cerning the Law, Rom. 7. 7, 13. Are they findor is that which is good made death to them? Godforbid. But fin, that it may appear fin, worketh death by that which is good: because they are carnally fold under fin.]

4. Nor muft you caft away your riches, or refuse them when offered by God. But take them as a faithful fteward doth his Masters ftock, not defiring to be overburdened or endangered with the charge, but bearing what is impofed on you,refolving to improve it all for God. Not loving nor defiring wealth,authority or honour, nor yet fo lazie, timerous or diftruftful as not to accept the burden and charge, when God may be ferved by it. To saft away or hide your talents, is the part of an unprofitable fervant.

5. Take heed left under prerence of contemning riches and profperity, you be tempted to

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contemn your Governours or to Speak evil of dignities, or diminish the honour of thofe that are fet over us,whofe honour is necessary to the ends of Government, and therefore to the peoples good. Though James reprove the Church for partiality in over-honouring a man for a gold-ring or gag apparel, yet doth he not go about to abate the bonour of authority, Magifracy, and riches must be here diftinguished.

6. Take heed left while you declaim of the mifery of the rich, you think to be faved meerly for being poor. For poor or rich, if you be angodly, you must turn or die. God doth not condemn men for their riches, but their fin: Nor fave any for their poverty, but their faith and piety (through Christ.)

But the Ufes you should make of the Text are these.

1. Grudge not at the prosperity P 3

of ungodly men, but compaffionate them in their danger and mifery.

2. Be not afraid of the profperity of the wicked, Pfal.49. 16,17,18, 19. Its they that fhould be afraid, that have fo low to fall.

3. Take heed that you defire not riches or profperity: unless you defire that the way to heaven fhould be made harder to you,that is fo hard already. Be contented with food and rayment. Defire but your daily bread, unless as it is needful for your Mafters fervice, and the relief of others.

4. Honour thofe ever with a double honour, that are great and godly, that are rich andreligious; not because they are rich, but because they are fo ftrong and excellent in grace, as to overcome fuch great temptations; and to be heavenly in the midft of earthly plenty, and to be faithful ftewards of fo

much.

much. Religious faithful Princes and Magiftrates cannot easily be valued and honoured too much. What wonders are they in the most part of the earth! what a bleffing to the people that are ru-、 led by them! Were they not ftrong in faith, they could not ftand falt in such a stormy place. Where is there in the world a more lively refemblance of God, then a holy Prince or Governour, that liveth no more to the flesh then the pooreft, for all his abundance of fleshly accommodations, and that devoteth and improvech all his power, and honour,and intereft,to the promoting of holiness, love and concord?

5. Let great men have a double intereft in your prayers. They have a double need of grace and help, and we have a double need that they fhould be gracious. O think how hard it is to fave their faith, their P 4 innocency,

Innocency, and their fouls, and to fave the Gospel and the publike peace in the midst of fo many and great temptations. And therefore pray hard, where prayer is fo needful.

And Othat I were now able to fpeak fuch enlightening and awakening words to you, as might fhew you at once your worldly profperity, and the heavenly glory, in their proper value and that God would now open your eyes and hearts, accordingly to esteem and feek them. Gentlemen, will you give this once an impartial hearing, to one that envyeth not your wealth, but foreseeth the end of it, and how it will forfake you, and in how deplorable a cafe you will then be found, if you have not laid up a treasure in heaven, and fecured the everlafting riches. I grudge you not your profperity: for God doth not grudge it you:

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