And why may not you obtain these glorious good things, viz. Union and Communion with God, Pardon of Sin, Peace of Conscience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, as well as others? They were commonly given in the time of the Gospel to the Poor. Come, Poverty, these things are thine (as sure as God is in Heaven, if thou wilt but let me in) poor Lazarus understood them, and experienced the sweetness of them, and shall to Eternity. And then lastly, have you no need of these good things of mine, because they may not so directly answer your outward necessity? Are not the necessities of your Soul more to be minded than to get store of Meat, Drink, Clothes, Silver and Gold? What are all these things to the love and favour of God, an Interest in Christ, and to have a Right to the Kingdom of Heaven? How soon, alas, may your Life be gone, and what good will those things do you; do you not see they perish in the using? And as they are corruptible, so likewise they can never satisfy nor fill the desires of your Soul, nor do they suit the necessities thereof. Consider, can any of ⟨p. 50⟩these things make thy Soul happy? Can Gold or Silver enrich it, or the rarest worldly dainties feed it, or Wine cheer it? No, Poverty, if thou hadst the things of this World in never so great abundance, yet till thou lettest me in, and makest me thy chief Companion, thy Soul would be miserable. What is it to have plenty of all good things, and no God, no Christ, no Pardon, no Peace, but contrariwise, the Curse of God, Horror of Conscience, and Hell at last? Thou wilt, Poverty, become more happy if thou dost open the door to me, and thou and I dwell together, than the proudest and haughtiest Monarch in the World; thy Comforts, inward Peace and Joy will excel theirs, and thy Riches be more abundant in Quantity, besides the rare and excellent Quality of them; nay, and thy Glory will be far more transcendent; and besides, 'twill abide with thee to the days of Eternity,
As touching-Carping Care, he hath almost broke thy heart already; he will not let thee sleep a nights, he by telling thee of thy wants and necessities sadly disturbs thy mind, but never helped thee to a Farthing in all his life, and why shouldst thou hearken to him any longer, he is thy utter Enemy as well as mine: Hear what the Lord Christ saith, Who by taking thought can add one Cubit unto his Stature, Mat. 6.27.
And why may not you obtain these glorious good things, viz. Union and Communion with God, Pardon of Sin, Peace of Conscience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost, as well as others? They were commonly given in the time of the Gospel to the Poor. Come, Poverty, these things are thine (as sure as God is in Heaven, if thou wilt but let me in) poor Lasarus understood them, and experienced the sweetness of them, and shall to Eternity. And then lastly, have you no need of these good things of mine, because they may not so directly answer your outward necessity? Are not the necessities of your Soul more to be minded than to get store of Meat, Drink, Clothes, Silver and Gold? What are all these things to the love and favour of God, an Interest in Christ, and to have a Right to the Kingdom of Heaven? How soon, alas, may your Life be gone, and what good will those things do you; do you not see they perish in the using? And as they are corruptible, so likewise they can never satisfie nor fill the desires of your Soul, nor do they suit the necessities thereof. Consider, can any of ⟨p. 50⟩these things make thy Soul happy? Can Gold or Silver enrich it, or the rarest worldly dainties feed it, or Wine chear it? No, Poverty, if thou hadst the things of this World in never so great abundance, yet till thou lettest me in, and makest me thy chief Companion, thy Soul would be miserable. What is it to have plenty of all good things, and no God, no Christ, no Pardon, no Peace, but contrarywise, the Curse of God, Horror of Conscience, and Hell at last? Thou wilt, Poverty, become more happy if thou dost open the door to me, and thou and I dwell together, than the proudest and haughtiest Monarh in the World; thy Comforts, inward Peace and Joy will excell theirs, and thy Riches be more abundant in Quantity, besides the rare and excellent Quality of them; nay, and thy Glory will be far more transcendent; and besides, 'twill abide with thee to the daies of Eternity,
As touching-Carping Care, he hath almost broke thy heart already; he will not let thee sleep a nights, he by telling thee of thy wants and necessities sadly disturbs thy mind, but never helped thee to a Farthing in all his life, and why shouldst thou hearken to him any longer, he is thy utter Enemy as well as mine: Hear what the Lord Christ saith, Who by taking thought can add one Cubit unto his Stature, Mat. 6.27.
