a Snare, and into many foolish and hurtful Lufts, which drown Men in Deftruction, and Perdition. a The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil; which, while fome have coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows: But thou, O Man of God, flee these things. b Lay not up for your felves Treasures upon Earth, where Moth and Ruft doth corrupt, and where Thieves break through and steal: but lay up for your felves Treasures in Heaven, where neither Moth nor Ruft doth corrupt, and where Thieves do not break through nor fteal: For where your Treasure is, there will be alfo. your Heart Rejoice not because thy Wealth is great, and because thine Hand hath gotten much. Will God esteem thy Riches? No, not Gold, nor all the Forces of Strength. d Godliness, with Contentment, is great Gain: For we brought nothing into this World; and it is certain we can carry nothing out. e A little that a righteous Man hath is better than the Riches of many wicked. f Better is a little with the Fear of the Lord, than great Treasure and Trouble therewith. g He that is greedy of Gain troubleth his own House. h He that maketh hafte to be rich shall not be a An Inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof fhall not be bleffed. b Woe to him that ladeth himself with thick Clay. c Woe unto you that are rich; for ye have received your Confolation. d No covetous Man, who is an Idolater, hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Chrift. And how hard is it for them that truft in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! • Woe unto them that joyn House to House, that lay Field to Field, till there be no place; that they may be placed alone in the midst of the Earth. f Woe to him that coveteth, that he may fet his Neft on high; that he may be delivered from the Power of Evil. 8 Curfed Children are they, who have an Heart exercised with covetous practices. h Give me, O Lord, neither Poverty nor Riches; feed me with Food convenient for me: left I be full, and deny thee, and fay, Who is the Lord? or left I be poor, and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain. SELF-DENIAL, and MORTIFICATION. iThus faith our Saviour, If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Crofs daily, and follow me. a Whofoever will fave his Life fhall lofe it; but whosoever will lofe his Life for Chrift's fake, and the Gospel's, the fame fhall fave it: For, what is a Man advantaged, if he gain the whole World, and lofe himself, or be caft away? b There is no Man that hath left House, or Parents, or Brethren, or Wife, or Children, for the Kingdom of God's fake, who fhall not receive manifold more in this prefent time, and in the World to come Life everlasting. In general. EDIFICATION. Build up your felves on your most holy Faith. d Take heed, Brethren, left there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God. e Wherefore do ye spend your Labour for that which fatisfieth not? Ye are careful, and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful; therefore take care of that good part, which fhall not be taken away from you. f Labour not for the Meat which perisheth; but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life. 8 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thy felf over-wife: Why fhouldft thou deftroy thy felf? h Sorrow is better than Laughter; for by the Sadness of the Countenance the Heart is made better. in the Flesh, we do not war after the Flesh: For the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of ftrong Holds, cafting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it felf against the Knowledge of God. a Be not conformed to this World; but be ye transformed, by the renewing of your Mind. b No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the Affairs of this Life, that he may please him who hath chofen him to be a Soldier: Thou, therefore, endure Hardness, as a good Soldier of Jefus Chrift. God forbid that I fhould glory, fave in the Crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift; by whom the World is crucified unto me, and I unto the World: Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but lofs, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jefus my Lord. d In the laft Days Men fhall be Lovers of their own felves; Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God; and fhall feek their own, not the things of Jefus Chrift. Thefe are the Servants of Corruption; for of whom a Man is overcome, of the fame is he brought in Bondage. e He that liveth in Pleasure is dead while he liveth. f A rich Man fhall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 8 To be carnally minded is Death; but to be fpiritually minded is Life and Peace. 2 Cor. 10. 3, 4, 5. b 2 Tim.. a 2 Tim. 3. I, e 1 Tim. 5. 6. 8 Rom. 8. 6. N 3 a Whofo a Whofoever will fave his Life fhall lofe it; but whofoever will lofe his Life for Chrift's fake, and the Gospel's, the fame fhall fave it: For, what is a Man advantaged, if he gain the whole World, and lofe himself, or be caft away? b There is no Man that hath left House, or Parents, or Brethren, or Wife, or Children, for the Kingdom of God's fake, who fhall not receive manifold more in this prefent time, and in the World to come Life everlasting. In general. EDIFICATION. c Build up your felves on your most holy Faith. d Take heed, Brethren, left there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God. e Wherefore do ye fpend your Labour for that which fatisfieth not? Ye are careful, and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful; therefore take care of that good part, which fhall not be taken away from you. f Labour not for the Meat which perisheth; but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life. Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thy felf over-wife: Why fhouldft thou destroy thy felf? h Sorrow is better than Laughter; for by the Sadness of the Countenance the Heart is made better. |
