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

And secondly he robs our parents of us, making us the object of their grief; And thirdly he robs the Church and Common-wealth of us, by making us unprofitable Instruments. And beloved if you look into the world you shall find it true: as for example look unto young men, they are busied in eating and drinking and rising up to play, but never regard the strengthening of the Inward man, and so having poured out their souls to vanity, become unprofitable to others and dishonourable in their generations. And beloved, the soul is unto some as the salt is unto meat; only to keep it from putrefaction, for the body is advanced into the souls place, but what is the reason that we put it thus? doth not this prove that true which Solomon saith, I have seen servants ride and masters go on foot, that is when you employ your selves and spend your time and pains in getting of outward dignity, and decking the outward man, and little regarding the beautifying of the Inward man. You prefer dross before gold, copper before silver, you set the body in the souls place, you set the servant on horseback, but the master must go on foot: in a word you do not things like or beseeming Christians: and on the contrary, you do things like your selves when you prefer the Inward man first.

And secondly he robs our parents of us, making us the object of their grief; And thirdly he robs the Church and Common-wealth of us, by making us unprofitable Instruments. And beloved if you look into the world you shall find it true: as for example look unto young men, they are busied in eating and drinking and rising up to play, but never regard the strengthening of the Inward man, and so having poured out their souls to vanity, become unprofitable to others and dishonourable in their generations. And beloved, the soul is unto some as the salt is unto meat; onely to keep it from putrifaction, for the body is advanced into the souls place, but what is the reason that we put it thus? doth not this prove that true which Solomon saith, I have seen servants ride and masters go on foot, that is when you imploy your selves and spend your time and pains in getting of outward dignitie, and decking the outward man, and little regarding the beautifying of the Inward man. You prefer dross before gold, copper before silver, you set the body in the souls place, you set the servant on horseback, but the master must go on foot: in a word you do not things like or beseeming Christians: and on the contrary, you doe things like your selves when you prefer the Inward man first.