A27053:683
A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Treatise › Chapter 43: The Reputation of Riches to be denied.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XLIII. The Reputation of Riches to be denied.
3 Another part of the Honour which self must be denied in, is, The Reputation of your Riches. For wealth is one thing that men are proud of. Some desire to be esteemed richer than they are; and therefore go in the best apparel they can get, that they may not be thought to be persons of the lowest poorest sort. And some that are Rich, do glory in their Riches, and think they are much more to be honoured than the poor. But alas, if they had well read and considered what Christ hath said of the danger of the rich, particularly in Luke 12. & 16. & 18. & 8. 14. Mat. 13. 22. Mark 10. 23. and what James saith to them, James 5. 1, 2. &c. they would see that Riches is not a thing to be Proud of. Not many great and noble are called. God hath chosen the poor of this world, Rich in faith, to be heirs of the Kingdom. The talents for which we must give such an account at the bar of Christ, should be rather the matter of our fear and trembling than of our Pride. That which makes our passage to heaven to be as the Camels through a needle's eye, I think should not much lift us up. All the Riches of the world do make you never the better thought of with God, or any wise man: Nor will they cause you to live a month the longer, or quiet your Consciences, or save ⟨p. 294⟩you from death, or the wrath of God. The only worth of Riches, is, that you are better furnished than others to do God some good service, by relieving the poor, and helping the Church, and furthering many such good works: And for the sake of these good ends, you must patiently bear a state of Riches, yea, and thankfully receive them, if they are given you by God; though the care and labour in a faithful distribution of them, and the danger of abusing them, and the reckoning to be made for them, are so great, as may deter a wise man from a greedy seeking them, or glorying in them.