The Scripture speaks of two sorts both of rich and poor men; There are men rich in spirituals, such Christ intimates, who are (Luke 12.20.) rich towards God, or as he speaks of the Church of Smyrna (Rev: 2.9.) rich in grace, I know thy poverty, but thou art rich; That is, I know thou art poor in earthly pelf, but rich in spirituals. The Apostle James puts the question (Chap: 2.5.) Hath not ⟨p. 632⟩God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. Now, it is most certain, that God regardeth the rich in spirituals, more then the poor in spirituals, he highly regardeth those that are poor in spirit, and pronounceth them blessed (Math: 5.3.) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; But he regardeth not those who are poor in spirituals; not them especially who boast of their spiritual riches when they have none (they that have them are thankful for them, they do not boast of them) as the Church of Laodicea did, of whom Christ said (Rev: 3.16, 17.) I will spew thee out of my mouth, because thou sayest I am rich & increased in goods, and knowest not that thou art poor. Thus you see, there are a sort of rich men, whom Christ regardeth more then the poor of that sort. But as poor and rich are distinguished merely by abundance and want, by the smallness and greatness of their portion in the things of this world, as Dives and Lazarus in the parable were, so he regardeth not the rich more then the poor. When a poor man is gracious as well as poor, God regardeth him more then any rich man who hath no grace; And when either both have grace alike, or both are alike without grace, he regardeth them both alike. When rich and poor have grace, they are both greatly regarded, and when neither of them have grace, neither of them are at all regarded by the God of all grace. Thus 'tis plain, God regardeth the rich no more then the poor, nor the poor any whit less then the rich.
The Scripture speakes of two sorts both of rich and poor men; There are men rich in spiritualls, such Christ intimates, who are (Luke 12.20.) rich towards God, or as he speakes of the Church of Smyrna (Rev: 2.9.) rich in grace, I know thy poverty, but thou art rich; That is, I know thou art poor in earthly pelfe, but rich in spiritualls. The Apostle James puts the question (Chap: 2.5.) Hath not ⟨p. 632⟩God chosen the poore of this world rich in faith, and heires of the kingdome. Now, it is most certaine, that God regardeth the rich in spiritualls, more then the poore in spiritualls, he highly regardeth those that are poore in spirit, and pronounceth them blessed (Math: 5.3.) for theirs is the kingdome of heaven; But he regardeth not those who are poore in spiritualls; not them especially who boast of their spirituall riches when they have none (they that have them are thankfull for them, they do not boast of them) as the Church of Laodicea did, of whom Christ sayd (Rev: 3.16, 17.) I will spew thee out of my mouth, because thou sayest I am rich & encreased in goods, and knowest not that thou art poore. Thus you see, there are a sort of rich men, whom Christ regardeth more then the poore of that sort. But as poore and rich are distinguished meerely by aboundance and want, by the smallness and greatness of their portion in the things of this world, as Dives and Lazarus in the parable were, so he regardeth not the rich more then the poore. When a poor man is gracious as wel as poore, God regardeth him more then any rich man who hath no grace; And when either both have grace alike, or both are alike without grace, he regardeth them both alike. When rich and poore have grace, they are both greatly regarded, and when neither of them have grace, neither of them are at all regarded by the God of all grace. Thus 'tis plaine, God regardeth the rich no more then the poore, nor the poore any whit lesse then the rich.
