Secondly, the abundance of outward things cannot succour §2them in the time of their calamity: for so the Prophet threateneth; Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 1. 18. If their danger grew from the heat of mens wrath there might be hope that wealth would help them: for either a sum of money would quench the flame of the adversaries displeasure, or kindle courage in some others to defend them. But now that God is provoked against them, it is in vain to offer gold or silver to pacify him or to ransom themselves; for he standeth in no ⟨p. 52⟩1need of them, he admireth them not as men do, and they be his already, and at his own will, to be disposed of. Then to oppose them against him, in way of resistance, it were absurd: for there is no power in them to do us good without him: and much less therefore to maintain any man against him. Nay they be so far from aiding sinful men against the 2hand of God, as that they be many times weapons in their hand; to plague them with strokes of judgement. It hath never been heard that the purse hath preserved the man from the sword of the robber, or the chest from the assault of the thief: but the contrary falleth out often, that men be made a spoil for their money, and brought to ruin, as a tree that hath great bows and a little root is overturned in a mighty tempest. But there especially doth wealth bring woe to wicked men, when God awaketh their consciences, •o behold their own cruelty and falsehood, and the heavy punishment now ready to be inflicted upon them for the same. This was Judas his case and such the Prophet speaks of Ezek. 7. 19 They shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be cast a far off: That which was dearest to their hearts before, and brought them to sin, they remove furthest from them now: when they feel the sorrow of it. And besides this although riches had some greater virtue, and power in themselves, yet they could stand ungodly men in no stead, because they cease when misery beginneth, when death cometh to men, and they c•me before the judgement seat of Christ, the wicked have horrible sorrows and terrors upon them, and all their wealth 3and substance is fled from them.
Secondly, the abundance of outward things cannot succour §2them in the time of their calamitie: for so the Prophet threatneth; Neither their siluer nor their gold shall bee able to deliuer them in the day of the Lords wrath Zeph. 1. 18. If their danger grew from the heat of mens wrath there might bee hope that wealth would help them: for either a summe of mony would quench the flame of the aduersaries displeasure, or kindle courage in some others to defend them. But now that God is prouoked against them, it is in vaine to offer gold or siluer to pacifie him or to ransome themselues; for hee standeth in no ⟨p. 52⟩1neede of them, hee admireth them not as men doe, and they be his already, and at his owne will, to be disposed of. Then to oppose them against him, in way of resistance, it were absurd: for there is no power in them to doe vs good without him: and much lesse therefore to maintaine any man against him. Nay they be so far from ayding sinfull men against the 2hand of God, as that they bee many times weapons in their hand; to plague them with stroaks of iudgement. It hath neuer beene heard that the purse hath preserued the man from the sword of the robber, or the chest from the assault of the theefe: but the contrary falleth out often, that men bee made a spoile for their money, and brought to ruine, as a tree that hath great bowes and a little roote is ouerturned in a mightie tempest. But there especially doth wealth bring woe to wicked men, when God awaketh their consciences, •o behold their owne crueltie and falsehood, and the heauie punishment now readie to be inflicted vpon them for the same. This was Iudas his case and such the Prophet speakes of Ezek. 7. 19 They shall cast their siluer into the streetes, and their gold shalbe cast a far off: That which was dearest to their hearts beefore, and brought them to sinne, they remoue furthest from them now: when they feele the sorrow of it. And beesides this although riches had some greater vertue, and power in themselues, yet they could stand vngodly men in no stead, because they cease when misery beginneth, when death commeth to men, and they c•me before the iudgement seate of Christ, the wicked haue horrible sorrowes and terrors vpon them, and all their wealth 3
- 1Psal. 49. 7.
- 2Psal. 62. 10 11.
- 3Reve. 6. 15.Reue. 6. 15.
