But let us consider where this place of safety is, in which we are counselled to lay up our treasures; namely not in a strange kingdom whither we shall not come our selves, or being come thither shall make but small stay; but in heaven, our own native country, the place of our inheritance, among our kindred and chief friends, and of our perpetual abode and everlasting habitation; for they that feed Christ being hungry, and clothe him being naked in his poor members, shall inherit the heavenly kingdom which God hath prepared for them from the foundation of the world, Math. 25. 134. they that deal their bread to the hungry and cover the naked, shall have their righteousness to go before them, & the glory of the Lord shall be their rereward. ⟨p. 226⟩Esa: 58. 8. They that sell and give to the poor, 2for their transitory riches, shall have a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, Luk. 12. 33. Now what an excellent change is this, to have heavenly things for earthly, & treasures in our own country, where we shall enjoy them for ever, for parting with uncertain riches in the place of our pilgrimage, which we are ready every day to leave behind us; to forgo things which we cannot keep, and obtain such as we cannot loose? But this exchange merciful men do make; for when they give their goods to the poor, they do not loose them, but only commit them unto them, as unto porters, to be carried and transported for their use into those heavenly and everlasting habitations: whereas if they should hoard them up and keep them unto themselves, they would be cumbersome burdens, which would hinder their journey thither, and yet when they have done what they can, death at length, if not some other casualty in the mean time, will strip them naked of all, to go out as they came into the world, and let them carry nothing with them, but the sin and guilt which they have committed 3in compassing of them. What madness therefore is it to leave our wealth there, from whence we are every day departing, and not to send it before us whither we are going? to leave and lose it in a strange kingdom, when as we might safely send it before us into our own country? especially considering (as one saith) that he who placeth 4his treasures on earth, hath nothing to expect and hope ⟨p. 227⟩for in heaven: for why should he look up into heaven, who hath laid up nothing there?
But let vs consider where this place of safetie is, in which we are counsailed to lay vp our treasures; namely not in a strange kingdome whither we shall not come our selues, or being come thither shall make but small stay; but in heauen, our own natiue cuntry, the place of our inheritance, among our kindred and chiefe friends, and of our perpetuall abode and euerlasting habitation; for they that feede Christ being hungry, and clothe him being naked in his poore members, shall inherite the heauenly kingdome which God hath prepared for them from the foundation of the world, Math. 25. 134. they that deale their bread to the hungry and couer the naked, shall haue their righteousnes to go before them, & the glory of the Lord shall be their rereward. ⟨p. 226⟩Esa: 58. 8. They that sell and giue to the poore, 2for their transitorie riches, shall haue a treasure in the heauens that fayleth not, Luk. 12. 33. Now what an excellent change is this, to haue heauenly things for earthly, & treasures in our own country, where we shall inioy them for euer, for parting with vncertaine riches in the place of our pilgrimage, which we are ready euery day to leaue behinde vs; to forgoe things which wee cannot keepe, and obtaine such as wee cannot loose? But this exchange mercifull men do make; for when they giue their goods to the poore, they do not loose them, but only commit them vnto them, as vnto porters, to be caried and transported for their vse into those heauenly and euerlasting habitations: whereas if they should hourd them vp and keepe them vnto themselues, they would be cumbersom burthens, which would hinder their iourney thither, and yet when they haue done what they can, death at length, if not some other casualtie in the meane time, will strip them naked of all, to goe out as they came into the world, and let them carry nothing with them, but the sinne and guilt which they haue committed 3in compassing of them. What madnes therefore is it to leaue our wealth there, from whence we are euery day departing, and not to send it before vs whither we are going? to leaue and lose it in a strange kingdome, when as we might safely send it before vs into our owne country? especially considering (as one saith) that he who placeth 4
- 1Math: 25. 34.
- 2Esa. 58. 8. Non sunt bona hominis quae secum ferre non potest. Sola misericordia est comes defunctorum. Ambros. Prae•e tectū, & accip•es coelum. August.Esa. 58. 8. Non sunt bona hominis quae secum ferre non potest. Sola misericordia est comes defunctorum. Ambros. Prae•e tectū, & accip•es coelum. August.
- 3Quae stultitia est illic relinqu•re, unde exiturus es: & illuc non praemittere quo iturus es▪ Chrysost. in Math. 6.Quae stultitia est illic relinqu•re, vnde exiturus es: & illuc non praemittere quo iturus es▪ Chrysost. in Math. 6.
- 4Chrysost. ibid.
