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
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
his resolutiō but godly contentmēt whereby he rested wel-pleased in his sound Religion and estate now enioyed in this seruice of God And what was the benefit he thence expected but this great gaine of Godlines euen fruitiō of blessednes in communion with the true God This is that oyle the oyle of Grace which those wise virgins prouided in the vessels of their hearts Math. 25. v. 4. and did furnish their Lamps of their profession therewithall This cheered their hearts with sweet contentment in their tedious expectation of the tarying bridegrome and readily guided them to the wedding chamber where they did enioy this great gaine of godlinesse the joyfull companie of their blessed bridegrome in eternall societie of felicitie and glory Our profession is the same with theirs our practise also should be the like Let vs therefore hold fast our profession Hebr. 4.14 that outward professiō of our hope Hebr. 10.23 without wauering but not a seeming semblance without the truth substance in the heart Hebr. 13.9 It is good that the heart which is naked to God bee established with grace and that the life also which is open to men be holie and vnblameable as becommeth Saints That the glorious excellencie of grace in the heart Psal 45.7 being adorned with the vestures of golden profession and practise of life the kings daughter may be a fit spouse for her bridegrome God cannot approue of the truthlesse shew of godlinesse in our life when the heart is not inwardly sound and sincere Neither can we gaine ought by seeming rich in grace when we are Apoc. 3.17 indeede both poore and miserable But if we shall sincerely endeauour that God may haue the possession of our gracious hearts Prou. 23.26 and men the benefite of our religious liues then shall God haue glory from vs we comfort from God and glory with him And all this shall by Gods grace be powerfully effected shall we finde and feele in heart and life the truth and efficacie of this short sentēce Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Of which words I spake as it pleased God to direct and inable me in that solemne assemblie whether I was by authoritie called to this seruice of God and his Church and where I endeauoured to become helpfull to my present Auditors in their spirituall good estate by labouring to perswade them vnder the Title of Godly Merchants to make sure purchase to themselues of this great gaine of godlinesse which as it is most comfortably attended of sweete contentment so it will aboundantly enrich the possessor thereof with all sufficiencie of most precious treasures What I then deliuered by speach I am now induced at the earnest intreatie of sundry religious and wel affected to commit by writing to the publike view The ground of their request as they well assured me and of my assent thereunto as the Lord doeth witnesse with me is desire and hope of further benefite thereby through Gods blessing to redound to Gods people If God in mercy graunt this successe vnto it I shall much ioy in fruition of my desire and end of my labour I haue withall inserted some things which I had prouided to speake but did purposely omit for want of time As for the allegations of some Authors now in the margent as I did not iudge it fit then to trouble the hearers with them so may the readers at their pleasure passe by them Let my earnest request to the christian Reader be this that he will kindly accept fauourably interpret diligently peruse religiously vse this little helpe a poore mite cast into the Treasury of the Church to the furthering of his purchase of Godlinesse and nourishing of Contentment within his heart And now Right honourable I am bould to commend to the vse of the godly Reader these first fruits of my labours vnder the Patronage of your Loe worthy name Humbly beseeching your Honour to accept of them as a small testimonie of that great thankfulnes which from my heart I desire to returne first to God the gracious Author and then to your Honour as the ready instrument of a good blessing bestowed vpon me It pleased your Hon. long since to conceiue well of me and to reteine a purpose to do me good vpon sit occasion offred by most kind letters to testifie your pleasure yea and earnest desire to become my Patrone and therein the happie meanes of my free and comfortable entrance into my Charge and Ministerie For which sweete blessing of God my soule doeth daily blesse God and it may well be vnto me a good encouragement vnto constant endeauour in that holie businesse and waightie imployment for the glory of God the edification of his people the comfort of my owne soule and the better encouragemēt of your Honour in the constant prosecution of your religious and carefull course of vpright discharge of that great trust of a faithfull Dore-keeper in the house of God that as much as in you lyeth Gods Church may be prouided of a supplie of learned and godly Pastors who by sound doctrine and holie life may promote the glory of God in the saluation of many soules while they enrich them with this great gaine of godlinesse by faithfull dispensation of the treasures of Christ The holie companie of these Godly Merchants whereof this present Sermon doeth intreate doeth greatly reioyce to reckon your Honour among the chiefe of their Societie And it doeth hartily prayse God for his goodnesse to you in your large portion of temporall blessings as of wisedome honour authoritie and good estate but especially in Gods rich bountie to you in his spirituall talents of sauing knowledge in the mysterie of godlinesse faith in Gods promises zeale for Gods glory loue to Gods Saints Christian humilitie and studious indeauour to benefit the Church of God with other precious graces of Gods sanctifying spirit those most durable riches and inualuable treasures of the best returne of Godlinesse And this ioy of this happie Companie shall be much enlarged to obserue your wise employment of these goodly gifts of your person and estate for your more happie growth in your heauenly wealth for the greater increase of the sweete Contentment of your heart for the farther adorning of your holy profession and the aduantage of your Lord and Maister and aduancement of his glory in the propagation of his trueth vnto still succeeding times and persons And all this shall be happily effected as by constant prosecution of all other your godly courses wherein the Lord expecteth your daily progresse so in maintaining still your deserued Honour of an vncorrupt Patrone and crowning your good proceedings with constant perseuerance That while too many enrich themselues with the price of blood your Honour may still remaine in the blessed number of such truely Honoured Patrones as through faithfull discharge of that weightie trust purchase true wealth and enriching treasures in furthering the gaine of soules
