A caveat for the covetousA caveat for the couetous

I beseech you brethren if any of you that fear God, have been overled with these earthly things, let him now see and consider of these many and grievous inconveniences, and see what the immoderate following of the world can yield him answerable to the loss of all those comforts that his heart should enjoy if it were rid better of this sin, and to those good affections, and praises that he should have from good men, if he did over-come this sin, and to that freedom and safety from the scourge of the tongues of lewd men, that might come to him, had he not given them the advantage against him, by unmuzzling their mouths, with the too too gross practising of this sin.

I beseech you brethren if any of you that feare God, haue beene ouerled with these earthly things, let him now see and consider of these many and grieuous inconueniences, and see what the immoderate following of the world can yeelde him answerable to the losse of all those comforts that his heart should enioy if it were rid better of this sin, and to those good affections, and praises that he should haue from good men, if he did ouer-come this sinne, and to that freedome and safety from the scourge of the tougues of lewd men, that might come to him, had he not giuen them the aduantage against him, by vnmuzling their mouthes, with the too too grosse practising of this sinne.

Now then consider this with thy self, whosoever thou mayest be; Disgrace thy self, disgrace religion; dishonour Gods holy name, cause wicked men to exult, thy ⟨p. 88⟩friends & Gods servants to be grieved no more. Do no more I say rush upon all, or any of these inconveniences, through the too much dotage after these base and contemptible things. If I cannot prevail with them that have been wholly worldlings, and altogether men of this earth, yet with thee that hast some good things, some sparks of Gods spirit, some truth of religion, and hope of a better life, let me, yea, let God and Gods ordinance prevail to make thee reform thine heart and life, in this behalf, in coming to this place, and lending your ear to Jesus Christ, speaking in his own ordinance; you make a show to intend obedience to his word, who by his spirit stands in the midst of you searching every mans hidden heart; you make a show of obedience, the end of hearing is doing. Show me that you were not hypocrites in coming to the sermon, let your lives speak for you, that you did in sincerity present your selves before the Lord, and were neither fools to come hither to no end, nor dissemblers to come for a wrong end. I doubt not but every one of your consciences, which hath with any