Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

CHAP. V. The Third Chain is the love of the World.

3. A Third Chain wherewith these Captives are bound is the immoderate and prevailing love of the Profits and Riches of this World: This bindeth thousands fast that they will not, cannot stir or move, or come to Christ, that they may be set at liberty; these are bound with chains of gold; and because they are golden Chains, therefore they like them so much the more; the […] doth not care for cost, if by all he can […] you still in bondage; he will not grudge you the riches of the World, if he can keep you out of Heaven. Many •• ral men that have escaped the gross •••••• once of the World that are no Swearers, […] Drunkards, nor openly profane, that […] themselves with the thoughts of their supposed good condition, yet are as sure the Devil's prisoners, and in slavery and Bondage, and shall as certainly perish and be damned (except they get this bond broken) as any Drunkard in the Town, or Parish where they live. Believe this as a certain truth, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; turn and read Ephes. 5.5. Shall not the ⟨p. 78⟩Whoremonger be saved, nor the World-monger neither? Shall not the unclean person inherit the Kingdom of God, no nor the person that hath his heart and affections set upon the world? And the Holy Ghost gives a reason, because such a man is an Idolater, making his Gold his God; that love and delight, and joy which God should have is given to the world, and that God will never bear; that hope and trust which should be placed in the living God, is placed in uncertain riches, and this the jealous God will never brook. Turn again to Col. 3.5, 6. tells you this over and over, in one place after another, that so you might […] more beware of being kept in Bondage by this golden Chain, which is so very strong that the Lord doth tell us, the love of money is the root of all evil,