He was not content to call Godliness gain, but he calleth it Great gain, as if he would say, gain, and more then gain: riches, and better then riches, a kingdom, and greater then a kingdom. 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. 1The riches of the world are called earthly,2 transitory,3 snares, thorns, dung, as though they were not worthy to be counted riches:4 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 when he comes to Godliness,5 which is the riches of the soul,6 he calleth it great riches, heavenly riches,7 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 ⟨p. 221⟩out godliness with names of honour, & names of pleasure,8 and names of happiness, as it were in her Jewels, with letters of commendation, to make her to be beloved. Lest 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, & the gain of godliness: the peace of the 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 be called Great gain. Riches make bate,9 but godliness makes peace: riches breed covetousness, but godliness brings contentation: riches make men unwilling to dye, but godliness makes men ready to dye: riches often hurt the owner, but godliness profiteth the owner and other: Therefore only godliness hath this honour, to be called great riches. ⟨p. 222⟩such gain, such joy, such peace is in godliness, and yet no man covets it:
He was not content to cal Godlinesse gaine, but he calleth it Great gaine, as if hee woulde say, gaine, and more then gaine: riches, and better then riches, a kingdome, and greater then a kingdome. As when the Prophets would distinguish betweene the idoll Gods, and the liuing God, they call him the Great God: so the gaine of godlines, is called Great gaine. 1The riches of the world are called earthlie,2 transitorie,3 snares, thornes, dung, as though they were not worthie to be counted riches:4 and therfore to draw the earnest loue of men from them, the holy-Ghost brings them in with such names of disdaine, to disgrace them with their louers: but when hee comes to Godlines,5 which is the riches of the soule,6 hee calleth it great riches, heauenly riches,7 vnsearchable riches, euerlasting riches, with al 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, onely to make her amiable, so the holy-Ghost setteth ⟨p. 221⟩out godlinesse with names of honor, & names of pleasure,8 and names of happines, as it were in her Iewels, with letters of commendation, to make her to bee beloued. Lest anie riches should compare with godlinesse, he giues it a name aboue other, and calleth it great riches, as if hee would make a distinction betweene riches and riches: betweene the gaine of couetousnes, & the gaine of godlines: the peace of the world, and the peace of conscience: the ioy of riches, and the ioy of the holy Ghost. The worldly men haue a kinde of peace, and ioy, and riches, but I cannot call it great, because they haue not inough, they are not contented as the godlie are, therefore onely godlinesse hath this honour, to be called great riches. The gaine of couetousnesse is nothing but wealth: but the gaine of godlinesse is wealth, and peace, and ioy, and loue of God, and the remission of sinnes, and euerlasting life: Therefore onely godlines hath this honour to be called Great gaine. Riches make bate,
- 1Deu. 12. 17.
- 2Mar. 4. 7.
- 31. Tim. 6. 9.
- 4Phil. 3. 1.
- 5Pro. 3. 15.
- 6Pro. 4. 9. & 13.
- 7Pro. 8. 11. & 18.
- 8Cant. 4. 1.
- 9Gen. 13. 6.
