earthly things 1. It teacheth to moderate the desire of earthly things to accustome himselfe to liue of a little and to bee content and as for superfluities not to affect it in heaping together these earthly things as vnworthy for themselues to bee desired or loued the inordinate desire whereof either depriueth of possession of them or dispossesseth of contentment in them So that hee that desireth them more then hee should doth either loose them sooner then he would or not finde that contentment in them which hee expecteth while he makes a God of them and God an Idol and more then this godlinesse teacheth moderation in care for them which followes vpon and draweth after it desire of them by calling to minde those heauenly exhortations In nothing bee careful Phil. 4.6 cast all your care on God 1. Pet. 5.7 for hee careth for all and cast thy burden vpon the Lord he shall nourish thee Psal 55.22 Delight thy selfe in the Lord Psal 37.4 5. and hee shall giue thee thine hearts desire c. And applying to the heart such experiments of Gods gracious supply of great necessities of his Church in the wildernesse Exod. 16. and 17. 1. King 17. Psal 147.9 Luk. 12.24 Elijah in the dearth and drought c. That God that feedes the very Rauens can cause the Rauens to feed the godly 2. Godlinesse prouides for satisfaction of the desires by directing them to things aboue 2. Derect on of the desire to heauenly things Col. 3.2 3. Phil 3.7 8. laied vp in Christ Iesus the godly mans gaine and sufficiently able to giue contentment He is aboundantly rich Affatim Diues est qui cum Christo pauperest Hieron Ep ad Hâ—liodord e vita solitaria that is poore with Christ a replenished treasury of grace and glory beyond whom a godly mans desire can neuer extend or enlarge it selfe but must needs contentendly rest in him as in the vttermost period of all desired and al-sufficient good Now Vse to draw to an end of this branch of my discourse which intreateth of Contentment the attendant of godlinesse If this bee true indeed as it is most true that godlinesse is attended of true contentment Why so many men liue discontent what then is the cause of so many mens mislike of their owne estates of such priuate murmurs such publike clamors and common complaints which fill the eares both of God and men especially of those who haue sufficient to doe iustice to others and to pay their debts to refresh themselues and to maintaine their families to fit them for Gods seruice in their lawfull callings Discontentment groweth through want of godlinesse and how Surely the want of contentment argueth the want of godlinesse and men therefore complaine of their owne estate as vnpleasing and comfortlesse because they haue not obtained the true-contenting gaine of piety and godlinesse 1. Some through vngodlinesse haue plunged themselues into comfortlesse and heart-breaking miseries and for want of godlinesse can finde no meanes of remedie and reliefe 2. Others haue great wealth but little contentment because they haue much goods but little goodnesse great returne of earthly riches but little increase of heauenly graces great store of pelfe but little piety For certaine it is that according to the measure of godlinesse is the measure of godly contentment Little godlinesse little contentment no godlinesse no true contentment great godlinesse great contentment Many complaine as well when they haue as when they want because they want it while they haue it as wanting godlinesse which teacheth 1. How to esteeme it 2. How to enioy it 3. How to bestow it Yea the more they haue the lesse they are satisfied because the further they are from godlinesse the further from contentment They greedily gape for more gaine without because they want due measure of godlinesse within For were they wel-stored of godlinesse inwardly they would not feele such want of riches outwardly Why some men liue contented In the heart of euery godly man which is Deo plenum filled with the grace of God there is little roome left for these fraile and earthly things but it is contented with a smaller portion of them The godly man can find content in pouerty the vngodly finds discontent in pleÌ„ty The godly man finds content in disgrace The vngodly discontent in honour The godly content in paine the vngodly discontent in pleasure And to omit the vngodly man who neuer enioyes any true any sound any durable contentment the godly man findes plenty in pouertie honour in disgrace pleasure in paine health in sicknesse solace in sadnesse life in death and hope of future felicitie in sense of present miserie Godlinesse made Saint Paul and Silas in prison in the inner prison in the stockes Act. 16.24 25 to sing for ioy while the vngodly Iewes were at liberty either sleeping or sorrowing or senselesse of their present sinne and future miserie And the vnconuerted Iaylor was ready for feare of their escape to make away himselfe Obiections answered 2 Cor. 6.9.10 And suppose a godly man bee in sorrow yet is he sorrowfull as alway reioycing as chastened yet not killed as dying yet behold he liueth as hauing nothing yet possesseth all things 2 Cor. 4.8 Bee hee troubled on euery side yet is he not distressed perplexed yet not in despaire persesecuted yet not forsaken cast downe yet not destroyed dying for Iesus yet receiuing life from Iesus And though hee fall yet the Lord shall