Sermons preached

7. This Life was given us to seek a better, and therefore the Felicity of it must not be measured by a more ample Portion of Food and Raiment, but as we are fitted and prepared for the better Life, which is the end and scope of Life it self. All these things are but your Provision in the way to Heaven, therefore not principally to be sought after: your business is to serve God and seek the Salvation of your Souls. Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; that is, there will be enough to sustain us in our Journey to Heaven, whilst we are preparing for Eternity, and therefore we should be content.

8. Many times the less we have in this Life, the more fervently is the Life to come sought after. A moderate Estate is freest from Temptations. Abundance of all things without any want inclines us to a forgetfulness of God; as on the other side, perpetual want without any cheerful taste of God's Goodness, disposes Men to Atheism. In the two extremes, Religion is either Starved, or Choked. We see it in Countries and Persons: in Countries, Sodom and Gomorrah which was as the Garden of God, Gen. 13. 10. was the first instance of unnatural Sin, and an example of supernatural Judgment. Some in great Prosperity have no thoughts of God and the World to come; others that live in sordid Poverty, never consider the goodness of God, and so live and die miserable Creatures. The middle estate is freest from danger, and Religion is most secured in it. Prov. 30. 8, 9. Give me neither Poverty nor ⟨p. 240⟩Riches; feed me with Food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the Name of God in vain. Pride and Insolency are incident to the one, and any base dealing to the other. A great Estate, like a rank Soil, is more apt to breed Weeds; and bitter Necessity betrays us to any base shift for our Sustenance: therefore if God gives us any thing to live upon, we should be content.