the uncertainty of them The Affirmative 1. To trust in God with a double Reason of that His life he is the living God His bounty he gives gives richly gives all things and with the things gives an heart to enjoy them 2. To imitate God in this Divine Work of Bounty and Liberality expressed First By the matter of it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} To do good Secondly By the manner of doing it viz. 1. To do it copiously to be rich in good works {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2. To do it chearfully readily easily with an aptitude and propension thereunto {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 3. To do it diffusively extensively unto Community or to do it modestly humanely lovingly gently without morosity or exprobration to be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as Lucians expression is That others may be partakers of our good things with us And this Duty is pressed by a very elegant reason in a way of {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and as a prolepsis or prevention of what might be objected If I be so diffusive and communicative to others I shall leave nothing for my self or those of mine own houshold this the Apostle preventeth telling us First That thus to lay out is to lay up and that as in a treasure {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} It is like scattering of Seed in order to an increase and harvest Secondly That thus to lay out upon others is to lay up for themselves {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Thirdly That hereby the uncertainty and instability of Riches is corrected and fixed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} turned into {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Fourthly Whereas worldly riches are onely {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for the present time they will not descend after a man when he dies being put into good works they are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} returnable into another Country a Mans works will follow him he shall finde them again after many days And whereas they being of a muddy and slimy original are slippery and cannot be held either we shall go from them or they from us they have Wings and will flie away that which is thus laid up by them may be held {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that they may lay hold Fifthly Whereas a Mans riches cannot lengthen his life one night beyond the period which God hath fixed Being thus laid out and laid up to comfort the lives of others they are graciously by God rewarded with eternal life An house thus founded shall continue for ever 1. Timothies duty Charge those that are rich He doth not say flatter them nor please them nor humor them nor fawn upon them or crouch to them nay he doth not say what sometimes he useth to do himself Beseech them intreat them perswade them but he giveth Timothy the same power towards them as he used towards him Vers. 13. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} As 1 Tim. 4. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} These things command and teach It is true The Ministers of Christ are the servants of his Church The Levites and Priests were so They served the Lord and his people Israel 2 Chron. 35. 3. The Apostles themselves were so Our selves your servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4. 5. Yea the Lord of all whom the Angels worship took upon him the form of a servant Phil. 2. 7. Came not to be ministred * unto but to minister Matth. 20. 28. And he who was the Apostle the High Priest {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the great the cheif Shepherd is pleased to be called by one of the lowest appellations {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a Deacon a Minister of the Circumcision Rom. 13. 8. Servants then we are and accordingly must in humility in meekness in condescension stoop to men of the lowest degree the very Angels of Heaven do so they are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ministring spirits Heb. 1. 14. But you must consider we are Servants to your Sculs not to your Wills much less to your Lusts So Servants to you as that we must give accompt of our service to a greater Lord who gives us Authority and Power as well as Ministery and Service Tit. 2. 15. And therefore in the delivery of his Message we may not so be the Servants of Men as to captivate the truth of God and make his Spirit bend and comply with their Lusts I Cor. 7. 23. Gal. 1. 10. There is a Majesty and Power in the Word of Christ when set on with his Spirit who spake {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as one having Authority Matth. 7. 29. and regarded not the persons of men which no power wealth or greatness can be a fortification against It is as a Two-edged sword sharp in the hearts of Christs enemies able to break Rocks to tear Cedars to pull down strong holds to smite the heart to stop the mouth to humble an Ahab to shake a Felix to aw an Herod It is the arm of the Lord which can sling a stone into the Conscience of the stoutest sinner and make it sink like Goliah to the ground It can so shake a man with conviction of guilt and prepossession of wrath that he shall go in Sackcloth and Ashes weeping and mourning roaring and rending of himself till his Soul draw nigh to the grave and his life to the destroyers And there is an Authority in the Office which dispenceth this power of God being the Ambassadors of Christ there is a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a liberty and boldness belonging to our charge so that albeit we must manage the same decently and prudently with due respect to mens stations and degrees shewing all meekness to all men yet we must do it first Impartially without respect of persons secondly Zealously against the daring presumptions of the greatest sinners Say to the King and to the Queen Humble your selves Jere. 13. 