The Breastplate of Faith and Love

And so for Balaam; when the case comes, that either he must curse the people, or else forsake the wages of unrighteousness, surely he will have respect to the wages of unrighteousness: that is, though Balaam made a fair show, he would do any thing rather then to go against Gods Commandments, and yet he had an eye to the other all the while, and GOD saw that he secretly looked to himself. So that, it may be, thou makest profession, thou makest a fair show, thou wilt do much. Remember this, it may be, it is but a high ⟨p. 161⟩flying: The Eagle, though she fly high, yet she hath an eye to the prey below all the while: So many men, although they do much, yet they have a secret eye to the prey; that is, they want faith, and therefore they regard these things too much. And when the time comes, that they must stoop to it, the time of trial, when a man wants faith to magnify other things, he overvalueth those things, having nothing better to trust unto. In such a case, Judas his 30. pence was a great matter: Gehezi's change of raiment, and Achans wedge of Gold. I need name no more examples. But take a man that hath faith, and this is no difficulty to him, he will not only let go that wealth which he hath inordinately gotten, as Zacheus, but he will suffer the spoiling of his goods with joy, because he believes God, that he hath in heaven a more enduring substance. There is no Christian, no good man, but he would be content to gain as well as thou; what is the reason he takes it not? He believes that by forsaking that, he shall have a more enduring substance in Heaven. There is no man would forsake any thing but for the better, and that is the reason we believe, and thou dost not.

And so for Balaam; when the case comes, that eyther he must curse the people, or else forsake the wages of vnrighteousnesse, surely he wil haue respect to the wages of vnrighteousnesse: that is, though Balaam made a faire shew, he would doe any thing rather then to goe against Gods Commandements, and yet he had an eye to the other all the while, and GOD saw that he secretly looked to himselfe. So that, it may be, thou makest profession, thou makest a faire shew, thou wilt do much. Remember this, it may be, it is but a high ⟨p. 161⟩flying: The Eagle, though she flye high, yet she hath an eye to the prey below all the while: So many men, although they doe much, yet they haue a secret eye to the prey; that is, they want faith, and therefore they regard these things too much. And when the time comes, that they must stoope to it, the time of tryall, when a man wants faith to magnifie other things, he ouervalueth those things, hauing nothing better to trust vnto. In such a case, Iudas his 30. pence was a great matter: Gehezi's change of rayment, and Achans wedge of Gold. I neede name no more examples. But take a man that hath faith, and this is no difficulty to him, hee will not only let goe that wealth which he hath inordinately gotten, as Zacheus, but he will suffer the spoiling of his goods with joy, because he beleeues God, that hee hath in heauen a more induring substance. There is no Christian, no good man, but he would be content to gaine as well as thou; what is the reason hee takes it not? He beleues that by forsaking that, he shall haue a more enduring substance in Heauen. There is no man would forsake any thing but for the better, and that is the reason wee beleeue, and thou dost not.