As when the Prophets would distinguish between the Idol gods and the living GOD, they call him the great God: so the gain of Godliness is called great gain. The riches of the world are called earthly, transitory, snares, thorns, dung, as though they were not worthy to be counted Riches: and therefore to draw the earnest love of men from them, the holy Ghost brings them in with such names of disdain, to disgrace them with their lovers: but ⟨image 13⟩when he comes to Godliness, which is the riches of the soul, he calleth it great riches, heavenly riches, unsearchable riches, everlasting riches, with all the names of honour, and all the names of pleasure, and all the names of happiness. As a woman trims and decks her self with an hundred ornaments, only to make her amiable, so the holy Ghost setteth out Godliness with names of honour, and names of pleasure, and names of happiness, as it were in her jewels with letters of commendation, to make her to he loved. Least any riches should compare with Godliness, he gives it a name above other, and calleth it Great Riches, as if, he would make a distinction between Riches and Riches: between the gain of Covetousness, and the gain of Godliness, the peace of the ⟨image 14⟩world and the peace of conscience, the joy of riches, and the joy of the holy Ghost. The worldly men have a kind of peace, and joy, and riches, but I cannot call it great, because they have not enough, they are not contented as the Godly are, therefore only Godliness hath this honour, to be called great riches. The Gain of covetousness is nothing but wealth, but the Gain of Godliness is wealth, and peace, and joy, and love of God, and the remission of sins and everlasting life. Therefore only Godliness hath this honour to by called great gain. Riches make bate, but Godliness makes peace: Riches breed covetousness, but Godliness brings contentation: Riches make men unwilling to die, but Godliness makes men ready to die: Riches often hurt the owner, but Godliness profiteth the owner & other. Therefore only Godliness hath this honour ⟨image 14⟩to be called great riches, such ••ine, such joy, such peace is in Godliness, and yet no man covets it:
As when the Prophetes woulde distinguish betweene the Idol gods and the liuing GOD, they call him the great God: so the gaine of Godlinesse is called greate gaine. The riches of the worlde are called earthlye, transitorye, snares, thornes, dung, as though they were not worthye to bee counted Riches: and therefore to draw the earnest loue of men from them, the holy Ghoste bringes them in with such names of disdaine, to disgrace them with their louers: but ⟨image 13⟩when hee comes to Godlinesse, which is the riches of the soule, he calleth it great riches, heauenlye riches, vnsearcheable riches, euerlasting riches, with all the names of honor, and al the names of pleasure, and all the names of happinesse. As a woman trimmes and deckes her selfe with an hundred ornaments, onelye to make her amiable, so the holy Ghost setteth out Godlinesse with names of honour, and names of pleasure, and names of happinesse, as it were in her iewels with letters of commendation, to make her to hee loued. Least any riches shoulde compare with Godlinesse, hee giues it a name aboue other, and calleth it Great Riches, as if, hee woulde make a distinction betweene Riches and Riches: betweene the gaine of Couetousnesse, and the gain of Godlinesse, the peace of the ⟨image 14⟩world and the peace of conscience, the ioy of riches, and the ioy of the holy Ghost. The worldly men haue a kind of peace, and ioy, and riches, but I cannot call it great, because they haue not enough, they are not contented as the Godly are, therefore onely Godlinesse hath this honour, to be called great riches. The Gaine of couetousnes is nothing but wealth, but the Gaine of Godlinesse is wealth, and peace, and ioy, and loue of God, and the remission of sins and euerlasting life. Therefore onely Godlines hath this honour to by called great gaine. Riches make bate, but Godlinesse makes peace: Riches breede couetousnesse, but Godlinesse bringes contentation: Riches make men vnwilling to die, but Godlinesse makes men ready to dy: Riches often hurt the owner, but Godlinesse profiteth the owner & other. Therfore onely Godlinesse hath this honour ⟨image 14⟩to be called great riches, such ••ine, such ioy, such peace is in Godlinesse, and yet no man couets it:
