By this manner of reasoning, a man might conclude, the coursest cloth that is to be fine; because, if you compare it with a Rug, it makes a fair show; will not comparisons make those things that are naughty in themselves seem good? Let that alone be held for good, that is good in it self, whose goodness is to be found in the nature of the thing, not in the respective reference only to that which is worse then naught. In a ⟨p. 217⟩word, what so bad in a kind that might not be justified, if it were lawful thus to trifle• might not some naughty and sinful men that live in the breach of some of Gods great commandments, hope for heaven, if a comparative righteousness would be accepted▪ for are there not numbers, though vile in their courses and abhorred of God and good men, yet if you compare them, you shall find whole swarms of such as do exceed them? Secondly, learn further the absurdity of this reasoning, and that by another similitude taken from the clean contrary practise of men in earthly things: if a man have some competency of wealth, he for the further enlarging of it looks not back, how many there be poorer then himself, so he might think himself a rich man; but his eye is always looking how many richer there are then himself? why should we not do so in spiritual things▪ not to look how many have les•e then we, to consider rather how many go before us, exceed us in the graces needful to a better life: Shall it be no root of contentment for wealth, that we are richer then many million in the world? and yet in matters of salvation, any thing shall serve the turn, to satisfy our hearts, that we are in better case then great troops who shall never see God in the life to come. In the running of a race, a man may leave many behind him, yet lose the goal, so in the seeking of the Crown of life, we may out-strip a number, and yet miss of the salvation of our souls: we must therefore be careful so to run, that we may obtain.
By this manner of reasoning, a man might conclude, the coursest cloth that is to be fine; because, if you compare it with a Rug, it makes a faire shew; will not comparisons make those things that are naughty in themselves seeme good? Let that alone be held for good, that is good in it selfe, whose goodnesse is to be found in the nature of the thing, not in the respective reference onely to that which is worse then naught. In a ⟨p. 217⟩word, what so bad in a kinde that might not bee justified, if it were lawfull thus to trifle• might not some naughty and sinfull men that live in the breach of some of Gods great commandements, hope for heaven, if a comparative righteousnesse would be accepted▪ for are there not numbers, though vile in their courses and abhorred of God and good men, yet if you compare them, you shall finde whole swarmes of such as doe exceed them? Secondly, learne further the absurdity of this reasoning, and that by another similitude taken from the cleane contrary practise of men in earthly things: if a man have some competency of wealth, he for the further enlarging of it lookes not backe, how many there be poorer then himselfe, so hee might thinke himselfe a rich man; but his eye is alwaies looking how many richer there are then himselfe? why should wee not doe so in spirituall things▪ not to looke how many have les•e then we, to consider rather how many goe before us, exceed us in the graces needfull to a better life: Shall it be no root of contentment for wealth, that we are richer then many million in the world? and yet in matters of salvation, any thing shall serve the turne, to satisfie our hearts, that we are in better case then great troops who shall never see God in the life to come. In the running of a race, a man may leave many behinde him, yet lose the goale, so in the seeking of the Crowne of life, wee may out-strip a number, and yet misse of the salvation of our soules: we must therefore be carefull so to runne, that we may obtaine.
