Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

Sixthly, Another mystery there is in a godly mans learning how to be full, is, He accounts it better to lose for, and return to God; than to gain for, and keep to himself. A godly heart when he hath a fullness, he doth rejoice in it according as God will have him, in the outward blessings that he hath; I but he rejoiceth more in this, that he hath something to venture and lose for God, than that he hath gain for himself. One man rejoices ⟨p. 62⟩that he hath an estate to live merrily withal, and bravely in the world; the other man rejoices that he hath an estate that he may venture for God, and his returning any thing to God, he doth account a greater privilege to him than receiving from God. This is a way of mystery too; and of this there was something spoken likewise in the way of Contentment; and therefore I shall but name it now.

Sixthly, Another mystery there is in a godly mans learning how to be full, is, He accounts it better to lose for, and return to God; than to gain for, and keep to himself. A godly heart when he hath a fulness, he doth rejoyce in it according as God will have him, in the outward blessings that he hath; I but he rejoyceth more in this, that he hath something to venture and lose for God, than that he hath gain for himself. One man rejoyces ⟨p. 62⟩that he hath an estate to live merrily withal, and bravely in the world; the other man rejoyces that he hath an estate that he may venture for God, and his returning any thing to God, he doth account a greater priviledge to him than receiving from God. This is a way of mystery too; and of this there was something spoken likewise in the way of Contentment; and therefore I shall but name it now.

Seventhly, and then the last way is this, A godly man learns to abound, by abounding in holiness: The more he abounds in worldly riches, the more he seeks to abound in holiness and in the duties of Gods Worship. Now this is a mystery to the men of the world, they think indeed, poor men that have not so much to do in the world, they may be often in the Worship of God, and hear Sermons, and meditate (and the like.) But for them that have so many things to take them off, they think it cannot be expected from them: Whereas godliness will teach men to abound in their many businesses and outward prosperity that they have, and the great things of the world, by adding a proportionable abounding in the performance both of the Worship of God and in holiness. They think that because they have so many things to draw them aside, that they cannot be so holy as others: but now, godliness will teach them to be more holy, according to the proportion of their estate: As eminent above others, so they will labour that their holiness shall be eminent above others. O this were an excellent thing indeed, if all rich men should never satisfy themselves in this barely, that they have more than others, but look to what a degree God hath made them higher then others in their estates; that they should endeavour and never be satisfied till they attain to it,