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…

There is a strange contradiction between mens Professions and their Practice. Ask a man which in his conscience he thinks the best, Riches or Grace, and he will answer very truly, There is no comparison, no more then between God and Mammon: Riches not to be named the same day with Grace. But observe it, and you will find no man sit still, and drowsily look when riches will drop into his mouth; but he riseth early, and goeth late to bed, his worldly heart shakes and awakeneth him, Surge, inquit Avaritia, ejah surge, negas? Instat, surge inquit, non queo, surge. He sweats, he toils, he spends his time, his studies, he ventures far and near, Per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignes.

There is a strange contradiction between mens Professions and their Practice. Ask a man which in his conscience he thinks the best, Riches or Grace, and he will answer very truly, There is no comparison, no more then berween God and Mammon: Riches not to be named the same day with Grace. But observe it, and you will finde no man sit still, and drowsily look when riches will drop into his mouth; but he riseth early, and goeth late to bed, his worldly heart shakes and awakeneth him, Surge, inquit Avaritia, ejah surge, negas? Instat, surge inquit, non queo, surge. He sweats, he toils, he spends his time, his studies, he ventures far and near, Per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignes.

But for durable riches of Grace and Glory, which our Saviour says, Must be laboured for; which Solomon ¹tells us, Must be searched and digged for as for hidden treasures, Prov. 2. 4. How few are there who evidence the truth of their profession by the measure of their diligence? who are not far more supine in their pursuance of holiness then of wealth? Surely even in this sense is that of Saint James true, Your Silver and your Gold shall rise up in judgment ²against you, and plead as Cyprian tells us, Satan will plead against wicked men by way of exprobation, I never died for them, I never made promises of eternal life unto them: So will your money say, I was never able to cleanse their Consciences, to remove their guilt or fears, to