Certain sermons, first preached, and after published at several times, by M. Thomas Gataker…Certaine sermons, first preached, and after published at severall times, by M. Thomas Gataker…

there only we strain courtesy, and give every one the way of us. And as our Saviour telleth the Scribes and Pharisees, that^g the very Publicans and Harlots might go into the kingdom of Heaven before them: So not a few among us will suffer the very Pagans and Papists, little better than Pagans, if not worse many of them than they, the very Heathen and Heretics to go into Heaven before them, ere they will strive to out-go them in goodness and godliness.

there only we strain courtesie, and give every one the way of us. And as our Saviour telleth the Scribes and Pharisees, that^g the very Publicans and Harlots might goe into the kingdome of Heaven before them: So not a few among us will suffer the very Pagans and Papists, little better than Pagans, if not worse many of them than they, the very Heathen and Heretikes to goe into Heaven before them, ere they will strive to out-goe them in goodnesse and godlinesse.

1. gMattb 21.31.

Thirdly, men would be more affected with it, if they supposed any matter of Gain to be in it.^h The covetous miser, saith the Heathen man, while the people either curse or hiss at him abroad, yet he pleaseth and cheereth himself the whilst with the sight or the consideration of his substance at home. It doth a man good at the very heart, even to think upon his riches, and butⁱ to look upon his treasure. It will make our hearts to spring and leap within us for joy, to have sudden news brought us of some rich legacy, or large patrimony by some means befallen us. But of this spiritual wealth and gain most men are merely stupid and senseless: No more moved commonly or affected, when either (if any time at least they so do,) they think on it, or when they hear it spoken of in the Pulpit, than (as a Philosopher said sometime of an ignorant Dolt sitting in the Theatre, where the seats were of marble, that