Now worldly men put their trust in their riches, set their heart upon them, make them their strong city, and1 therefore no marvel if they be their Idol too. What is the reason why oftentimes we may observe rich and ⟨p. 21⟩mighty men in the world to be more impatient of the2 Word of God, more bitter scorners of the power of religion, more fearfully given over to the pursuit of fleshly lusts and secular purposes, to vanity, vain-glory, ambition, revenge, fierce, implacable, bloody passions, brazen and boasting abominations, then other men, but because they have some secret opinion that there is not so great a distance between God and them, as between God and other men; but because the abundance of3 worldly things hath brawned their heart, and fatted their conscience, and thickened their eyes against any fear, or faith, or notice at all of that supreme dominion and impartial revenge which the most powerful and just God doth bear over all sinners, and against all sin? What is the reason why many ordinary men drudge and moil all the year long, think every hour in the Church so much time lost from their life, are not able to forbear their covetous practises on Gods own Day, count any time of their life, any work of their hand, any sheaf of their corn, any penny of their purse thrown quite away, even as so much blood poured out of their veins, which is bestowed on the worship of God, and on the service of the Altar; but because men think that there is indeed more life in their money, and the fruits of their ground, then in their God or the promises of his Gospel? Else how could it possibly be, if men did not in their hearts make God a liar, as the Apostle speaks,4 That the Lord should profess so plainly, from this day upward, since a stone hath been laid of my house, since5 you have put your selves to any charges for my worship, I will surely bless you, and again, Bring all my tithes into my house, and prove me if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour a blessing upon you that there shall 6not be room enough to hold it: and again, He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he 7hath given, will he pay him again: and again, If thou ⟨p. 22⟩wilt hearken unto me, and observe to do all these things, 8then all these blessings shall come on thee and over-take thee, blessings in the city and in the field, &c.
Now worldly men put their trust in their riches, set their heart upon them, make them their strong citty, and1 therefore no marvell if they be their Idoll too. What is the reason why oftentimes wee may obserue rich and ⟨p. 21⟩mighty men in the world to bee more impatient of the2 Word of God, more bitter scorners of the power of religion, more fearefully given over to the pursuite of fleshly lusts and secular purposes, to vanity, vaine-glory, ambition, revenge, fierce, implacable, bloudy passions, brasen and boasting abominations, then other men, but because they have some secret opinion that there is not so great a distance betweene God and them, as betweene God and other men; but because the abundance of3 worldly things hath brawned their heart, and fatted their conscience, and thickned their eyes against any feare, or faith, or notice at all of that supreme dominion and impartiall revenge which the most powerfull and just God doth beare over all sinners, and against all sinne? What is the reason why many ordinary men drudge and moile all the yeere long, thinke every houre in the Church so much time lost from their life, are not able to forbeare their covetous practises on Gods owne Day, count any time of their life, any worke of their hand, any sheaffe of their corne, any penny of their purse throwne quite away, even as so much bloud powr'd out of their veines, which is bestow'd on the worship of God, and on the service of the Altar; but because men thinke that there is indeed more life in their monie, and the fruits of their ground, then in their God or the promises of his Gospell? Else how could it possibly be, if men did not in their hearts make God a lier, as the Apostle speakes,4 That the Lord should professe so plainely, from this day upward, since a stone hath beene layed of my house, since5 you have put your selves to any charges for my worship, I will surely blesse you, and againe, Bring all my tithes into my house, and prove me if I will not open the windowes of heaven, and powre a blessing upon you that there shall 6not be roome enough to hold it: and againe, He that hath pitty on the poore lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he
- 1Psal. 49 6. Psal 62. 10. Prov. 10. 15.
- 2Jer. 43. 2. Obad. ver. 3.Ier. 43. 2. Obad. ver. 3.
- 3Psal. 17. 10. Psal. 10. 4, 5. Job 20. 7. 15.Psal. 17. 10. Psal. 10. 4, 5. Iob 20. 7. 15.
- 41. Joh. 5. 10.1. Ioh. 5. 10.
- 5Hag. 2. 15. 19.
- 6Mal. 3. 10.
- 7Prov. 19. 17.
- 8Deut. 28. 2. 14.
