A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

That 'tis an odious filthiness to make Religion serve our ¹bellies, and to turn charity into luxury. This is here charged upon them, and often practised in the world, Rom. 16. 17. They serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; Christ hath the name, but the belly the respect: so Phil. 3. 19. whose God is the belly. When men aim at nothing but their own ease and pleasure, they set the belly in Gods stead: Among the Papists, Religious houses are but so many s•yes of filthiness; and the charity of well meaning persons diverted, to feed the luxury of a few slow-bellies: Well then, those that live upon Church maintenance, should be the more sober and temperate; though a double portion will well become them that take double pains, yet you should take heed of luxury, that you may not be corrupted with ease, that you may have enough for charity; that you may silence the clamours of the world, your temperance and ⟨p. 411⟩sobriety should be known to all men. Paul giveth such an account of his life, as will shame most ministers when they think of it, 2 Cor. 11. 27. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; and Paul had his enforced fasts, his voluntary fasts, notwithstanding his great pains; our lives should carry some proportion; we do not always suffer persecution▪ but we should still have a weaned heart in the fullest estate that doth befall us: certainly maintenance would be more cheerfully given, if well used,

That 'tis an odious filthiness to make Religion serve our ¹bellies, and to turn charity into luxury. This is here charged upon them, and often practised in the world, Rom. 16. 17. They serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; Christ hath the name, but the belly the respect: so