Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Again, when an action is done, consider what it is that runs in thy thoughts, when the business is past, consider about what thy mind is most solicitous, whether about thy credit, to think what am I thought of? or about thy riches or honour, what have I gotten by it? Or whether art thou solicitous whether the business of Christ hath succeeded? whether the affairs of the Church hath prospered: for herein is the trial of a man. A man is content to be a loser for Christ, when he is willing to lose that which is dearest to him. As one saith, it is a mans excellency, to be content to lose his credit with men rather then his conscience towards God: so I say when a man is careless what becomes of whatsoever belongs to him, but all his solicitousness, all his study, and taking care, is for the business of Christ. This was Saint Pauls case too, he cared not so the work went on, what became of himself. So you see here what the condition is that is required, to seek the things of Jesus Christ, you must seek them diligently, and faithfully, that is you must seek them as you seek your own things: for when a man hath any thing to do of his own, he doth it willingly, and diligently, and faithfully, after that manner you ought to do the things of Jesus Christ.

Again, when an action is done, consider what it is that runs in thy thoughts, when the business is past, consider about what thy mind is most solicitous, whether about thy credit, to think what am I thought of? or about thy riches or honor, what have I gotten by it? Or whether art thou solicitous whether the business of Christ hath succeeded? whether the affairs of the Church hath prospered: for herein is the tryal of a man. A man is content to be a losser for Christ, when he is willing to lose that which is dearest to him. As one saith, it is a mans excellency, to be content to lose his credit with men rather then his conscience towards God: so I say when a man is careless what becomes of whatsoever belongs to him, but all his solicitousness, all his study, and taking care, is for the business of Christ. This was Saint Pauls case too, he cared not so the work went on, what became of himself. So you see here what the condition is that is required, to seek the things of Jesus Christ, you must seek them diligently, and faithfully, that is you must seek them as you seek your own things: for when a man hath any thing to do of his own, he doth it willingly, and diligently, and faithfully, after that manner you ought to do the things of Jesus Christ.