A30579:581
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
GOSPEL Conversation. › THE MISERY OF THOSE MEN THAT HAVE THEIR PORTION IN THIS LIFE.
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.
1. There is a manifold Mixture of Cumber, of Trouble; and the truth is, All the good things that wicked men enjoy in this world, will scarce bear charges; that is, there is so much trouble they meet withal here in this world with their Portion, that all they have will scarce bear charges: And if a man goes a Voyage, we use not to count any thing he spends by the way to be part of his Treasury. Now all we have here in this world, is but Spending-money to bear our Charges, in regard God knows we shall be at a great deal of Charges, and afflictions we shall meet with here. But besides:
2. There is a Mixture of Curse in every Portion of an Ungodly man. If any of you think you get such a rich Match, you get an Heir that is a very rich Match, and you ⟨p. 337⟩get her portion, and there you go and fetch away the bags of God that are her portion, but if it should prove that every bag of Gold you have of your Wives portion had the Plague in it, it were but a poor portion. Certainly it is thus with all ungodly ones in the world, that all the while they live, whatsoever they enjoy, so long as continuing wicked, they have a Curse of God that goes along with it, and makes way unto Eternal misery for them: As those that are godly have the blessing of God in outward things, that makes way for their Eternal good; So thou hast the Curse of the Lord mingled with all thy outward things that makes way for Eternal evil unto thee. And then, Consider,
3. What portion thou losest; thou hast gotten one, but thou losest a great deal more: If a man had been at the Exchange, and made some bargain about some petty thing, and afterwards when he comes home, knows that by not buying such a thing, he hath lost a bargain that would have made him and his posterity, he hath little cause of rejoicing in that bargain he hath made: So though thou hast got a portion that may seem to satisfy thee somewhat, know thou hast lost a portion of infinite worth and value; and it's impossible to show you what this portion is; for the Devil could show Christ all the glory of the world in the twinkling of an eye; but if I should come to show you the glory of Heaven, I had need have Eternity to show you what the portion of the Saints is, but though I cannot show it you all, I will only give you a hint or two, that you may know somewhat, what it is: