Finally, if we wisely love our wealth, let it be our chief care, that we may long enjoy it: the which we cannot do by keeping it on the earth, for though we keep it under lock and key, bolt and bar, continual watch and ward, it may be lost whilst we live; but if not so, yet when death cometh (and for ought we know it may come to day before to morrow) it will spoil us of all, and turn us naked out of the world, as we came naked into it. But the only means to have the fruit and benefit of our riches for ever, is to send them before us into our heavenly country, where we shall have our everlasting habitation, and the best means of transporting them thither, is to deliver them unto the poor, who like trusty porters will carry them for us, for if we carry them our selves, they will, like heavy burdens, hinder our journey, and like the camels bunch, keep us from entering into the straight gate; whereas if the poor whom God hath appointed for this service carry them for us, we shall avoid the trouble, and escape this danger. The which should be a forcible argument to move us with a bountiful hand to give unto the poor, seeing whatsoever is so given is sent before us, and whatsoever is hoarded up in our chests is lost and left behind us. And what folly is this, there to leave thy wealth whence thou art departing, and not to send it before thee whether thou art going? to leave and loose thy riches in thy Inn and the ⟨p. 208⟩place of thy pilgrimage, and not to transport it into thine own Country and mansion-house where thou art ever to reside? And therefore seeing the only way to keep our goods for ever, is to part with them for a time, and the means to preserve them for everlasting use, is to disperse & scatter them amongst the poor members of Jesus Christ; and contrariwise the keeping them too carefully on earth, is the direct way to loose them in heaven; let us give that which we can no otherwise keep, that we may receive that which we can never loose, and if we think that heaven is our home let us send our wealth thither before us, that we may the more cheerfully travel after it. For he who is eternally to dwell in those heavenly mansions, doth in this life send his heart thither to take possession: which that we may do let us lay up our treasures there, that so our hearts may be there also.
Finally, if wee wisely loue our wealth, let it bee our cheife care, that we may long enioy it: the which we cannot doe by keeping it on the earth, for though wee keepe it vnder locke and key, bolt and barre, continuall watch and ward, it may bee lost whilst wee liue; but if not so, yet when death commeth (and for ought wee know it may come to day before to morrow) it will spoile vs of all, and turne vs naked out of the world, as wee came naked into it. But the onely meanes to haue the fruit and benefit of our riches for euer, is to send them before vs into our heauenly countrey, where wee shall haue our euerlasting habitation, and the best meanes of transporting them thither, is to deliuer them vnto the poore, who like trusty porters will carrie them for vs, for if wee carry them our selues, they will, like heauie burthens, hinder our iourney, and like the camels bunch, keepe vs from entring into the straight gate; whereas if the poore whom God hath appointed for this seruice carry them for vs, we shall auoyd the trouble, and escape this danger. The which should be a forcible argument to moue vs with a bountifull hand to giue vnto the poore, seeing whatsoeuer is so giuen is sent before vs, and whatsoeuer is hourded vp in our chests is lost and left behinde vs. And what folly is this, there to leaue thy wealth whence thou art departing, and not to send it before thee whether thou art going? to leaue and loose thy riches in thy Inne and the ⟨p. 208⟩place of thy pilgrimage, and not to transport it into thine owne Country and mansion-house where thou art euer to reside? And therefore seeing the onely way to keepe our goods for euer, is to part with them for a time, and the meanes to preserue them for euerlasting vse, is to disperse & scatter them amongst the poore members of Iesus Christ; and contrariwise the keeping them too carefully on earth, is the direct way to loose them in heauen; let vs giue that which wee can no otherwise keepe, that wee may receiue that which we can neuer loose, and if wee thinke that heauen is our home let vs send our wealth thither before vs, that we may the more cheerefully trauell after it. For hee who is eternally to dwel in those heauenly mansions, doth in this life send his heart thither to take possession: which that wee may do let vs lay vp our treasures there, that so our hearts may bee there also.
