Direct. 1. Look upon this world and all things in it, with the fore-seeing eye of Faith and Reason, and value it but as it deserves: And then you will neither be eager after it, nor too much delighted in it, nor puffed up by it, nor will it so prevalently entice you to venture or neglect eternal things. Did you know and well consider but what an empty fading thing it is, you could never be satisfied with so poor a portion, nor quiet your souls till you had assurance or sound hopes of better things: Nor would you take such pleasure in childish trifles; nor debase your selves, to be so inordinately employed, about such low and sordid matters, while God and your eternal happiness are laid by. You take not your selves for the basest of men, much less for brutes or idiots: O then do not make your selves the basest, and do not unman your selves, and brutify your immortal souls. A heathen could say, [Nemo alius est Deo dignus, nisi qui opes contempsit.] If you would be Rich, choose that which will make you Rich indeed: make sure of his favour that is the absolute Lord of all, and then you can want nothing, whatever you may be without. And if yet you thirst for worldly Riches, or inordinately Love them, and tenaciously keep them from your Masters use, remember that this discovereth your disease; and therefore should mind you rather to cure it then to feed it. It is not money nor any thing in this world, that will cure such an empty depraved soul. As Seneca saith, If a sick man be carried about, whether in ⟨image 17⟩a bed of gold or a bed of wood, his disease is carried with him. It is not a golden bed that will cure a diseased man: Nor is it all the gold or honour in the world, that will help such a deluded soul, as thinks this world will make him happy. Get but the cure of your Carnal minds, and a little will serve you. For it is your sinful fancy that would have much, and not your nature that needs much. Saith Seneca, Si ad naturam vives, nunquam eris pauper; si ad opinionem, nunquam eris dives: Exiguum natura desiderat; Opinio immensum.] He is not the poor man that hath but little; but he that would have more: Nor is he the Rich man that hath much, but he that is content with what he hath. If you pray but for your daily bread, be not such hypocrites as by the bent of your desires to cross your prayers.
Direct. 1. Look upon this world and all things in it, with the fore-seeing eye of Faith and Reason, and vallue it but as it deserves: And then you will neither be eager after it, nor too much delighted in it, nor puft up by it, nor will it so prevalently entice you to venture or neglect eternal things. Did you know and well consider but what an empty fading thing it is, you could never be satisfied with so poor a portion, nor quiet your souls till you had assurance or sound hopes of better things: Nor would you take such pleasure in childish trifles; nor debase your selves, to be so inordinately imployed, about such low and sordid matters, while God and your eternal happiness are laid by. You take not your selves for the basest of men, much less for bruits or ideots: O then do not make your selves the basest, and do not unman your selves, and brutifie your immortal souls. A heathen could say, [Nemo alius est Deo dignus, nisi qui opes contempsit.] If you would be Rich, choose that which will make you Rich indeed: make sure of his favour that is the absolute Lord of all, and then you can want nothing, whatever you may be without. And if yet you thirst for worldly Riches, or inordinately Love them, and tenaciously keep them from your Masters use, remember that this discovereth your disease; and therefore should mind you rather to cure it then to feed it. It is not money nor any thing in this world, that will cure such an empty depraved soul. As Seneca saith, If a sick man be carried about, whether in ⟨image 17⟩a bed of gold or a bed of wood, his disease is carried with him. It is not a golden bed that will cure a diseased man: Nor is it all the gold or honour in the world, that will help such a deluded soul, as thinks this world will make him happy. Get but the cure of your Carnal minds, and a little will serve you. For it is your sinful fancy that would have much, and not your nature that needs much. Saith Seneca, Si ad naturam vives, nunquam eris pauper; si ad opinionem, nunquam eris dives: Exiguum natura desiderat; Opinio immensum.] He is not the poor man that hath but little; but he that would have more: Nor is he the Rich man that hath much, but he that is content with what he hath. If you pray but for your daily bread, be not such hypocrites as by the bent of your desires to cross your prayers.