raise him vp Though he sit in darkenesse Mic. 7.7 yet the Lord shall bee a light vnto him Weeping may endure for a night Psal 30.5 but ioy commeth in the morning And the more his former affliction increased the more his after-ioy aboundeth Godlinesse can mitigate and asswage the grieuousnesse of present afflictions and make patient of change from better to worse in the fluent vncertainty of this outward estate and the power of godlinesse is a soueraigne cordiall to cheere vp the spirits and to make able to counteruaile all assailing dangers and sinister or crosse euents So that it is the priuiledge of a truely godly and sound hearted Christian to reioyce in tribulation Rom. 5.3 Rom. 8.31.32 c. 1 Cor. 15.55.56.57 and to triumph ouer death and spirituall enemies so that he alone hath sufficient cause to liue comfortably and to applaud himselfe in his happie condition when all the world doth threaten or is threatned miserie Godly contentment giueth good direction in the life of man Worthy were it to consider for the commendation of godlinesse but too long to relate for want of time how safely and comfortably This godly contentment will cause men to walk in the golden mean between those two fowle extremes of carelesse neglect of that which they ought to take and greedy grasping after that which they ought not to desire 1. A godly man dare neither liue out of a
excellent creatures in comparison of whose brightnesse the very sunne is darke in comparison of whose puritie the very heauens are polluted Iob. 15.15 for resplendencie of whose glory the very Angels couer their faces Esa 6.2 before whose dreadfull presēce the earth melteth Psalme 97.5 Esa 51.6 the heauens flie away the deuils tremble and all creatures stand astonished and amazed Iam. 2.19 Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-seeing eye Prou. 15.4 Hebr. 4.13 al-knowing wisdome al-beholding presence whereby God pondereth the pathes obserues the gestures heareth the wordes Ier. 17.10 searcheth the hearts tryeth the reines Prou. 15.11 Iob. 26.6 and pryeth into the bottome of hell and destruction it selfe Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge of Gods al-ruling prouidēce Mat. 10.30 al-commanding power soueraigne authority and vnlimited Lordship Whereby God can and will ouer-awe and order all creatures and actions conditions and estates and curbe and keepe vnder al proude resisters and rebellious opposers can bruise them in peeces with his iron rod Psal 2.9 and consume them to nothing with the breath of his nostrilles Yea command and worke the weale or woe life or death felicity or misery of all manner his creatures Godlinesse springeth from the knowledge and acknowledgement of Gods exact iustice and impartiall equitie whereby the Lord Rom. 2.11 not accepting persons nor taking rewards doth distribute and diuide to euery one his deserued right in good or euill rewards or punishments for obedience or breach of his holy diuine and soueraigne reuealed good will and pleasure And all these considerations doe strongly vrge and powerfully enforce vnto piety or godlinesse But that godlinesse may indeed bee wrought and grow and flourish in the heart of a Christian and that hee may draw neere to God and not be deterred from God hee must aboue al find and feele the quickening iuice of Gods eternall loue issuing out of the roote of the true vine Christ Iesus through conueiance and sweete influence of the spirit of God which arising into the heart of a true Christian will both mollifie heate and effectually affect the heart and most kindly cause therein true godlinesse and religious respect of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. And thus this true godlinesse wrought in the heart being an habite of good things as Nazianzene speakes doth take the possession and gouernment of euery part of the soule doth their reside and rule and causeth an exercise of goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and exerts and shewes it selfe in certaine actions and workes called the exercises of godlinesse or religious deuotion both inward in the heart The large extent of godlinesse and outward in the life which expresse the nature and power of pietie Of which kinde are these Effectuall faith diligent loue patient hope reuerend feare pure conscience sound repentance assured confidence all holy affections diuine meditations godly resolutions earnest petitions deuout gestures vnstained profession religious speach vnblameable conuersation At these actions of pietie doth our holy Apostle ayme when he aduiseth Timotheus to exercise himselfe vnto godlinesse 1. Tim. 4.7 When hee exhorts that prayers and supplications be made for all men 1. Tim. 2.1.2 for Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may leade a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Lastly at this doth the Apostle Saint Peter leuel vpon serious meditation of the finall dissolution of the world 2. Pet. 3.10 11 12 13 14. Seeing the day of the Lord shall come as a thiefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe away with a great noyse and the elements shall melt with feruent heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp seeing then that all these things shall be dissolued what manner of persons ought yee to be in all holy conuersation and godlinesse or duties of godlinesse being diligent in