A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

Serious Godliness carries a Gracious Person above all Heart-breaking Vexations of getting the World, for his Thoughts are filled about getting something better; about keeping, for comparatively he cares for keeping nothing but Faith and a good Conscience; about enjoying, for he counts nothing on this side God worth the Name of an enjoyment: And as for parting with the World, he impartially considers, that he can't have the possession of his Heavenly Inheritance, till the World and he shake hands for ever: So that there's no room without the regret of Grace, to edge in so much as a distracting Thought about worldly Vanities. Faith in Exercise treads the World (1 John 5.4.) under feet, and alone makes it know its place. When Riches capacitate a Gracious Person for those Offices and Employments from which the Poor are excluded, the Power of Godliness, not only teacheth, but enforceth them to employ all their Capacities for God and to do good; they know they are Gods Stewards, to whom they must be accountable, Gods Almoners, and God makes the Poor their Creditors, to whom they must pay Alms as Debtors^†. In short, 'tis only the Holy Person that receives this for a Maxim, That a worldly Estate is no otherwise desirable, but to capacitate him to do that good with it, which he cannot do without it. This for Riches. What may be said for Poverty?

Serious Godliness carries a Gracious Person above all Heart-breaking Vexations of getting the World, for his Thoughts are fill'd about getting something better; about keeping, for comparatively he cares for keeping nothing but Faith and a good Conscience; about enjoying, for he counts nothing on this side God worth the Name of an enjoyment: And as for parting with the World, he impartially considers, that he can't have the possession of his Heavenly Inheritance, till the World and he shake hands for ever: So that there's no room without the regret of Grace, to edge in so much as a distracting Thought about worldly Vanities. Faith in Exercise treads the World (1 John 5.4.) under feet, and alone makes it know its place. When Riches capacitate a Gracious Person for those Offices and Employments from which the Poor are excluded, the Power of Godliness, not only teacheth, but enforceth them to employ all their Capacities for God and to do good; they know they are Gods Stewards, to whom they must be accountable, Gods Almoners, and God makes the Poor their Creditors, to whom they must pay Alms as Debtors