A30579:604
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.
5. What dost thou account to be the chiefest good of thy estate, more than thou hadst before, or more than another man hath? A man that hath got an estate more than he had, or more than his brother: there are many good things in his estate, that he will think ⟨p. 345⟩good; Now I may live in better fashion than I could before, now I may have more freedom than I had before, now I may have more credit in the world than I had before, now I may have my own mind, and satisfy my own lusts more than I had before, or than another man can do; Is not this the thing thou most rejoicest in? yea, is not this a truth, that some of your hearts, if they were ripped up, this would be the language of them; that you must rejoice in your estates, because by them you have fuel for your lusts? A poor man hath not so much fuel for his uncleanness as you have, nor so much fuel for his lust of pride and malice as you have; and many rich men account the blessing, the good, and happiness of their estates to consist in this very thing; that now they may have a larger scope for their lusts, than ever they could before; alas a poor man cannot go abroad and drink as you can do, a poor man cannot lay out so much money on a Whore, an Unclean wretch, as you can do, and you rejoice in this: and if this man have not his portion here, what man hath? the Lord strike such a mans heart. But on the other side, A gracious heart when God blesses him in this world, though there be but a little grace, it will work thus, The Lord hath raised my condition above my brother, & therein the Lord gives me a larger opportunity to do him service, than my brother hath or than I had before; there is such a poor man, he is an honest man, but God knows he can do but little in the place where he is, he hath but little means: but God hath given me means, and this means enlarges my opportunity to do God service, and for this my soul blesseth God; I count my estate happier in this, because I now may be of more use, and do God more service than otherwise I could do; Have you such workings in heart, you rich men? if you have not never be at quiet till you get your hearts working in this manner; this will be a blessed testimony that ⟨p. 346⟩God gives you a portion here, and intends another portion for you in the world hereafter.
5. What dost thou account to be the chiefest good of thy estate, more than thou hadst before, or more than another man hath? A man that hath got an estate more than he had, or more than his brother: there are many good things in his estate, that he will think