exercise of the offices of piety that yee may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse And this I take to be the sum and substantiall nature of this godlinesse which our holy Apostle commends vnto vs as the great gaine to which if we shall adde one seasoning grace it will abide the touch and bee approued of God Sincerity a seasoning grace This seasoning grace is sound sincerity of the soule and inner man freed and purged from dissembling and hollow-hearted hypocrisie so that it may abide the through tryall of Gods discerning view And so much the name godlinesse doth seeme to import as taken from God so that in my apprehension the godlinesse of a Christian is such inward disposition of heart as consorts with the nature and will of God such outward conuersation of life as beseemes the presence of God Without this soundnesse and perfection of the inwards and the heart our pretended godlinesse is little better then profanenesse Mat. 23. and our seeming pietie detestable hypocrisie Luk. 16.15 But shall this sound integrity and true candor bee dispersed as blood through euery veine of the whole body of true piety and as seasoning salt bee sprinkled on euery action and worke thereof Marke 9.50 this godlinesse shall be accepted for true and good the heart shall be sound and actions approued and then may this precious pearle of piety be commended of God and esteemed of vs as our greatest gaine and truest treasure This beloued in the Lord euen this is the comely feature of godlinesse the subiect of our gaine a thing of great worth and excellency euery way which yet notwithstanding is so smally respected yea so greatly contemned as is lamentable to behold of the most and greatest part of this foolish world Oh that our blind eyes were able to behold it Oh that our peruerse hearts were able to esteeme it Surely surely it would command both eye hand and heart and all to seeke it to embrace it to yeeld all kind and louing entertainment vnto it I will not now speake but pray That the God of all grace would graunt vnto you all this marrow of all grace true godlinesse and piety to guide both heart and life Thus much I thought good to premise concerning godlinesse alone which is presupposed as the matter and subiect of our gaine now I proceed to the attendant of godlinesse which is Contentment for godlinesse is not alone but attended of contentment Godlinesse with Contentment is our great gaine The 2. generall point of godly contentment The attendant of godlinesse is contentment a most worthy waytingmaide of so honourable a Mistresse True Godlinesse is as it were a royall Queene full of Maiesty and beauty striking admiration and reuerence into the hearts of all earnest beholders and Contentment as a young Lady and Princesse a pure and spotlesse Virgin of seemely feature and wel-pleasing demeanure euer attending godlinesse as her Lady and Mistresse Both for progenie of the blood
a little as not to thirst not to starue Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cibus potus sunt diuitiae Christianorum Hieron Bp. and grace ought to content it selfe with lesse In this case meate and drinke are the riches of Christians yea bread and water with the Gospell are good cheere More ought not to discontent if God giue more Lesse if God giue not so much Any thing is more then any man can chalenge The smalest good is aboue mans greatest desert all is of mercy nothing of merite Whatsoeuer God measures out vnto vs that ought to giue contentment to vs. And a godly man may wel content himselfe in all estates and if in any hee finde himselfe not well it is not because he might not therein be well but because hee doth not in such holy manner demeane himselfe Why a godly man is sometime not content as godlinesse would direct for so out of question hee should bee well True indeed it is that contentment which attendeth godlinesse in this life is not such a settled composednesse of minde and quiet tranquillity of all the affections as neuer meeteth with any turbulency of passion or is neuer interrupted nor assayled of discontment For as godlinesse in this life is not perfected so is the minde of a godly man not fully contented But through inward distemper and outward occurrence is sometimes shaken with vnsetlednesse and discontent The sea is not so calme in Summer but is sometimes troubled with some boysterous winde no not the stable mountaine so firme but may bee moued with some fearefull earth-quake So is it with the minde of a godly man it is sometimes moued sometimes tossed with windes and terrours Yet so well is it ordinarily composed through habituall resolution of dependance on God and equability of affection in all estates that it 's neither oftē disturbed nor long disquieted but after some lesser or shorter distemper it doth quietly compose and settle it selfe againe and through the power of godlinesse doth recouer it selfe and enioy againe this sweete Contentment Happy happy yea thrice happy is that soule that is so quietly setled and so well composed that it is not much shaken and tossed with discontent and so happy may euery one of our soules become shall we seriously consider How to come to godly contentment how wee may become so happy Which if any desire indeed to know let him lend his eare yea his heart a little and cast his eye of faith vpon the doctrine of godlinesse