A42350:83
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…
The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at the funeral of the Right Honourable the Lady Mary Vere, relict of Sir Horace Vere, Baron of Tilbury, on the 10th of January, 1671, at Castle Heviningham in Essex by William Gurnall ...
London: printed by J.M. for Ralph Smith, 1672
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.
Secondly, This convicts the carnal world of gross folly, in refusing the service of God, where the reward of their labour is so sure and incomprehensibly great; and for misplacing their pains and labour for that which is neither sure to be obtained, nor much worth the having, if it be gotten; and so in both respects labour in vain. First, the sinner labours for what he is not sure to obtain. The world hath not to this day been able to give a certain rule whereby the covetous Worldling, can be sure after all his toil and drudgery, that he shall be rich; nor the ambitious, that he shall get up the hill of honour, and not catch a fall in climbing it: the world is too like a Lottery, where men know not whether they shall draw a Prize or Blank. Though all come with heads full of hopes and projects into the world, yet most go out with hearts full of shame and sorrow for their disappointments. But in ⟨p. 99⟩Religion, there is such a certain rule laid down in the good Word of God, that whoever walks by it, Peace is upon him; say ye to the Righteous it shall be well with him. Mark the Perfect man, 1and behold the Upright, for the end of that man is Peace, Psalm 37.37. They that wait on the Lord shall not be ashamed, because not disappointed of their hope; but some carnal men will tell you, whatever the world is to others, yet they can say their labour is not in vain. This worldling, who hath prospered in his way, can show you his filled bags, and tell you how many hundreds a year he puts up as clear gain into his Purse. The Voluptuous person will tell you stories of the many merry Meetings he hath been at, Months and Years of Pleasure he hath enjoyed; saying with the carnal Jews, These are the rewards our Lovers have given us, Hosea 2.12. How then say you, that we labour upon such uncertainties? In the second place therefore, the prize that sinners get by all their ⟨p. 100⟩Labour, it is not so much worth, as to save them from losing their Labour. For First, What they have got will ere long leave them. Secondly, It will deceive them. Thirdly, It will damn them. First, It will leave them. It is not in the power of mans wit to devise a way, how the Ambitious man should keep his honour long, except his preferment could change his Nature, and make him immortal; he is, alas, still of the same clay with other men, as he was before.