True gain, opened in a sermon preached at Pauls, Nov. 9. 1656

The words have many particulars couched in them by way both of Supposition, and of Position. I shall reduce all unto this one Proposition; As Christ doth allow his servants to be moved by Considerations of gain in his service, so he doth withal assure us, That this gain doth not stand in winning of the world, but in saving of the soul That the soul being infinitely more precious then ⟨p. 7⟩•ll the world, therefore the gaining of the world is nothing but loss, where the loss of the soul is the purchase of that gain; inasmuch as the world being gained, cannot be kept; and the soul being lost, can never be recovered. All men have a merchandise and trade to drive in this world, whereon doth depend the issue of their profit, or damage; therein their principal wisdom is to balance and poise their gains and losses so as that they may thrive and prosper in this their trade; worldly love is a great obstruction unto the true gain which a wise Christian should pursue. They who for preserving that, do take offence at the cross of Christ, will suffer damage in their souls; the love of the world and the love of the soul being inconsistent: Since therefore both will not stand together; and of the two, the soul is much more precious and excellent then the world, therefore a wise Christian should have his trade heavenward for the enriching of his soul, rather then downward for the possession of the world.

The words have many particulars couched in them by way both of Supposition, and of Position. I shal reduce all unto this one Proposition; As Christ doth allow his servants to be moved by Considerations of gain in his service, so he doth withall assure us, That this gaine doth not stand in winning of the world, but in saving of the soule That the soul being infinitly more precious then ⟨p. 7⟩•ll the world, therefore the gaining of the world is nothing but losse, where the loss of the soul is the purchase of that gain; in asmuch as the world being gained, cannot be kept; and the soul being lost, can never be recovered. All men have a merchandise and trade to drive in this world, whereon doth depend the issue of their profit, or damage; therein their principal wisdome is to ballance and poise their gains and losses so as that they may thrive and prosper in this their trade; wordly love is a great obstruction unto the true gain which a wise Christian should pursue. They who for preserving that, do take offence at the crosse of Christ, will suffer damage in their souls; the love of the world and the love of the soul being inconsistent: Since therefore both will not stand together; and of the two, the soul is much more precious and excellent then the world, therefore a wise Christian should have his trade heavenward for the inriching of his soul, rather then downward for the possession of the world.