1Again: let us despise no man for his poverty: for Christ was poor to make us rich: and as those that despised Christ, and esteemed him not, but hid their faces from him, because he grew up as a root out of a dry ground, because there was no beauty in him, that is, because of his poverty, because he was a Carpenters son, they despised by this means the Lord of Glory: so those that despised his poor members afterward that wandered up and down in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute and afflicted, 2they despised Gods jewels, his choice favourites, of whom the world was not worthy. Let not the brother of low degree be cast down, because he is poor; nor let not the brother of high degree be lifted up, because he is rich: for if riches had been the best thing, Christ would have been outwardly rich: but Christ was poor, to show us what are the best riches, and that the riches of this World are but things by the by, Seek the kingdom of God, and all other things shall be cast on you, by way of addition and supplement. The true riches of a Christian are spiritual; Christ did not become poor to make us rich in this world, to make us Kings ⟨p. 35⟩and Emperors,3 and Great Men here, but to make us rich spiritually, and to have such a moiety of earthly things, as may serve as a Viaticum to bring us to Heaven: the main riches of a Christian are spiritual and eternal in grace and glory. In popery, they live as if Christ came to make them Lords of the World; to usurp jurisdiction over Kings and Princes: Christ came to make us rich in another manner. S. Peter saith, Silver and gold have I none, but his successors cannot say so. Christ came not as a servant to make us Lords here: much less to set us at liberty to live after the flesh,4 and to do what we list. No, the end of Christs coming was to take away sin, to destroy the works of the Devil. The common course at this time, and devilish practise of many, overturns the end of Christs coming, as if he came not to destroy, but to let loose the works of the Devil▪ to let us loose to all licentiousness; he came to b•ing us to God, and not to give us liberty in courses to run further from God. But that by the way. Christ (as I said) cam• not to make •s rich in the things of this life: for do but consider a little of outward riches, what be they?
1Againe: let us despise no man for his poverty: for Christ was poore to make us rich: and as those that despised Christ, and esteemed him not, but hid their faces from him, because he grew up as a root out of a dry ground, because there was no beauty in him, that is, because of his poverty, because he was a Carpenters sonne, they despised by this means the Lord of Glory: so those that despised his poore members afterward that wandred up and downe in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute and afflicted, 2they despised Gods jewels, his choice favourites, of whom the world was not worthy. Let not the brother of low degree be cast down, because he is poore; nor let not the brother of high degree be lifted up, because he is rich: for if riches had been the best thing, Christ would have been outwardly rich: but Christ was poore, to shew us what are the best riches, and that the riches of this World are but things by the by, Seek the kingdome of God, and all other things shall be cast on you, by way of addition and supplement. The true riches of a Christian are spirituall; Christ did not become poore to make us rich in this world, to make us Kings ⟨p. 35⟩and Emperous,3 and Great Men here, but to make us rich spiritually, and to have such a moity of earthly things, as may serve as a Viaticum to bring us to Heaven: the maine riches of a Christian are spirituall and eternall in grace and glory. In popery, they live as if Christ came to make them Lords of the World; to usurpe jurisdiction over Kings and Princes: Christ came to make us rich in another manner. S. Peter saith, Silver and gold have I none, but his successors cannot say so. Christ came not as a servant to make us Lords here: much lesse to set us at liberty to live after the flesh,4 and to doe what we list. No, the end of Christs comming was to take away sinne, to destroy the workes of the Devill. The common course at this time, and develish practise of many, overturnes the end of Christs comming, as if he came not to destroy, but to let loose the workes of the Devill▪ to let us loose to all licentiousnesse; he came to b•ing us to God, and not to give us liberty in courses to runne further from God. But that by the way. Christ (as I said) cam• not to make •s rich in the things of this life: for doe but consider a little of outward riches, what be they?
- 1Not to despise men for poverty.
- 2Heb. 11.38.
- 3Christ came not to purchase outward riches
- 4Digression, concerning the feast of Christs NativityDigression, concerning the feast of Christs Nativit•