18. I have made thee a defenced City and an Iron Pillar and Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah against the Princes thereof against the Priests thereof and against the people of the Land Jere. 1. 18. A Minister of Christ though he must be meek and lowly gentle and patient of a Dovelike Innocency and of a winning compliance yet he must not be a low-spirited man to fear the faces or the frowns of men he must magnifie his Office as Paul did and dare to be as bold for Christ as the proudest sinners can be against him The File is as impartial to Silver and Gold as it is to Brass and Iron The Honey though it be sweet yet it cleanseth Oyl though soft and smooth yet fetcheth out the poyson which lies in the stomach Ministers
vain your Hope delusion and all your Expectation but as a Spiders Web Sixthly Let me press upon London the example of London an easie Argument One would think to desire you to be like your selves I might make a large recital of great and publick Works of Piety done by this famous City I might mention multitudes of ample Munificencies and Benefactions by very many worthy Members thereof since the Reformation whereby they have refuted the calumnies cast upon our Religion by Papists as if it made us careless of Good works A large Catalogue hath been made of them to mine hand by a Learned Writer Dr. Andrew Willet to the honor of God and credit of our Religion I shall content my self to give you a report of the general sum which upon computation he telleth us doth amount in the space of Sixty years unto above Six hundred thousand pounds So that by an equal distribution through the whole time this famous City did allow Ten thousand pounds per annum for Threescore years together unto Works of Piety and Charity besides all which was done in a private and unobserved way An example I believe hardly to be parallel'd in any City under the Roman Jurisdiction More then Forty Hospitals built above Twenty Free Schools besides Granaries Conduits Water-works Loans to poor Workmen Exhibitions to poor Scholers Churches Munificent gifts to the Universities and Colledges there so that I may say unto you as Paul to the Thessalonians touching Brotherly love You need not that I speak unto you for you have been taught of God onely I beseech you That you abound more and more 1 Thes. 4. 9 10. That you may receive the same honorable Testimony and Memorial from Christ which the Church of Thyatira hath received I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works they are twice mentioned and the last to be more then the first Revel. 2. 19. Be not weary of weldoing in due time you shall reap if you faint not Gal. 6. 9. Lose not the things which ye have wrought but that ye receive a full reward 2 John v. 8. And this leads me to the last consideration viz. Seventhly The Reward which is set before you It is a sowing of Seed 2 Cor. 9. 6. A scattering which tendeth to increase Prov. 11. 24. There is no duty which hath more copious promises of reward then this of mercy and good works Rewarded with plenty Thy Soul shall be as a watered Garden I sai 58. 11. For this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works Deut. 15. 10. Rewarded with honor He hath dispersed and given to the poor his horn shall be exalted with honor Psal. 112. 9. Rewarded with the blessings of the poor The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me Job 29. 11 13. Rewarded with the grace of God God is able to make all grace abound towards you 2 Cor. 9. 8. Rewarded with a pure and comfortable use of what we enjoy our selves Give alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you Luke 11. 41. Rewarded with a lengthning of our present tranquillity Dan. 4. 27. Rewarded with Gods acceptation Heb. 13. 16. with the mercy of God Matth. 5. 7. with the mansions of God Luke 16. 9. Good works are Bills of Exchange which return our estates into another Country This laying out is laying up Mercatura est amittere ut Lucreris It is like putting a Basin of Water into a Pump which draws out a great Vessel full It is a Sacrifice and Sacrifices were offered for the benefit not for the damage of the offerers A man scatters his Seed in the Furrow but he lays up his Crop in the Barn it is a scattering which ends in a laying up The Backs of the poor the Bellies of the hungry are the Bank of Heaven And it is a laying up for our selves Men lay up usually for others their Children their Heirs and Executors meet with it at the last but works of mercy are all expended upon a mans self he hath the comfort here and the reward hereafter It is money lent to God and he will repay it to our selves In Law he which sows must roap and so says the Apostle He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Quas dederis solas semper habebisopes And it is laying up a Foundation a way to make our uncertain riches a sure and stable that whereas other riches take unto them wings and flie away those which are thus laid out are laid