Gospel-conversation

2. Cor. Here we see the Reason, Why there are so many great ones in the world that regard Religion so little as they do, and the ways of God, and the Church of God; why 'tis not their portion; those things that concern another life, is not any part of their portion; they mind what it is that concerns the present life, because this is their portion. When many come into places of dignity and power, What are their thoughts? Now they think of gratifying their friends, now they think of respect and honour that they shall have abroad in the world, and be accounted some-body, now they think of revenging all their wrongs, of making up of all their broken titles &c. This hath been heretofore (I suppose very ordinary) in men advanced amongst you; these are all their thoughts: as for doing service for God, and for His Church, and vindicating the Truth of God, and Honour of God, that is scarce in all their thoughts, for they do not look upon that as part of their Portion: Here is the reason why so many Magistrates are like to Gallio, in Acts, 18. 17. Caring for none of those ⟨p. 320⟩things; they were to him but matters of words, and yet they were about the great fundamental Points of Religion, Whether Christ were the true Messiah, and whether He were God, or no; but to Gallio these things were but matter of words: And so the great things of God, and Religion, to carnal hearts, they are things that are of no great consequence at all; yea when as Sosthenes that was the Ruler of the Synagogue for countenancing of Paul, had the rude multitude of the City, rise up in a rude manner to apprehend him, and to lay violent hands upon him, Gallio cared for none of these things; but so far he did not go, Gallio went not to stir up a rude multitude to lay violent hands upon a Ruler of a Synagogue, or a City, but he cared for none of those things (saith the text:) What did he care for rectifying any thing that was amiss in Religion? Oh let us (say they that have their portion here) what ever becomes of things, let us make peace (say they) that we may go on and be quiet in our houses, & enjoy that we have quietly, and peaceably, and they look no further: Their portion is here, and as for Truth, how do they reject it, & contemn it! It is a speech (as is credibly reported) hath come even from a Citizen here, in cursing of the Truth so;

2. Corr. Here we see the Reason, Why there are so many great ones in the world that regard Religion so little as they do, and the waies of God, and the Church of God; why 'tis not their portion; those things that concern another life, is not any part of their portion; they mind what it is that concerns the present life, because this is their portion. When many come into places of dignity and power, What are their thoughts? Now they think of gratifying their friends, now they think of respect and honor that they shall have abroad in the world, and be accounted some-body, now they think of revenging al their wrongs, of making up of all their broken titles &c. This hath been heretofore (I suppose very ordinary) in men advanced amongst you; these are all their thoughts: as for doing service for God, and for His Church, and vindicating the Truth of God, and Honor of God, that is scarce in all their thoughts, for they do not look upon that as part of their Portion: Here is the reason why so many Magistrates are like to Galio, in