2. Your souls are more precious than the whole world; our Saviour esteemed them so, and he best knew the worth of souls, who knew the making ⟨p. 8⟩of them, and made purchase of so many lost souls, see Matth. 16. 26. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Suppose that you had your hearts-desire in the world, that your bags should throng in your Coffers, till there were no more room; your gold and silver should increase without number; suppose you had great possessions abroad, large revenues, stately houses, fruitful gardens and orchards, pleasant groves and walks, spacious fields and meadows, which as the Poet saith, would weary the wings of a Kite to fly over in a day; suppose that you had sweet and beautiful wives at home, like loving Hinds and pleasant Roes unto you, like fruitful Vines about your houses; that you had towardly and hopeful Children like Olive-plants round about your Tables; that you had most kind and faithful friends of most pleasant conversation; that you had servants, horses, chariots, coaches, dogs, hawks, and all sorts of serviceable and delightful creatures, the best and in the greatest number at your commands to attend your pleasure: suppose you were clothed with purple, wrapped in fine linen, adorned with gold and silver, and precious stones, and had the most rich and glorious Attire that the greatest cost and art could make for you: suppose that your food were most delicious, that Air, Earth, and the Sea were ransacked to provide dainties for your Table; that your courses were served up with the most rich and generous Wine, the most sweet and harmonious music: suppose that you were laden with titles of honour, and had all the Crowns and Sceptres of the earth laid ⟨p. 9⟩at your feet, and that the whole world had you in the highest esteem, and were in willing subjection unto you; yet what would it profit you to gain all these things, or any thing else that the heart of man could desire in the world, and lose your souls, which are a thousand fold more precious: the gain of these things are but for the body, and but for a while; whereas the loss of the soul is for ever; and when the soul is lost, all is lost; when the soul leaveth the body, a period is put to all earthly enjoyments;
2. Your souls are more precious than the whole world; our Saviour esteem'd them so, and he best knew the worth of souls, who knew the making ⟨p. 8⟩of them, and made purchase of so many lost souls, see Matth. 16. 26. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Suppose that you had your hearts-desire in the world, that your baggs should throng in your Coffers, till there were no more room; your gold and silver should encrease without number; suppose you had great possessions abroad, large revenues, stately houses, fruitful gardens and orchards, pleasant groves and walks, spacious fields and meadows, which as the Poet saith, would weary the wings of a Kite to fly over in a day; suppose that you had sweet and beautiful wives at home, like loving Hindes and pleasant Roes unto you, like fruitful Vines about your houses; that you had towardly and hopeful Children like Olive-plants round about your Tables; that you had most kind and faithfull friends of most pleasant conversation; that you had servants, horses, chariots, coaches, doggs, hawks, and all sorts of serviceable and delightful creatures, the best and in the greatest number at your commands to attend your pleasure: suppose you were cloathed with purple, wrapped in fine linnen, adorned with gold and silver, and pretious stones, and had the most rich and glorious Attire that the greatest cost and art could make for you: suppose that your food were most delicious, that Aire, Earth, and the Sea were ransack'd to provide dainties for your Table; that your courses were served up with the most rich and generous Wine, the most sweet and harmonious musick: suppose that you were laden with titles of honour, and had all the Crowns and Scepters of the earth laid ⟨p. 9⟩at your feet, and that the whole world had you in the highest esteem, and were in willing subjection unto you; yet what would it profit you to gain all these things, or any thing else that the heart of man could desire in the world, and lose your souls, which are a thousand fold more pretious: the gain of these things are but for the body, and but for a while; whereas the loss of the soul is for ever; and when the soul is lost, all is lost; when the soul leaveth the body, a period is put to all earthly enjoyments;
