optare nullus aâ—deret Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 5. cap. 25. ioy of the heart breath of the nostrils of many millions of subiectes And to conclude Let him be so fully replenished with such earthly good things as no mortall man durst wish so great As Augustine speakes of Constantine the Great Yet if in all this prosperity hee be but a meere worldling the godly mans game is greater then this shall hee bee likewise inuested with his expected soueraignty The honour of the godly For hee shall be adorned with the glorious robes of the righteousnesse of Christ victoriously triumph ouer the world flesh sinne and satan prescribe lawes to inordinate affections be ctowned a King in heauen Apoc. 1.6 attended of the Angels honoured of all creatures liue in neerest communion with God himselfe enioy his glorious presence Luk. 12.32 Mat. 25.34 and partake with him in an eternall Kingdome 3. Pleasures of the worlding 3 Lastly let the worldlings wealth be not onely adorned with honour but sweetened with pleasures Let him enioy the sweete comforts of health of body tranquillity of mind faithfull faire and fruitfull wife towardly and obedient sonnes and daughters trusty seruants good neighbours kinde acquaintance able and stable friends Let him enioy dainty meates sweete-sounding musicke Eccle. 2.10 and all the delights of the sonnes of men Pleasures of the godly Yet is the godly mans estate far better then this for hee doth most comfortably enioy the sweetest delights and comforts of the soule due submission of body to soule of