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

And then, Thirdly, If thou dost not learn to abound, thy portion will be in this life, if there doth not go together with thy abundance the grace of God to teach thee how to abound; this will prove to be thy condition, to be a man or woman that God hath said shall have no other portion from him then in this world. If the Lord gives a man an estate, and doth not withal give him some proportionable measure of grace to know how to use it, and abound in it, that's a man that God saith, his portion shall be in this world; it is as much as if God should say from heaven concerning this man, Here's one, whose portion is in this world. In the 17th. Psalm, at the latter end, there the Psalmist speaks of men who have their portion in this world; here's their consolation, Thou hast a full estate, and doth God give thee nothing with thy full estate, it is like to be thy All. You will say, Is this so great a matter? I a thousand thousand times better thou hadst never been born, though thou hadst a thousand times more in the world then thou hast, if this should prove to be thy portion, thy All: for thou art made for eternity, and those creatures were not: and therefore if thou shouldst only have hopes in this world, thou art a wretched creature. Shall St. Paul say, if we have only hopes in this life, we were most miserable of all men: O may I say concerning thee, if thou hast only hope in this life, thou art most miserable of all creatures, except the Devils themselves. ⟨p. 39⟩O it's a dreadful thing for a man or woman to have their portion in this world: But now, those have it, that have a great deal in this world, and yet know not how to use it for God. O consider of this, you that God hath given more portion to than others; do you think thus in the night, Lord, thou hast indeed made my condition more comfortable then others, I am full handed, and have means coming in; but Lord, what if it should prove that my portion should be here. I remember it's reported of Gregory, that was the Pope, he did profess that there was no Scripture that did strike to his heart, so much as that Scripture; Woe to you, here is your consolation; fearing least his portion should be here. And the truth is, that Scripture, and that other in the 17th. Psalm, should go to the hearts of rich men, and of those that have a full estate in this world;

And then, Thirdly, If thou dost not learn to abound, thy portion will be in this life, if there doth not go together with thy abundance the grace of God to teach thee how to abound; this will prove to be thy condition, to be a man or woman that God hath said shall have no other portion from him then in this world. If the Lord gives a man an estate, and doth not withal give him some proportionable measure of grace to know how to use it, and abound in it, that's a man that God saith, his portion shall be in this world; it is as much as if God should say from heaven concerning this man, Here's one, whose portion is in this world. In the 17th. Psalm, at the latter end, there the Psalmist speaks of men who have their portion in this world; here's their consolation, Thou hast a full estate, and doth God give thee nothing with thy full estate, it is like to be thy All. You will say, Is this so great a matter? I a thousand thousand times better thou hadst never been born, though thou hadst a thousand times more in the world then thou hast, if this should prove to be thy portion, thy All: for thou art made for eternity, and those creatures were not: and therefore if thou should'st onely have hopes in this world, thou art a wretched creature. Shall St. Paul say, if we have onely hopes in this life, we were most miserable of all men: O may I say concerning thee, if thou hast onely hope in this life, thou art most miserable of all creatures, except the Devils themselves.