An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

From this Exposition, we may observe first, the practice of worldly wise men; when they have gotten riches, they do not leave them loose and open to surprisal, they keep them among the thorns; they will secure their estates as much as they can. As they get riches with thorns, so they will keep riches with thorns, ⟨p. 210⟩that is, they will bestow care to keep, as well as to get: A godly man takes great care to get more of Christ, more riches of grace, he improves all means, and makes this his business night and day; these spiritual cares are his thorns: and when he finds his stock of holy things increasing, his next care is to preserve his stock, to maintain communion with Christ, and to keep up his graces to their height; The care of a godly man, is as much to preserve grace and comforts from the power of that hungry one the Devil, as it was to fetch them in. And Satan is so hungry after our spiritual harvest, that, he would fetch it out of the thorns and fences of all our prayers and holy cares, were it not that Christ himself keeps it for us, His care over his peoples spiritual welfare is such a thorn hedge, as the Devil can never break thorough; We are kept by the power of God as with a garrison, 1 Pet. 1. 5.

From this Exposition, we may observe first, the practice of worldly wise men; when they have gotten riches, they doe not leave them loose and open to surprisall, they keep them among the thornes; they will secure their estates as much as they can. As they get riches with thorns, so they will keep riches with thorns, ⟨p. 210⟩that is, they will bestow care to keep, as well as to get: A godly man takes great care to get more of Christ, more riches of grace, he improves all means, and makes this his businesse night and day; these spirituall cares are his thornes: and when he finds his stock of holy things increasing, his next care is to preserve his stock, to maintaine communion with Christ, and to keep up his graces to their height; The care of a godly man, is as much to preserve grace and comforts from the power of that hungry one the Devill, as it was to fetch them in. And Satan is so hungry after our spirituall harvest, that, he would fetch it out of the thorns and fences of all our prayers and holy cares, were it not that Christ himselfe keeps it for us, His care over his peoples spirituall welfare is such a thorn hedge, as the Devill can never break thorough; We are kept by the power of God as with a garrison,