Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety

1. Omissions of Duty, neglect of Closet and Family-Prayer, worldliness is the root, the heart is so eager after riches, that they have no time, nor leisure for better things; when they have time, yet the worldly heart is indisposed to perform them, and is listless to heavenly employment.

2. Commissions of Sin, the use of false balances, and deceitful measures, over-reaching, breach of promises, falsifying their words, speaking often against Conscience; the Seller commending his goods beyond, and above what he knows them to be, affirming they cost them more than they did, and if he sells them not for so much, he shall be a loser by them, and all this to screw the Buyer to an higher price; and the Buyer discommends the Sellers ware, saying, it is naught, it is naught; to bring him down to a lower rare, but all this cometh from this evil bitter root, the immoderate love of the world. Many men engage in company and are over-taken with excessive drinking, and when reproved, will reply, it was with such as were my Customers, and I cannot avoid such occasions, if I will not drink with some, they will not trade with me, except I go to the Ale-house, or the Tavern, I shall lose the taking of many a pound. Shall you so? yes, and would prevent many a drunken bout. But what have you houses of your own for, and what are your Shops for, and what is the Exchange for, but for your trades and dealing in the world? It is a shame, that it is brought in to so great a custom, that many can't buy and sell but over a pot. But if you do go, what ⟨p. 80⟩need you drink unto excess? do others urge thee? but they cannot, they do not force thee, is it not thine own hand that often lifts the glass unto thy mouth? and is not thy hand commanded by thy own will to do it? thou hadst better be without such a Customer, and without the profit thou gainest by him, than to sin, and wound, and lose thy Soul. But this branch of wickedness groweth on this cursed Root, the love of Money, which if some may gain, they will go from one drinking place into another, from morning to night, one day after another, yes, and to Hell too at the last, if they might but gain, what their heart doth so much love while they are here. By this bond was Balaam bound, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,