The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer
The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believer by Thomas Watson.The Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer by Thomas Watson.
Thomas Watson d. 1686London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1654
[18], 318 p. · 51k words · Wing W1113 · ESTC R27057
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And for riches (the silver goddess which men a door,) what are they? 1. They are §1vain: I gathered me silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces, Eccl. 2.8. and behold, all was vanity, vers. 11. That must needs be vain which cannot fill the heart. Covetousness is a dry drunkenness; the more men have, the more they thirst;1 like the fire, the more fuel is thrown into it, the more it is inflamed.
And for riches (the silver goddess which men a dore,) what are they? 1. They are §1vain: I gathered me silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces, Eccl. 2.8. and behold, all was vanity, vers. 11. That must needs bee vain which cannot fill the heart. Covetousness is a drie drunkenness; the more men have, the more they thirst;1 like the fire, the more fuell is thrown into it, the more it is inflamed.
suo coelo feruntur, like Tennis-balls, which are bandied up and down from one to another. 3. They
§3
are 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
§4
in 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
. 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 ⟨p. 316⟩Kingdome was not of this world: Suppose an houre of adversity come, can these present things quiet the minde in trouble? riches are call'd thick clay*, which will sooner breake the backe, 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 stockin to a man whose legge is out of joynt; a fresh colour delights the eye, but if the eye be sore, this colour will not heale it; Riches availe not in the day of wrath*. Thou canst not hold thy wedge of gold as a Screene to keepe off the fire of Gods justice:
Let this sound a retreat to call us off from the immoderate pursuit of present things, to labour for things to come; what are these nether ⟨p. 317⟩springs to the upper springs? As Abraham said, Lord, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless*? So say, Lord, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go Christless? Luther did solemnly protest, God should not put him off with these things: Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo*: Oh labour for those blessings in heavenly places*. Things present are pleasing, but not permanent; be not content with a few gifts: Abraham gave unto the sons of the Concubines gifts, and sent them away; but unto Isaac, Abraham gave all that he had*. Reprobates may have a few jewels and ear-rings which God scatters with an indifferent hand, these with the sons of the Concubines are put off with gifts, but labour you for the portion*, that portion which the ⟨p. 318⟩Saints and Angels are spending upon, and can never spend: get by faith into Christ, and then all is yours; so saith the Apostle, All things are yours, and ye are Christs.
Let this sound a retreate to call us off from the immoderate pursuite of present things, to labour for things to come; what are these neather ⟨p. 317⟩springs to the upper springs? As Abraham said, Lord, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless*? So say, Lord, what wilt thou give mee, seeing I go Christlesse? Luther did solemnly protest, God should not put him off with these things: Valde protestatus sum me nolle sic satiari ab eo*: Oh labour for those blessings in heavenly places*. Things present are pleasing, but not permanent; be not content with a few gifts: Abraham gave unto the sons of the Concubines gifts, and sent them away; but unto Isaac, Abraham gave all that he had*. Reprobates may have a few jewels and ear-rings which God scatters with an indifferent hand, these with the sons of the Concubines are put off with gifts, but labout you for the portion*, that portion which the ⟨p. 318⟩Saints and Angels are spending upon, and can never spend: get by faith into Christ, and then all is yours; so saith the Apostle, All things are yours, and ye are Christs.
