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
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
both their owne and others The Lord for his mercie adde to this number of vncorrupt Patrones make a daily supply of godly and learned Pastors blesse and multiply the companie of sincere professors these Godly Merchants and glorifie his great name in propagation of his Trueth and enlarging of his kingdome The Lord doe good in his good pleasure to this our Zion Psal 51.18 The Lord build the walles of this our Ierusalem Psal 122.7 Peace be within her walles Psal 122.7 and prosperitie within her pallaces Psal 128.5 Let all that feare the Lord see the good of our Ierusalem all the dayes of their life Nehe. 13.14 And the Lord in goodnes remember you herein and wipe not out your kindnesse which you haue shewed vnto the House of your God and for the Offices thereof The Lord grant vnto your Honour long and comfortable life make you thrice happie and honourable in your person and posteritie and giue you a blessed increase in this great gaine of Godlinesse that you may assuredly finde much prosperitie in this life of Grace and fruition of felicitie in that kingdome of glorie Your Honours in all humble dutie in Christ euer bounden William Pemberton THE GODLY Merchant or the great gaine 1. TIM 6.6 But godlinesse with contentment is great gaine RIght Honourable and beloued in the Lord Gal. 4.26 The celestiall Ierusalem which is aboue the Mother of vs all is the chiefe Citie of the liuing God our heauenly Father wherein all our elder brethren and fellow-seruants after faithfull imployment of their spirituall talents Mat. 25.16 17 hauing giuen vp to God a good account doe rest from their labours and their workes follow them Ibid. vers 21.23 for they are entred already into the ioy of their Lord and enioy their desired felicity in fruition of God The Church of Christ on Earth is likewise a City of God Ephes 2.19 Gloriosissima Ciuitas Aug. de Ciuit. Dei l. 1. c. 1. yea a great Citie and a place of great Trafique and Marchandize all the Citizens whereof hauing receiued from the Lord their number of talents are become Merchants Mat. 25.15 c. or traders in one kinde or other all vnweariable in their painfull indeauour and all ayming at one common end their returne and increase in their profit and their gaine Or if any be sloathfull hee hopes to purchase ease and that in his account is a sufficient gaine Now as it fareth in other Cities so it falles out in this that all proue not wise and faithfull factors vsing faire and honest dealing in their trading and contenting themselues with a good and lawfull aduantage but some are craftie and deceitfull Merchants who corrupt and adulterate their most precious wares and all to feed their couetous humour Such were the false Apostles mentioned in the former verses who did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teach otherwise then they should Vers 3 4 5. who consenting not to wholsome words euen the words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according vnto godlinesse did set out religion vnto Sale and vsed false imposture for their priuate aduantage Supposing in opinion or avowing in practise that gaine was godlinesse While they measured Christianity by earthly commoditie and corrupted the truth of God and abused the precious name of Pietie onely to satisfie their greedy appetite as though the mysterie of godlinesse were a mysterie of iniquitie 1. Tim. 2.16 2. Thess 2.7 or a trade to serue to their sordide and filthy lucre And these are one sort of Merchants who trade in this Citie and these haue great doings and many partners who make their faire profession of pietie a sleight to further their earthly gaine yea and pretend religion the better to deceiue Of such false impostors the Lord himselfe complaines That their siluer is turned into drosse their wine is mingled with water Esa 1.22 of such our Apostle had experience that they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corrupt the word of God 2. Cor. 2.17 and concerning such he forewarnes Timotheus saying from such separate or withdraw thy selfe verse 5 There is another sort of Merchants that are wise and faithfull who hauing found the precious pearle of religion and pietie Mat. 13.45.46 preserue it entire and vncorrupt without all imposture or mixture of their owne And such a Merchant was holy Saint Paul 1. Cor. 15 10. 2. Cor. 11.23.25.26 that Great trader both by sea and land who accounted all things drosse and dung for Christ Iesus alone Phil. 3.7 8. the onely pearle of price and did impart it to others in all fidelitie That they might partake with him in this heauenly wealth while as of sinceritie as of God 2. Cor. 2.17 in the sight of God so hee did preach in Christ He accounted it great impietie to deale deceitfully and extreame folly to ayme at earthly commoditie and made this his rule of direction in all his trafique which was an vnmoueable conclusion of his most serious deliberation That Godlinesse with contentment is the great gaine The scope of the words The intent of Saint Paul that experienced Merchant that I may follow the allegorie is to perswade Timotheus a much intrusted factor and all others that trade in this kinde not to follow the guize of such deceitfull dealers as measured Christianity by outward gaine as though hee were the holier who is the wealthier and made their preaching and practise of the doctrine of pietie to become a base and sordide trade to compasse their earthly commoditie but to become partners with him in his approued course to embrace the Gospell in all integritie and to content themselues with their least increase in their outward condition so they were surely possessed of the rich pearle of pietie able of it selfe to cause a wel-contenting sufficiencie and therefore he backes this conclusion with all force of reason That Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Ver. 7 8 9.10 The contents of the words These words then containe in them a sound position of Saint Paul a true Apostle opposed to a fond supposition of the false Apostles Their fond supposition in effect was this Gaine is godlinesse Goods are goodnesse Where there is wealth enough there is religion enough For they preached and professed the religion of Christ onely to purchase the wealth of the world But Saint Pauls sound position most acutely opposed to their fond supposition is this Godlinesse is gaine True goodnesse is the true goods Where there is religiō enough there is wealth enough Yea godlinesse is great gain Naked piety is the wealthy commodity True grace is the richest treasure Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Godlinesse is attended with contentment True pietie brings true plenty and of it selfe will cause a wel-contenting sufficiency The summary conclusion of all is this It is most false which the false Apostles did so profanely and impiously
of 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
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