Captives bound in chains made free

3. A Third Chain wherewith these Captives are bound is the immoderate and prevailing love of the profits and riches of this world: This bindeth thousands fast that they will not, cannot stir or move, or come to Christ, that they may be set at liberty; these are bound with chains of gold; and because they are golden chains, therefore they like them so much the more; the Devil doth not care for cost, if by all he can keep you still in bondage; he will not grudge you the riches of the world, if he can keep you out of heaven. Many moral men that have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, that are no Swearers, nor Drunkards, nor openly profane, that bless themselves with the thoughts of their supposed good condition, yet are as sure the Devils prisoners, and in slavery and bondage, and shall as certainly perish and be damned (except they get this bond broken) as any Drunkard in the Town, or Parish where they live. Believe this as a certain truth, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; turn and read Ephes. 5. 5. Shall not the Whoremonger be saved, nor the World▪ monger neither? Shall not the unclean ⟨p. 69⟩person inherit the Kingdom of God, no nor the person that hath his heart and affections set upon the world? And the Holy Ghost gives a reason, because such a man is an Idolater, making his Gold his god; that love and delight, and joy which God should have is given to the world, and that God will never bear; that hope and trust which should be placed in the living God, is placed in uncertain riches, and this the jealous God will never brook. Turn again to Col. 3. 5, 6. God tells you this over and over, in one place after another, that so you might the more beware of being kept in bondage by this golden chain, which is so very strong that the Lord doth tell us, the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. There are many branches of sin which shoot out in the lives of men, but all do grow upon this root, the heart being fixed in its love unto the world.

3. A Third Chain wherewith these Captives are bound is the immoderate and prevailing love of the profits and riches of this world: This bindeth thousands fast that they will not, cannot stir or move, or come to Christ, that they may be set at liberty; these are bound with chains of gold; and because they are golden chains, therefore they like them so much the more; the Devil doth not care for cost, if by all he can keep you still in bondage; he will not grudg you the riches of the world, if he can keep you out of heaven. Many moral men that have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, that are no Swearers, nor Drunkards, nor openly profane, that bless themselves with the thoughts of their supposed good condition, yet are as sure the Devils prisoners, and in slavery and bondage, and shall as certainly perish and be damned (except they get this bond broken) as any Drunkard in the Town, or Parish where they live. Believe this as a certain truth, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; turn and read