2. They are uncertain, 1 Timothy §26.17. they are ever upon the wing: Outward comforts, as one saith*, are Dei ludibria, quae sursum ac deorsum ⟨p. 314⟩suo coelo feruntur, like Tennis-balls, which are bandied up and down from one to another. 3. They §3are vexing: It was a fruit of the curse, Genesis. 3.18. Thorns and thistles shall the earth brin• forth: The comforts of this life have more or less of the Thorn in them: They are sweet-briar: Riches may well be called Thorns, they pierce both head and heart, the one with care of getting, the other with grief §4in parting with them. 4. They are dangerous, they oft turn to the hurt of the owner, Ecclesiastes 5.13. they are* dulce venenum; a sweet poison; how many have pulled down their souls to build up an estate! A ship may be so loaded with gold and silver that it sinks; A gift blinds the eye*, the same may be said of riches, the golden dust of the world puts out the eye of the soul, ⟨p. 315⟩that men neither know God nor themselves: Judas (as Tertullian thinks) was pretty honest till he carried the bag*. It's hard to be in office, and not put conscience out of office; oh what are these present things in comparison of things to come! Christ who had all riches, scorned these earthly riches▪ he was borne poor, the Manger was his cradle, the Cobwebs his curtains: he lived poor, He had not where to lay his head*; he died poor; for as Austin observes, when Christ died, he made no Will, he had no Crown-lands, only his coat was left, and that the Soldiers parted among them; and his Funeral was suitable, for as he was borne in another mans house, so he was buried in another mans Tomb. To show how he did contemn earthly dignities and possessions. His ⟨p. 316⟩Kingdom was not of this world: Suppose an hour of adversity come, can these present things quiet the mind in trouble? riches are called thick clay*, which will sooner break the back, then lighten the heart: When pangs of Conscience and pangs of Death come, and no hope of things to come, what peace can the world give at such a time? surely it can yield no more comfort then a silken stocking to a man whose leg is out of joint; a fresh colour delights the eye, but if the eye be sore, this colour will not heal it; Riches avail not in the day of wrath*. Thou canst not hold thy wedge of gold as a Screen to keep off the fire of Gods justice:
2. They are uncertain, 1 Timothy §26.17. they are ever upon the wing: Outward comforts, as one saith*, are Dei ludibria, quae sursum ac deorsum ⟨p. 314⟩suo coelo feruntur, like Tennis-bals, which are bandied up and downe from one to another. 3. They §3are vexing: It was a fruit of the curse, Genesis. 3.18. Thorns and thistles shall the earth brin• forth: The comforts of this life have more or lesse of the Thorn in them: They are sweet-briar: Riches may well be called Thorns, they pierce both head and heart, the one with care of getting, the other with griefe §4in parting with them. 4. They are dangerous, they oft turn to the hurt of the owner, Ecclesiastes 5.13. they are* dulce venenum; a sweet poison; how many have pull'd down their soules to build up an estate! A ship may bee so loaded with gold and silver that it sinks; A gift blindes the eye*, the same may bee said of riches, the golden dust of the world puts out the eye of the soule, ⟨p. 315⟩that men neither know God nor themselves: Iudas (as Tertullian thinks) was pretty honest till he carried the bag*. It's hard to bee in office, and not put conscience out of office; oh what are these present things in comparison of things to come! Christ who had all riches, scorn'd these earthly riches▪ hee was borne poore, the Manger was his cradle, the Cobwebs his curtaines: hee lived poore, Hee had not where to lay his head*; hee died poore; for as Austin observes, when Christ died, hee made no Will, hee had no Crown-lands, only his coate was left, and that the Souldiers parted among them; and his Funeral was suitable, for as he was borne in another mans house, so hee was buried in another mans Tombe. To shew how hee did contemne earthly dignities and possessions. His
- *Plato.
- *Bern.
- *Deut. 6.19.
- *Usque ad […] •ssici•m.Usque ad 〈…〉 •ssici•m.
- *Mat 8.20▪
- *Hab. 2.6
- *Prov. 11.4.
