Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

'Tis further observable, from the Excuses alleged in the Parable of a Purchase, and a Marriage, and as 'tis said in Mat. 22. That the Invited made light of it, one went to his Farm, and another to his Merchandise; that those Temptations of the World are most persuasive and fatal to Men, that seem to be very natural and innocent. For what Duty is more clearly natural and reasonable than to make Provision of Supplies suitable ⟨p. 209⟩to their Condition and State, to their Charge and Families? 'Tis true, Conscience and Prudence require that Men should be diligent in their Callings, for the Support and Comfort of the present Life. But the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness that leads to it, must be sought in the first place. The brightest Valuations, the most inflamed Affections, the most vigorous and constant Endeavours are due to Heaven. Now the Minds and Faculties of Men are limited, and cannot with intense and equal Ardency apply themselves to various Objects. If the World be the main Object of their Care and Counsel, the Vigour of their leading and instrumental Faculties will be less free and active for Heaven: And from hence it is, that the Affairs and Engagements of this World, tho immediately they do not deprive Men of Heaven, yet ⟨p. 210⟩mediately they are destructive to them; for they lessen their Esteem, cool their Affections, slack their Endeavours to obtain it: they oppress their Spirits, engross their Time, that they have no leisure to work out their own Salvation: They make them receptive of many Temptations, which wound their Souls to Death for ever. The constant Spring of the Sins and Misery of Men is from hence, they have forgot the regular use of the Creatures, as Means and Motives of their ascending to God; they understand not the Rule of Wisdom, to make Temporal Things subordinate to Eternal; they have lost the happy Temper of not totally declining the World, nor of eager embracing it. In short, they would enjoy the World, and only use God in their Exigencies. 'Tis therefore inculcated in Scripture, That the Friends of the World are the Enemies ⟨p. 211⟩of God, and that the Love of the World is inconsistent with the Love of the Father. 'Tis a most dangerous Sin, being so hardly discernible, and hardly cured: for the more appearance there is of Reason and the less of Sensuality in a Sin, the more it insinuates and prevails.