The divine life in three treatises

5. Hence also we must learn, that there can be no simple absolute Propriety in any Creature. No creature gave all the Being and well being to another that it hath, and this originally as of its Own. We being not our Own but God's, cannot have any thing that is Absolutely our Own. Humane Propriety is but derived▪ limited, and respective. Our Goods, and Lands, and Lives are Ours; that is, they are Ours to Use for God, as the Instruments of a workman to do his work; but not ours to use as we think meet. They are so ours as that men may not ⟨p. 113⟩take them from us, but God may take them from us at his pleasure. And therefore think not you may misspend a penny if you were never so rich, because it is your own; but know that you must misspend nothing, because it is not your own, but Gods.

5. Hence also we must learn, that there can be no simple absolute Propriety in any Creature. No creature gave all the Being and well being to another that it hath, and this originally as of its Own. We being not our Own but God's, cannot have any thing that is Absolutely our Own. Humane Propriety is but derived▪ limited, and respective. Our Goods, and Lands, and Lives are Ours; that is, they are Ours to Use for God, as the Instruments of a workman to do his work; but not ours to use as we think meet. They are so ours as that men may not ⟨p. 113⟩take them from us, but God may take them from us at his pleasure. And therefore think not you may mispend a penny if you were never so rich, because it is your own; but know that you must mispend nothing, because it is not your own, but Gods.

6. Principally we must hence learn to Deny our selves as being not our own, and having nothing in the world that is our Own, in respect to God, the absolute Owner. And therefore above all the sins of your souls, still watch against this selfishness: lest you should grow to look at your Time, your Strength, your Wealth, your Interests as your own, and forget that you are mere stewards; and say as the ungodly,