up as safe as unmoveable as the Stones of a Foundation as the bottom of a Rock A Foundation not by way of merit towards God but by way of evidence in regard of our selves as Testimonies of our reconciliation and peace with God A Learned Writer b makes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to answer to the Hebrew {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which is the Bond or Instrument securing to a Creditor the money which he hath lent {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is Bona nomina facere God becomes surety for the poor to repay us there where neither rust nor moth nor theif can enter And it is a Foundation {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for the time to come for the life to come when none of our glory will follow us Wealth hath wings it is here to day it is gone to morrow but goodes are a Bank in Heaven when all other mens wealth doth stay behinde them and betake themselves to other Masters A good Mans being turned into good works doth follow him and enrich him in a life to come And this life to come a life which may be held a life which can never be lost when the last general conflagration shall have consumed and melted all the Treasures of the World our good works will abide that trial the inheritance unto which they follow us is incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for us And now Right Honorable and Beloved to give you all in one view You have heard the Charge of the God of Heaven to the Rich men of the Earth It is my Petition it is his Command I beseech you he injoyns you Not to be high minded not to let that which comes from the deep places of the Earth exalt you and make you forget that you are Earth not to let the thick Clay make the thin Dust proud It cannot adde a cubit to your stature let it not adde so great a sin to your Souls It is gift it is not property Gods not yours you are the fiduciaries the depositaries onely why should you glory as if you had not received it Let me adde this one word more Let not your riches make you low-minded neither to glew your hearts to bend your affections to things below Let them make you heavenly-minded and then they will make
you humbly-minded the more of Heaven in any minde the more of Humility Not to trust in riches not to let his gifts be used to his own degrading Who would trust in an unstable thing which he cannot keep Riches are uncertain in a false thing which he cannot credit Riches are deceitful in a nothing which is not He that trusts in riches makes them an Idol and an Idol is nothing in this world Who would trust in a Dead Idol that hath a Living God to trust in who would trust in an useless nothing who hath a Bountiful God who gives all things to trust in You have another charge To do good to be rich in good works to do them chearfully to do them diffusively And though God might stop at the charge his soveraignty and dominion would bear him out to command you onely yet being full of love and mercy he is pleased to encourage as well as command you He encourageth you antecedenter by that which goes before your duty his own example he encourageth you consequenter by that which follows after your duty his great reward his example you have he gives you do but lend he gives you do but render back to him of his own He gives to you all things the Earth empties into your Coffers her Silver and her Gold the Pastures send you in Cattel the Fields Corn the Sea Fish the Air Fowl one Country sends you in Wine and another Spices one Silks and another Furrs one Delicates another Ornaments He gives you the light of the Sun the influences of the Stars the protection of Angels the Righteousness of his Son the Graces of his Spirit the Hope of his Glory He gives you Himself and his own Alsufficiency for your portion And now if Heaven and Earth be all if Grace and Glory be all if God and Christ be all he hath given you all things richly to enjoy for many of these gifts bring their joy and fruition with them So the Example far exceeds the Imitation you lend you do not give you lend some thing you do not give all things you lend to the necessities of your Brother you do not give to his delights and replenishment you cloath him you do not adorn him you feed him you do not fill much less pamper him This is one encouragement A great Example You have another encouragement A full Reward good measure shaken together pressed down running over into your bosoms You give money God gives life you things uncertain which you could not keep but by giving God gives a Foundation Mansions a City which hath Foundations The sure mercies of David You lay out to your Brother God lays up for you you give perishing things to your Brother God an abiding an abounding life to you you a Cottage or a Coat to your Brother God a Kingdom and a Crown to you you such things to your Brother which neither you nor he can keep God such things to you which when once laid hold on you cannot lose So this double encouragement sets on the duty by a threefold love If you love God imitate his example be merciful as he is merciful If you love your Brother refresh his Bowels make his Back and Belly your repositories He can repay you with Prayers and Prayers are as good as Gold If you love your selves do what the most covetous man would do lay up lay up for your selves not onely for your heirs your children it may be for strangers for enemies Lay up surely that which you may lay hold on that which will