It is lawful and meet that men in power should be honoured by us, and also that the people be taught to honour them: and that you keep such interest in them as is needful to the public good: and therefore all converse with them is not unlawful: But when Ministers only attend on the rich, and are strange and seldom among the poor, it makes them accounted carnal worldly men; and ⟨p. 389⟩is unsuitable to their Lords example, and to the work of their calling. The poor are far more numerous than the rich; and therefore our work is more among them. And death will quickly level all. And when we have all done, we shall find, that the poor receive the glad fidings of the Gospel; and the poor of the world may be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom, which God hath prepared for them that love him. Mat. 11. 5. Jam. 2. 5, 6. And that the rich do hardly enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Jam. 2. 6, 7. But ye have despised the poor: Do not the rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats? It is the poor that must be the chief crown and comfort of your labours: Therefore be not strangers to them; if you would not have them account you lordly, worldly and self-seeking men: If you will leave them to themselves, and think your selves too good to be their companions, or to come into their smoky Cottages, and then think that a lordly command or rebuke, should serve the turn to keep them from error and schism and disorder, you may find your error to the Churches cost, when it is too late. And it will be but a pitiful excuse for your pride or laziness, to cry out of seducers for creeping into such houses, which you disdained to come into your selves: what do you by avoiding them, but invite any others thither that will come, and leave them as it were swept and garnished for such evil spirits?
It is lawful and meet that men in power should be honoured by us, and also that the people be taught to honour them: and that you keep such interest in them as is needful to the publick good: and therfore all converse with them is not unlawfull: But when Ministers only attend on the rich, and are strange and seldome among the poor, it makes them accounted carnal worldly men; and ⟨p. 389⟩is unsuitable to their Lords example, and to the work of their calling. The poor are far more numerous than the rich; and therefore our work is more among them. And death will quickly level all. And when we have all done, we shall find, that the poor receive the glad fidings of the Gospel; and the poor of the world may be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdome, which God hath prepared for them that love him. Mat. 11. 5. Iam. 2. 5, 6. And that the rich do hardly enter into the Kingdome of heaven. Iam. 2. 6, 7. But ye have despised the poor: Do not the rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats? It is the poor that must be the chief crown and comfort of your labours: Therefore be not strangers to them; if you would not have them account you lordly, worldly and self-seeking men: If you will leave them to themselves, and think your selves too good to be their companions, or to come into their smoaky Cottages, and then think that a lordly command or rebuke, should serve the turn to keep them from errour and schism and disorder, you may find your errour to the Churches cost, when it is too late. And it will be but a pitiful excuse for your pride or laziness, to cry out of seducers for creeping into such houses, which you disdained to come into your selves: what do you by avoiding them, but invite any others thither that will come, and leave them as it were swept and garnished for such evil spirits?