and hee shall therein behold such strong foundations of true contentment layde as that the gates of hell may well assaile but shall not preuaile against it 4. Grounds of godly contentment The foundation of godly contentment hath these foure degrees 1. Gods powerfull prouidence 2. Gods prudent loue 3. Gods gracious promise 4. The present portion which God bestoweth vpon a godly man The first ground of godly contentment is Gods powerfull prouidence 1. Gods powerfull prouidence whereby hee wisely ordereth and sweetly disposeth all actions and euents conditions and estates The Lord killeth and maketh aliue 1. Sam. 2.6 he bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 7. The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich 8. he bringeth low and exalteth he rayseth vp the poore out of the dust and listeth vp the begger from the dunghill to set them amongst Princes and to make them inherite the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lords and hee hath set the world vpon them The Lord Psal 147. v. 4. vers 8. the Lord guides and numbers the starres in heauen hangs the clouds in the firmament Mat. 6.26.28 feeds the fowles of the ayre clothes the flowers of the field takes care for the oxen in the stall multiplies the fishes in the sea numbers the sands by the shoare preserues the haire on the head and the drowing of a swine Mat. 8.31 32. Mat. 10.29 30. the falling of a sparrow the perishing of an haire doth not escape the powerfull prouidence of our most gracious God Act. 17.28 Yea and our God in whom we mooue liue are is able for bread to giue manna from heauen Exod. 16.14 15. Exod. 16.13 Exod. 17.6 ver 78. Exod. 13 21. Deut 29.5 for flesh to send quailes from the sea for drinke to giue water out of the flinty rocke for shelter a cloude For direction a pillar of fire for want of new apparel can preserue the old Ios 3.15 16 Exod. 14.21 22. for a passage can diuide Iorden and make a drie lane with watry walles through the deepe channel of the red sea Out of bondage can giue deliuerance out of sicknesse health out of death life out of sinne good and out of miserie can draw felicity Numb 11.23 Esa 50.2 His hand is not shortened that hee cannot now helpe hee is now God al-sufficient as well as euer he was And what cannot our God doe for vs God is able saith our holy Apostle to make all grace to abound toward you 2. Cor. 9. ◠that yee alwaies hauing all sufficiency in all things may abound to euery good worke Euery word hath it waight Our God al-sufficient hath al-sufficiency for vs all alwaies in all things to cause all grace to abound to vs and to cause vs to abound to euery good worke Oh the powerfull prouidence of our gracious God Oh the vnmoueable foundation of godly contentment What feare of want or woe can discontent vs seeing our God hath al-sufficient for vs our God hath sufficient wisdome for our instruction sufficient power for our preseruation sufficient grace for our infirmities sufficient plenty to supply our penurie sufficient mercy for all our miseries sufficient comfort for all our maladies sufficient honour to wipe away our infamy sufficient life to ouercome our death and sufficient glory to perfect our felicity Thus is our God able to make all grace to abound toward vs that wee alwaies hauing al-sufficiencie in all things may abound to euery good worke On this foundation may a godly man beginne to build his house of godly contentment thus Vse The meditation of Gods povverfull prouidence Doth any euill or crosse befall mee It comes not from the haplesse stroke of blinde Fortune but from the al-ruling hand of an al-seeing God Did the spitefull tongue of my enenemy defame me Or his powerfull hand oppresse and iniure mee Or did any other creature bring any euill vpon me Whatsoeuer was the meanes or how ill soeuer affected to mee Gods ouer-ruling prouidence hath some hand therein Not indeed himselfe vniustly striking or instilling malice into the striker or exciting him to sinne or excusing him in sinne yet guiding the blow and directing it to me as an actor in not an idle spectator of the action yet no author or approuer but iudge and reuenger of the euill of the action Ier. 25 12.14 Threatning punishing the instrument
of the euill and correcting euill in mee by the good euent of this euill accident intended for euill by euill man against mee but turned to good by Gods goodnesse vnto mee Well whatsoeuer it is Gods will appointed it Gods prouidence ordereth it his power ouer-ruleth it his hand limiteth it and when he sees fit hee can as easily remooue it as permit it and turne this great euil to my greater good and therefore I will be content The second ground of godly contentment is Gods prudent loue 2. Gods prudent loue Gods powerfull prouidence able to worke our wel-fare is seconded with his prudent loue which makes him willing Such is Gods loue vnto a godly man that he cannot but wish well to him and doe well for him Your heauenly Father saith our blessed Sauiour Mat. 26.32 our elder brother knoweth that you haue neede of these things God is your Father if you be godly yea your heauenly Father and beares vnto you the affection of a Father and cannot but loue you as being your Father and that prudently as your heauenly Father Mat. 7.11 And if you beeing euill know how to giue good things vnto your children how much more shall your