7. What are these things you set so much by, as to prefer them before Christ and the saving of your Souls? Have you found a better friend, a greater and surer happiness than this? Good Lord! What dung is it that men make so much of, while they set so light by everlasting Glory! What Toys are they that they are daily taken up with, while matters of life and death are neglected! Why Sirs, If you had every one a Kingdom in your hopes, what were it in comparison of the everlasting Kingdom? I cannot but look upon all the Glory and Dignity of this World, Lands and Lordships, Crowns and Kingdoms, even as on some brainsick beggarly Fellow, that borroweth fine Clothes, and plays the part of a King or a Lord, for an hour on a stage, and then comes down, and the sport is ended, and they are beggars again. Were it not for God's interest in the Authority of Magistrates, or for the service they might do him, I should judge no better of them. For as to their own Glory, it is but a smoke: what matter is it whether you live poor or rich, unless it were a greater matter to dye rich than it is? You know well enough that Death levels all: What matter is it at Judgment, whether you be to answer for the life of a rich man, or a poor man? Is Dives then any better than Lazarus? Oh that men knew what a poor deceiving shadow they grasp at, while they let go the everlasting Substance! The strongest and richest, and most voluptuous Sinners, do but lay in fuel for their sorrows, while they think they are gathering together a treasure. Alas! they are asleep, and dream that they are happy; but when they awake, what a change will they find? Their Crown is made of Thorns! their pleasure hath such a sting as will stick in the heart through all Eternity, except unfeigned Repentance do prevent it. Oh how sadly will these wretches be convinced ere long, what a foolish ⟨p. 24⟩bargain they made in selling Christ and their Salvation for these Trifles! Let your Farms and Merchandise then save you if they can; and do that for you that Christ would have done. Cry then to thy Baal to save thee! Oh what thoughts have Drunkards and Adulterers, &c. of Christ, that will not part with the basest lust for him! For a piece of bread, saith Solomon, such men do transgress, Prov. 28. 21.
7. What are these things you set so much by, as to prefer them before Christ and the saving of your Souls? Have you found a better friend, a greater and surer happiness than this? Good Lord! What dung is it that men make so much of, while they set so light by everlasting Glory! What Toyes are they that they are daily taken up with, while matters of life and death are neglected! Why Sirs, If you had every one a Kingdom in your hopes, what were it in comparison of the everlasting Kingdom? I cannot but look upon all the Glory and Dignity of this World, Lands and Lordships, Crowns and Kingdoms, even as on some brainsick beggarly Fellow, that borroweth fine Cloaths, and plays the part of a King or a Lord, for an hour on a stage, and then comes down, and the sport is ended, and they are beggers again. Were it not for God's interest in the Authority of Magistrates, or for the service they might do him, I should judge no better of them. For as to their own Glory, it is but a smoak: what matter is it whether you live poor or rich, unless it were a greater matter to dye rich than it is? You know well enough that Death levels all: What matter is it at Judgment, whether you be to answer for the life of a rich man, or a poor man? Is Dives then any better than Lazarus? Oh that men knew what a poor deceiving shadow they grasp at, while they let go the everlasting Substance! The strongest and richest, and most voluptuous Sinners, do but lay in fuel for their sorrows, while they think they are gathering together a treasure. Alas! they are asleep, and dream that they are happy; but when they awake, what a change will they find? Their Crown is made of Thorns! their pleasure hath such a sting as will stick in the heart through all Eternity, except unfeigned Repentance do prevent it. Oh how sadly will these wretches be convinced ere long, what a foolish ⟨p. 24⟩bargain they made in selling Christ and their Salvation for these Trifles! Let your Farms and Merchandize then save you if they can; and do that for you that Christ would have done. Cry then to thy Baal to save thee! Oh what thoughts have Drunkards and Adulterers, &c. of Christ, that will not part with the basest lust for him! For a piece of bread, saith Solomon, such men do transgress, Prov. 28. 21.
