The crucifying of the world

I for bear to mention the proportions of mens estates, that I think they are ordinarily bound to alienate, but shall leave you to Prudence and the General Rules, lest I seem to you to go beyond my line. But in general I must say, that it is a selfish and an heinous error, to think that men should lay up all that they can gather for their posterity, and all to leave them rich and honourable, and put off God, and all charitable uses, with the crumbs that fall from their Tables, or with some inconsiderable driblets. If the Rich man in ⟨image 21⟩Luke 18. might have followed Christ on such terms as these, he would hardly have gone sorrowfully from him.

I for bear to mention the proportions of mens estates, that I think they are ordinarily bound to alineate, but shall leave you to Prudence and the General Rules, lest I seem to you to go beyond my line. But in general I must say, that it is a selfish and an hainous errour, to think that men should lay up all that they can gather for their posterity, and all to leave them rich and honourable, and put off God, and all charitable uses, with the crums that fall from their Tables, or with some inconsiderable driblets. If the Rich man in ⟨image 21⟩Luke 18. might have followed Christ on such terms as these, he would hardly have gone sorrowfully from him.

1. By this men show that they prefer their children before God. 2. And that they prefer them before the Church, and Gospel, and the Common-wealth: When an heroic Heathen would have confessed that his estate and children, and his life were not too good to be sacrificed to his Country; as the case of the Decii and many other Romans that gave their lives for their Country witnesseth. 3. These men prefer the worldly riches of their children before the souls of men: When they have so many Calls to employ their wealth to the furthering of mens salvation, and put by all that their children may be rich. 4. They prefer their children's Riches before their own everlasting good: Or else they would not deny themselves the Reward of an holy improvement of their talents, and cast themselves upon the terrible sentence that is past upon unprofitable servants, and all to leave their children wealthy. 5. They prefer the bodily prosperity of their children before their spiritual: Or else they would not be so eager to leave them that Riches, which Christ hath told them is such a snare, and hindrance to mens salvation. 6. They would teach all the world the easy art of never doing good in life or death. For if all must follow their principles, then the Parents must keep almost all for their children, and the children must do the like by their children, and so it must run on to all generations, that their posterity may be kept as rich as their predecessors. 7. How unlike is this to the ancient Saints; and how unlike to the general precepts of self-denial, and doing good to all while we have time, &c. which Christ hath left us in the Gospel. Enable your children to be serviceable in the Church and Common-wealth, as far as you may; but prefer them not before the Church or Common-wealth. Wrong not God, nor your own souls, nor the souls or bodies of other men, to procure your