Father which is in heauen giue good things to you that aske him God your Father is heauenly wise and knowes better then you what is best for you The God of heauen is your good and louing Father and will not for his loue suffer you to want what might doe you good And therefore not to rest content with that which your Father giues you were either to make your selues wiser then hee as if you knew better then hee what is best for you or more louing to your selues then your heauenly Father is to you in wishing more good to befall you then your heauenly Father is in loue willing to bestow vpon you If you doubt of God your Fathers prudence it is because you are not wise if of his loue to you it is because you loue not him For God is not ineprudent in any of all his actions nor wanting in loue to any of all his creatures nor in any degree of loue to those that loue him well And if God so cloathe the grasse of the field Mat. 6.30 shall hee not much more cloathe you Oh yee of little fayth to your Father if you beleeue not this word and promise of your Father Oh yee of little loue to your Father if you bee not so well perswaded of your Father that hee loues you well Vse The meditation of Gods prudent loue And this is the second foundation of godly contentment whereupon a godly man not doubting of the prudent loue of God his heauenly Father vnto him must needes in prudence content himselfe with that portion which God his Father hath carued out vnto him 3. Gods gracious promise The third foundation of Godly contentment wherein Gods prudent loue most brightly shineth is Gods gracious promise passed to a godly mā And what is this gracious promise Hee hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Ios 1.5 Hebr. 13.5 therefore let your conuersation bee without vngodly couetousnesse and bee content with such things as yee haue Question But what if I haue not but want shall I then be content Answ Feare not want but feare the Lord Psal 34.9 for there is no want to them that feare him Obie Yes some that feare the Lord doe sometime want as Elijah Lazarus Paul 1. King 17. Luk. 16. 2 Cor. 1.8 Hebr. 10. Psal 34.10 Psal 84.11 and many godly Christians Sol. The young Lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Euery thing good in it selfe is not good for thee If good for thee it shall not bee wanting vnto thee Surely the Lord will not faile his people Psal 94.14 Phil. 4.19 Thy God will supply all thy necessities Thou shalt sometimes want indeede as those godly ones did because it is good for thee sometimes to want But thou shalt want nothing that is good for thee to haue vnlesse thou be wanting to thy selfe And therefore thou shalt not sometimes want afflictions because it is not good for thee Psal 119.71 Lam. 3.27 sometimes to want them but good to haue them And when they are vpon thee thou shalt not want due comfort in them for God hath said I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Ios 1.5 Hebr. 13.5 Esa 43.2 I will bee with thee in the fire and in the water The Lord will not forsake for euer but though hee cause griefe Lament 3.31 32. yet will hee haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies 2. Cor. 12.9 His grace is sufficient for thee Hee will lay no more vpon thee then he will make thee able to beare 1. Cor. 10.13 Vse The meditation of Gods gracious promise On this foundation may a godly man thus frame his sanctuary of godly comtentment God will lay no more vpon mee then hee will make mee able to beare c. Either my crosse shall bee moderated or my ability to beare increased Either my burden shall be made lighter or my faith stronger as God doth presse me downe with one hand so will he raise mee vp with the other God can drawe mee to himselfe with the cordes of loue vnder the roddes of men And if my crosses shall proue great Gods loue therein shall proue as great In greatest crosses God vseth to wrappe vp the greatest mercies and turnes the deadly poyson of afflictions into wholesome and soueraigne medicines That which in my apprehension may seeme the greatest euill Gods gracious dispensation shall turne to greatest good All things shall worke together for the good of the Godly that loue God Rom. 8.28 greatest euils to greatest good The heauiest crosse shall finde the happiest issue 1. Cor. 10.13 Death it selfe shall proue a rich reuenue Phil. 1.21 bringing the happy returne of an eternall life Oh how sweete a song of triumph may a godly man sing in the greatest threats or assaults of his most dreadfull foes A godly mans song of triumph Whence my enemies intend mee greatest daunger thence shall I purchase greatest honour My enemies may behead me but cannot hurt me Slay mee but cannot conquer mee Rom. 8. v. 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we more then conquer My enemies may take away my life but not my hope My head but not my crowne Whether I bee wounded or slaine I shall not loose the victory if I die in the battaile I shall triumph after the fight and if I fight till death 2. Tim. 4.8 I shall receiue a crowne of life Act. 14.22 I may goe and if God see fit I must goe yea I shall goe by the crosse to a crowne and through cruel martyredome vnto a glorious Kingdome 4. A godly mans present portion What yet is wanting
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
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