The rich mans charge delivered in a sermon at the Spittle upon Monday in…The rich mans charge delivered in a sermon at the Spittle vpon Monday in…

Besides, they are in more danger; the richest Land is more subject to be overgrown with Weeds and Thistles; great men are apt to be hardened, ensnared, tempted unto more pride and stubbornness. And as they are under greater danger, so they are under a greater trust, and are responsible to their Lord for more Talents; their conversion is of a more general influence and concernment, then that of mean and private persons; ⟨p. 9⟩their meekness and professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ, doth give much glory and abundant thanksgivings unto God; and therefore no where is the charge more seasonable, Charge those that are rich in this World. They say the crowing of a Cock will cause the trembling of a Lion: What is a Bee to a Bear, or a Mouse to an Elephant? Yet if a Bee get his sting into the Nose of a Bear, or a Mouse creep into the Trunk of an Elephant; how do so little Creatures upon that advantage, torment the greatest? Now the richest men have a tender part, into which a sting will enter. The Conscience is as sensible in a Prince, as in a Beggar; and therefore the one as well as the other equally exposed to the charge of God. And therefore the Apostle as he doth in humility beseech and exhort, so he doth in authority give commandments by the Lord Jesus unto the Church, 1 Thes. 4. 1, 2, 11. And four times in one Chapter, speaketh in that language of Authority, 2 Thes. 3. 4, 6, 10, 12. A Physician sometimes gives a Cordial to a poor man, and a Vomit to a Prince; tempers his Physic not to the dignity of the person, but to the quality of the disease: And so must the Ministers of the Gospel. Eadem omnibus debetur charitas, non eadem omnibus adhibenda medicina; ¹aliis blanda est, aliis severa, nulli inimica.

Besides, they are in more danger; the richest Land is more subject to be overgrown with Weeds and Thistles; great men are apt to be hardned, ensnared, tempted unto more pride and stubbornness. And as they are under greater danger, so they are under a greater trust, and are responsible to their Lord for more Talents; their conversion is of a more general influence and concernment, then that of mean and private persons;