to a godly man to make vp his bulwarke of godly contentment Vnlesse it bee the consideration of his portion Which yet is not wanting vnto him because God hath in part already bestowed it on him And what is this portion Surely such as may well vphold and support his soule with godly contentment Hee is already possessed df some part of godlinesse it selfe which of it selfe is a goodly portion as beeing a rich treasure of all precious pearles of grace and goodnesse Yea Psal 119 57. Psal 16.5 6 Thou art my portion O Lord saith holy Dauid The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot The lines are fallen vnto mee in pleasant places I haue a goodly heritage My flesh and my heart faileth Psal 73.26 but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer The Lord is my portion Lam. 3.24 saith the soule of mourneful Ieremie Ier. 10.16 51.19 in his dolefull lamentations The Lord of hostes is the portion of Iacob and Israel is the rodde of his inheritance If the Lord himselfe bee Aarons portion and his inheritance Num. 18.20 why should not Aaron content himselfe though hee haue no other inheritance among the people And if the Lord bee the portion of Iacob of Israel of euery godly man Gal. 6.16 who is of the Israel of God why should hee not rest well contented although hee want an inheritance in the things of this world Oh happy man that in that his want enioyeth more then the world can either performe or promise Vse The meditation of a godly mans portion The serious view of this goodly portion of a godly man may afford vnto him this holy meditation God himselfe is my portion if I bee godly and God al-sufficient in himselfe is al-sufficient vnto mee Psal 100.3 Hos 2.20 Ioh. 3.16 God gaue mee to my selfe God gaue himselfe to me God the Father gaue his Sonne to mee God the Sonne gaue himselfe to mee God the Holy ghost gaue his seale Ephes 1.11 to assure this gift vnto me and shall I not be content God the Father hath sent the spirit of his Sonne into my heart Gal. 4.6 to make mee call God my Father and Christ my Redeemer and shall I not bee content That which I was Quod homo est esse Christus voluit vt homo possit esse quod Christus est Cypr. de idol vanitate Christ would bee that I might bee that which Christ is The Sonne of God by grace as hee by nature and fellow-heire with him of all things in glory and shall I not bee content What shall I say more God the Sonne receiued all things from the Father for mee that in him and through him and with him I might receiue all things from the Father 1. Cor. 3.21.22 And why should I not content my selfe with him without whom all things are as nothing and with whom no-can bee in stead of all things Surely the man that is indeed godly is infinitly aboue all measure wealthy and therefore I will be content Tell mee now beloued in the Lord can that true godly soule shrink downe through discontentment that is so strongly propt with these so many pillars or can it euer languish and waxe faint while it doth seriously recount and call to minde Gods powerfull prouidence disposing all things for him Gods prudent loue intending all good vnto him Gods gracious promise assuring him of his loue and his plentifull portion as a pawne of Gods gracious promise While hee hath receiued godlinesse as a treasure of goodnesse and holinesse as a pledge of his happinesse and some measure of grace as a forerunner of vnmeasurable glory The raine of afflictions may fall indeed Mat. 7.25 floods of persecution may come the windes of temptations may blow and beate vpon the house of a godly mans contentment and shake and batter it but it shall not fall for it is builded on the foundations of God Euen vpon the rocke Christ Iesus and chiefe corner stone 1. Pet. 2.6 vers 5. vpon whom all godly men as liuing stones are built and whereupon also they build and found their impregnable fortresse of godly contentment On these grounds and foundations doth a godly man when hee is himselfe build a sanctuary to his soule of godly contentment wherein hee doth shelter and solace himselfe in all the changes of this present mortality in this manner The vse of the foure grounds of contentment If God in goodnesse giue aboundantly hee is ioyfull and receiues it thankefully if a competency hee is cheerefull and enioyes it comfortably if but a little he is quieted and accepts it willingly if not any thing at all yet hee is patient and waiteth hopefully For hee wisely considereth that God giues aboundantly that man might bee an instrument of Gods bounty God giues moderately that hee might not bee cumbred with superfluity God giues sparingly that hee might aske both these and better things more earnestlie Yea God somtimes with-holds these outward things and sendeth crosses in stead of them for tryall of some grace exercise of some vertue preuention of some daunger cure of some disease To weane him from the world to direct him toward heauen to draw him to himselfe or some way or other for Gods glory others example and his owne true good He knowes that Gods prouidence disposeth of all Gods loue to him is firme in all Rom. 8.23 Gods promise is passed that all shall turne to his good and his present portion is not only good but a pawne of a greater If more were now behoouefull hee should not want it and seeing more is not giuen he feeles no want without it But finds a supply in his store-house of godlinesse which is euer attended of wel-pleasing Contentment What now is there in al the world that can threaten and cause discontentment vnto a godly man Surely many things threaten it 4. Causes of discontentment as namely these foure First conscience and remembrance of euill committed Secondly strength and violence of temptation enforced Thirdly sense or feare of euill suffered Fourthly want and defect of good desired And these indeed are of great force to worke or threaten discontentment For where guilt of sinne is not remooued where assaults and temptations are not repelled where the bitternesse of crosses is not sweetened and where desire of good is not competently supplied peace and contentment cannot lodge in the heart of any mortall man Here is a large field opened but I may not walke therein at length In one word therefore God be thanked These causes remoued 1. Christ hath suffered and the guilt of sinne is remoued 2. Christ hath conquered and temptation shall bee vanquished 3. The comforter is sent and crosses are sweetned 4. Heauen is prepared and all wants shall bee supplied vnto a godly man and therefore a godly man
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
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
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