The crucifying of the world

And if they do for fashion sake, get a godly young man to be their Chaplain, he is so wearied with the sensual courses of some, and the scorns of others, and the vanity, and worldliness, and negligence of the rest, that his life is a burden to him, and he can no more enjoy himself in such families, then in a fair or popular tumult. On the other side, poor men are in so much want, that they think themselves sufficiently excused for the neglecting of almost all the means of their salvation. They think Necessity lieth upon them, and therefore that God will not require it of them to understand the Scriptures, nor to labour after eternal things. Christ telleth them that One thing is needful, and would have them choose the better part, which shall not be taken from them. But they believe not Christ; but hearken to their flesh, and it telleth them that its Another thing that is needful, and persuadeth them to choose the worser part, which will shortly be taken from them. Christ biddeth them, Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting life, John 6. 27. But venter non habet aures; the flesh understandeth not such exhortations: A greedy appetite is the reason that it judgeth by: An hungry belly is not filled nor quieted with arguments. They must have their present wants supplied, let what will become of their immortal souls. And thus the Rich have so much to look after, that they cannot have while to be diligent for their souls: And the Poor have so much to seek after, that they cannot have while: And so the world abuseth them that Have it and that Want it. As if two men that had forfeited their lives were travelling to London for a pardon; and the one goeth so fair a way, that he forgets his business and sitteth down picking flowers in the way; and the other meets with so fowl a way, that he thinks he is excused, because he must take heed of being wet or dirtied.

And if they do for fashion sake, get a godly young man to be their Chaplain, he is so wearied with the sensual courses of some, and the scorns of others, and the vanity, and worldliness, and negligence of the rest, that his life is a burden to him, and he can no more enjoy himself in such families, then in a fair or popular tumult. On the other side, poor men are in so much want, that they think themselves sufficiently excused for the neglecting of almost all the means of their salvation. They think Necessity lyeth upon them, and therefore that God will not require it of them to understand the Scriptures, nor to labour after eternal things. Christ telleth them that One thing is needful, and would have them choose the better part, which shall not be taken from them. But they believe not Christ; but hearken to their flesh, and it telleth them that its Another thing that is needful, and perswadeth them to choose the worser part, which will shortly be taken from them. Christ biddeth them, Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting life,