Fifthly, men would make more account of godliness, if they counted it as gain. Did they indeed account godliness more gainful than gain, they would not put godliness away for gain, they would not prefer gain before godliness. Yea did they deem godliness the gainfullest thing in the world, they would not forgo godliness for a world of wealth, or for ought else that were in the world. But it is with it, as it is with Time. It is a common saying in every mans mouth, thatr There is nothing in the world more precious than Time, and yets there is nothing generally more trifled away than it. So of Godliness the most will (in word at least) acknowledge, that there is nothing in the world more gainful than it, and yet the most of them that so say, stick not to make it away for mere trifles.t Godly they are content to be for advantage, so long as godliness bringeth in any worldly gain with it, or so long as there is no hope of any the like gain by ungodliness. But let godliness cease to bring in such gain, they grow soon weary of it: or let but the least hope of such gain by ungodliness show it self, and they are ready presently to exchange godliness for it.u What should it avail a man, saith our Saviour, to win the whole world, and lose his own soul? It were no gain for a man to get the whole world by ungodliness; since he must withal lose himself, his life, his soul for his labour. But we are ready and willing, the most of us, to part with godliness, and forgo good conscience, for far less matters than that cometh to, for a penny or an half-penny toy now and then; to exchange it for some small piece or patch of the world, for some sorry snip or shred of the pelf of it, or for ought else that we have some fond fancy unto, the covetous Worldling for a little Temporary treasure, and the lascivious wanton for a little transitory pleasure: likex profane Esau, that sold his birth-right for a mess of broth, andy Solomons unjust Judge, that would do injustice for a morsel of bread, andz the false Prophets in Ezekiels time, that would pollute Gods name for a handful of barley. That which evidently showeth at how low a rate ⟨p. 144⟩most men value godliness.
Fifthly, men would make more account of godlinesse, if they counted it as gaine. Did they indeed account godlinesse more gainfull than gaine, they would not put godlinesse away for gaine, they would not preferre gaine before godlinesse. Yea did they deeme godlinesse the gainfullest thing in the world, they would not forgoe godlinesse for a world of wealth, or for ought else that were in the world. But it is with it, as it is with Time. It is a common saying in every mans mouth, thatr There is nothing in the world more precious than Time, and yets there is nothing generally more trifled away than it. So of Godlinesse the most will (in word at least) acknowledge, that there is nothing in the world more gainfull than it, and yet the most of them that so say, sticke not to make it away for meere trifles.t Godly they are content to be for advantage, so long as godlinesse bringeth in any worldly gaine with it, or so long as there is no hope of any the like gaine by ungodlinesse. But let godlinesse cease to bring in such gaine, they grow soone weary of it: or let but the least hope of such gain by ungodlines shew it selfe, and they are ready presently to exchange godlinesse for it.u What should it availe a man, saith our Saviour, to winne the whole world, and lose his owne soule? It were no gaine for a man to get the whole world by ungodlinesse; since hee must withall lose himselfe, his life, his soule for his labour. But we are ready and willing, the most of us, to part with godlinesse, and forgoe good conscience, for farre lesse matters than that commeth to, for a penny or an halfe-penny toy now and then; to exchange it for some small peece or patch of the world, for some sory snip or shred of the pelfe of it, or for ought else that wee have some fond fancie unto, the covetous Worldling for a little Temporary treasure, and the lascivious wanton for a little transitory pleasure: likex prophane Esau, that sold his birth-right for a messe of broth, andy Salomons unjust Judge, that would doe injustice for a morsell of bread, andz the false Prophets in Ezechiels time, that would pollute Gods name for a handfull of barley. That which evidently sheweth at how low a rate ⟨p. 144⟩
- r[Greek or Hebrew]. Theophrastus apud Laertium & Anticho apud Plutarch. Antonio.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Theophrastus apud Laertium & Anticho apud Plutarch. Antonio.
- sQuem mihi dabis qui pretium aliquod tempori ponat. Senec. epist. 1. Non exiguum temporis habemus, sed multum perdimus: non inopes ejus, sed prodigi sumus: astricti sunt homines in continendo patrimonio: simul ad temporis jacturam ventum est, profusissimi in eo, cujus unius avaritia honesta est. Idem de brev. vit. c. 1. & 3.
- tAd mercedem pii sumus; ad mercedem impii. honesta quamdiu aliqua illis spes inest, sequimur: in contrarium transituri, si plus scelera promittant. Senec. ep. 113. Et genus & virtus, nisi cum re, vilior alga est. Horat. serm. lib. 2 sat. 5.
- uMatth. 16.26.
- xHeb. 12 13. ex Gen. 25.33.
- yProv. 28.21. Frusto panis conduci potest, vel uti taceat, vel uti loquatur. Cato in Caelium apud Gellium l. 1. c. 15.
- zEzech. 13.9.
