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

and ⟨p. 25⟩there is none of the Tribes that is blessed with so many several precious things as Joseph is blest withal. So that by comparing these two Scriptures, you see, that those that have most of the precious things of this world, they are like to be shot at most; and the Devil shoots at them more then he doth at others.

and ⟨p. 25⟩there is none of the Tribes that is blessed with so many several pretious things as Joseph is blest withal. So that by comparing these two Scriptures, you see, that those that have most of the pretious things of this world, they are like to be shot at most; and the Devil shoots at them more then he doth at others.

And then, as the variety of temptations is greater, so the suitableness of temptations is more; the Devil can prevail more in his temptations with fullness, than where there is want and emptiness; why, because though there be temptations in a poor condition, yet they are not so pleasing to a mans own nature as the temptations of a full condition. A poor man is tempted, but what is he tempted to, he is tempted to impatience, but that's no pleasing thing but a tedious thing; and he is tempted to despair, but that hath no pleasingness with it; and he is tempted to take shifting courses, I but there's fear in that, least he should be discovered and so be punished: So that their temptations that are in poverty, are not so suitable to their nature, as the temptations of one that is in a full estate; for his estate is a temptation to pride, to uncleanness, a temptation to intemperance: Now such things are very suitable to the very nature of a man, therefore there's a great deal more danger in the temptations that comes by fullness than by want, because the temptations of one are tedious to a mans nature; but the temptations of the other are suitable to a mans nature. As it's more dangerous to have Rats-bane lie about the house for your children, than to have Aloes or Wormseed: Suppose that Aloes had a poison in it, it's true it may do hurt, but it's not so likely as Rats-bane; because though Rats-bane hath poison in it, yet it hath sweetness in it too. There is poison sometimes in a poor condition,