Take heed of too much violence after 1the world; the world cools good, affections. The earth puts out the fire. The world's silver Trumpet sounds a retreat, and calls men off from their pursuit after Heaven. The world hindered the young man from following Christ: he went away sorrowful: whereupon, saith our Saviour, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God? Luke 18. 24. Demos his Religion lay buried in the earth, 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demos hath forsake• me, having loved this present world. It was a saying of Pius Quintus, When I first ⟨p. 173⟩entered into orders, I had some good hope of my salvation; when I became a Cardinal, I doubted of it; but since I came to be Pope, I do even despair of it. Jonathan pursued the victory till he came at the honey-comb, and then he stood still, 1 Sam. 14. 27. Many are violent for the Kingdom of God, till gain or preferment offers it self; when they meet with this honey, then they stand still. The world blinds mens eyes that they do not see the way; and fetters their feet that they do not run in the way of God's Commandments. Mithridates King of Pontus being worsted by the Romans, and fearing he should not escape them, caused a great deal of silver and gold to be scattered in the ways, which while the Roman soldiers were busy in gathering, he got away from them. The like stratagem Satan useth, knowing what tempting things Riches are, he throws them in mens way, that while they are eager in gathering these he may hinder them in their pursuit of happiness. I have observed some who did once Jehu-like, drive on furiously in the cause of Religion, when the world hath come in ⟨p. 174⟩upon them, their Chariot-wheels have been pulled off, and they have driven on heavily*. Were a •an to climb up a steepy Rock, and had weights tied to his legs, they would hinder his ascent. Mens golden weights hinder them in climbing up this steepy Rock which leads to salvation. The world's music charms men asleep, and when they are asleep, they are not fit to work. A thing cannot be carried violently to two extremes at once. The ship cannot go full sail to the East and West at the same time: So a man cannot be violent for Heaven and Earth at once: he may have Christ and the world, but cannot love Christ and the world, 1 Joh. 2. 15. He that is all fire for the world, will be all ice for Heaven.
Take heed of too much violence after 1the world; the world cools good, affections. The earth puts out the fire. The world's silver Trumpet sounds a retreat, and calls men off from their pursuit after Heaven. The world hindered the young man from following Christ: he went away sorrowfull: whereupon, saith our Saviour, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God? Luke 18. 24. Demos his Religion lay buried in the earth, 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demos hath forsake• me, having loved this present world. It was a saying of Pius Quintus, When I first ⟨p. 173⟩entred into orders, I had some good hope of my salvation; when I became a Cardinal, I doubted of it; but since I came to be Pope, I do even despair of it. Jonathan pursued the victory till he came at the hony-comb, and then he stood still, 1 Sam. 14. 27. Many are violent for the Kingdom of God, till gain or preferment offers it self; when they meet with this hony, then they stand still. The world blinds mens eyes that they do not see the way; and fetters their feet that they do not run in the way of God's Commandments. Mithridates King of Pontus being worsted by the Romans, and fearing he should not escape them, caused a great deal of silver and gold to be scattered in the waies, which while the Roman souldiers were busie in gathering, he got away from them. The like stratagem Satan useth, knowing what tempting things Riches are, he throws them in mens way, that while they are eager in gathering these he may hinder them in their pursuit of happiness. I have observed some who did once Jehu-like, drive on furiously in the cause of Religion, when the world hath come in ⟨p. 174⟩upon them, their Charet-wheels have been pulled off, and they have driven on heavily*. Were a •an to climb up a steepy Rock, and had weights tied to his legs, they would hinder his ascent. Mens golden weights hinder them in climbing up this steepy Rock which leads to salvation. The world's musick charms men asleep, and when they are asleep, they are not fit to work. A thing cannot be carried violently to two extreams at once. The ship cannot go full sail to the East and West at the sametime: So a man cannot be violent for Heaven and Earth at once: he may have Christ and the world, but cannot love Christ and the world,
- 13.
- *Foenus pecuni•, funus animae.
