The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

Obj. 3. If I should now in my Youth set my self to the seeking and serving of God, I must look to be low and poor in the world, for who ever grew rich by a strict and holy walking? Yea, have not the rich men of the World raised their Families to such Greatness and Grandeur by wicked practices, and unconscionable dealing?

Obj. 3. If I should now in my Youth set my self to the seeking and serving of God, I must look to be low and poor in the world, for who ever grew rich by a strict and holy walking? Yea, have not the rich men of the World raised their Families to such Greatness and Grandeure by wicked practices, and unconscionable dealing?

Ans. I. True it is, the wicked, for the most part, thrive and prosper in the World; God giving them their portion in this World, to make them the more inexcusable.

II. It is not Godliness, but rather the want thereof that often occasioneth poverty. The Wise Man saith expressly, Prov. 23. 21. The Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to poverty. And speaking of the sin of Whoredom saith, Prov. 6. 26. By the means of a Whorish Woman, a man is brought to a piece of Bread; that is, to such extreme poverty, that he hath scarce a piece of bread to eat, but is forced to beg from door to door for a morsel of bread: So that it is Wickedness, and not Holiness, that brings beggary and ruin. There is, I know, a Devilish Proverb, frequent in the mouths of wicked and profane men, That Piety, and Plain Dealing is a Jewel; but he that useth it shall die a Beggar. But much good may it do the unrighteous with all their gettings, the godly shall never be so poor, but that they shall have riches enough.