stay by you a Foundation Lay up for the future that which Time which Death which Rust Moth Theif cannot take away for life which is more worth then wealth for eternal life which is more durable then wealth If you do not thus by your wealth lay up a Foundation unto Eternal life your thick Clay will load you with many sorrows and drown you in destruction and perdition You have your wealth for this end you have your life and salvation with this homage and quit-rent upon it If you do not give you shall not live if you do not do good you shall not receive good if you do not lay out you shall not lay up Here is your option keep your money and perish with it return it unto Heaven and be gainers by it If you love God or your Neighbor or your selves or your very riches themselves do good be rich in good works you do not onely comfort your Brother but you keep your God you save your selves you lengthen your lives you preserve your estates unto all eternity FINIS a Aquin. part 1. qu. 1. art 4. Scholastici in Prolog. Sentent b John 17. 3. Ephes. 4. 13. c Marth. 7. 21. Jam. 1. 22. John 13. 17. d Tit. 1. 1. Eph. 4. 20 21. e Ezek. 1. 8 13 16 18. f Aug. de Civ. Dei l. 19. c. 25. De Nupt. Concupisc l. 1. c. 3. Contr. 2. ep. Pelag. l. 3. cap. 5. Contr. Julian Pelag. lib. 4. cap. 3. g Aug. Tom. 4. lib. de Fide oper. cap. 14. ad Simplician quaest. 2. h Aug. de Trin. l. 15. c. 18. Qualis est illa confessio quae sic Deo credit ut pro nihilo ejus ducat imperium aut quomodo ex animo ac verè dicimus Domine Domine si ejus quem Dominum confitemur praecepta contemnimus Inter Christianum Gentilem non fides tantùm debet fed etiam vita distinguere Hier. Epist. ad Gelantiam de ratione Piè vivendi i Heb. 12. 14. 10. 36. Vide Davenant de Justitia Actuali cap. 30. 31. Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thes. 1. â—3 1 Tim. 1. 5. Tit. 3. 8. Matth. 24. 6 12. Prov. 3. 9. Isai. 23. 18. * Cuncta malefacta sibi impunè ratus Tacit. Annal. 1. 12. Per omnem saevitiam libidinem jus Regium servili ingenio exercuit Hist. lib. 5. Sueton in Claudio cap. 28. Prov. 11. 24. Psal. 49. 17. Revel. 14. 13. Eccles. 11. 1. Prov. 23. 5. Luke 12. 20. * Servili pretio venditus Matth. 26 15. Exod 21. 32. Zach. 11. 12 13. Cod. lib. 7. Tit. 7. Vide Casaub. exercit in Baron Anno. 34. numb. 15. Servili supplicio affectus Lips de Cruce lib. 1. c. 12. Heb. 4. 12. Psal. 45. 5. Isai 49. 2. Psal. 29. 4 5. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. 1 King 21. 27. Acts 24. 25. Mark 6. 20. Isai. 53. 1. 2. Cor. 5. 20. Acts 2. 29. 4. 13. Eph. 6. 19. Tit. 2. 15. Vide Aug. epist 54. Rom. 11. 13. Luke 1. 17. Jere. 15. 19. 1 Thes. 2. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 9. Mic. 2. 7. August de Catechisandis Rudibus cap. 15. Vossii Hist. Pelag. lib. 5. Thes. 2. * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. Clem. Alex. Strom. 1. 3. p. 327. E. 328 A. Edit. Heinsianae Volens arguere Divitem illum Dominus noster quasi non vera dicentem Dixit ad eum Si vis perfectus esse vade vende omnia quae possides da pauperibus Sic enim apparebis dicere verum si dilexsti aut diligis proximum tuum sicut teipsum Orig. Tract. 8. in Matth. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Theoph. Hunc ex lege insolentem solicitum de salute remittit ad legem ut inea ipsa in qua gloriaretur intelligeret nihil exinde recti operis fecisse c. Hilar. in Matth. Can. 19. Vide Otat. Basilii in ditescentes Tom. 1. p. 403 407. Puto quod arrogantius quà m verius servasse se mandata responderat Aug. Ep. 89. Adolescens dives superbus mentitur dicendo Omina haec servavi Hieron. Vide Mede Diatrib 4. pag. 142 143. Davenant de Justit Actuali cap. 44. Martial lib. 4. ep. 13. Baron An. 58. Sect. 56. Xenophon Cyropaed 1. 8. Vide Greg. Tholof de Rep. 1. 3. c. 9. * Vide Budaeum de Asse 1. 2. fol. 50. lib. 3. fol. 83. 1. 4. fol. 98 99 100. Lipsi de Magnitud Rom. 1. 2. c. 15. Brierwood de Nummis cap. 19. Athenaeus l. 12. Psal. 49. 17. Eccles. 5. 16. Job 1. 21. 1 Tim. 6. 7. Eccles. 1. 4. Job 7. 10. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ninus apud Athenaeum lib. 12. cap. 7. Psal. 17. 14. 73. 7. Job 21. 13. Isai 5. 8. Hab. 2. 5 6. Eccles. 9. 1. Eccles. 9. 4. John 6. 27. Jam. 5. 3. Jere. 13. 18. Dan. 2. 21. 7. 9. Isai 2. 13 16. Zech. 11. 2. Isai. 45. 3. Obad v. 6. Psal. 112. 6 7. Prov. 18. 10. Isai. 26. 3 4. Prov. 14. 34. Athenaeus l. 12. c. ult. Aquin 1a 2ae qu. 40. art 1. Vide Gatak Cinnum lib. 1. c. 8. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Eurip. Electra Josh. 7. 21. 2 Kings 5. 23. 1 King 21. 15. Jere. 22. 14. Psal. 35. 9. Luke 12. 15. Match 4. 4. Dan. 1. 15. Psal. 78. 27 31. Psal. 115. 16. Hag. 2. 8. Deut. 8. 16. Prov. 10. 22. Eccles. 9. 11. 1 Cor. 4. 7. 1 Chro. 29. 14. Ezra 2. 69. Acts 11. 29. Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thes. 1. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 5 7. Jam. 2. 2 14 18 21 25. Jude v. 3. 12 20. â— John 3. 17 18 23. Psal. 37. 3. Job 31. 16 23. Synopfis Papismi Edit. 5. P. 1223-1232 a Si amicus tuus intraret in domum tuam inveniret te in loco humido frumenta posuisse daret tibi hujusmodi consilium dicens Frater perdis quod cum magno labore Collegisti in loco humido posuisti paucis diebus ista putrescent Et quid facio frater Leva in Superiora Audiâ—es amicum suggerentem ut frumenta Levares de inferioribus ad superiora non audis Christum monentem ut thesaurum tuum Leves de terra ad Caelum Aug. in Psal. 148. b Sam. Petiti Var. Lect. l. 1. c. 11. Prov. 23. 5. 1 Cor. 8. 4.