A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

To appearance Men of low degree are nothing, and Men of high degree are a Lie, because we are apt to trust in them: But chiefly it is incident to the Rich, they that have Riches, are apt to trust in Riches. Mark 10.23. How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God! compared with ver. 24. —Children, how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God? Now this is a secret Sin. A Man doth not think that he makes Money his Idol, if he he doth not pray or offer Sacrifices to it, or give it some perceivable Worship, and tho he use it as familiarly as any thing in a House: But this Idolatry lies within; tho a Man doth not entertain his Gold with Ceremony, yet there is his Trust and Confidence, that he shall be safe and do well, because he hath such an Estate, which he depends upon, and not upon God. We smile at the Vanity of the Heathens that worshipped Stocks and ⟨p. 35⟩Stones, and Idols of Gold and Silver; and we do worse, but more Spiritually, when our Trust is terminated in the Creature. Though we do not say to Gold, Thou art my Confidence, or you shall deliver me, or I will put my Trust in you, or use any such gross Language; yet this is the Interpretation of our Carriage. A covetous Man may speak as basely of Wealth as another; he may say, I know Gold is but refined Earth; but his Heart resteth on it as his only refuge and stay, and he thinks he and his Children cannot be happy without it; which is a great Sin, it sets up another God; chains the Heart to the World, and keeps it from good Works.

3. We do not honour God as the first Cause, when we do not observe his Providence, either in Good or Evil, either in our Crosses or Blessings. The blind World sets up an Idol called Chance and Fortune, and do not acknowledge God at the other End of Causes, as swaying all things by his Wisdom and Power. If Evil come to them, they think it is by Chance and Ill-luck, as the Philistines said,