Now you that are contracted to the world , and the vanities of it , spare a little time to examine what benefites it can afford , that may moue you to put your confidence in it , or settle your loue vpon it , and for your owne speedy satisfaction that you may be resolued in as little time as may bee conuenient . You that aime to winne the world , consider but these two things : first , the quantitie of the purchase ; secondly , the qualitie of the price : and first for the first .

The quality of the purchase is great , there is honour praise , clothing , worldly wisedome , riches , and carnall pleasures , and more , and yet the best of these are to those that trust in them worse then nothing , because , had they beene nothing , they had not been tru●●ed in , therefore they are something nothing worth ; for the time wil come ( I am afraid ) that as Christ once said of Iudas particularly , in Matth. 26. It had been good for that man if hee had not been borne ; so a number will say of themselues plurally , It had been good for vs if we had neuer been ; for better to haue no being , then to want a being well .

But let vs be further satisfied . Shall wee account our selues happy to enioy earthly honour ? not as it is earthly ; for first , it is gotten with much labour , kept with great costs , and lost with great griefe . I remember the great men in Iury rather chose to deliuer Christ to death , then to rob Caesar , or themselues , of their dignitie and honour , Ioh. 11. If wee let him alone , he doth so many miracles , hee will take away both our place and nation , our honour and authority . O! I feare policie preuailes against piety , there are too many ( two is many , but there is too too many ) that prefers temporall honour before eternall happinesse . It is sayd , and it is a true report , that Homo vanitati similis factus est , Man is made like vnto vanity , for hee looseth his breath with pursuing shadowes , or it had not been said , In vanitate sua appenditur peccator , The sinner is weighed in his owne vanitie .

Where is now the dignities of all our antique Worthies ? Caesars , was murthered in the Senate ; Alexanders , died of poyson ; Salomons , is in a dead sleepe on an adulterous bed ; Absaloms was hanged in the cords of disobedience , Nimrods tumbled with Babylon , Nebuchadnezzars is turned to grasse , Siseraes is nayled to the ground , Holofernes honour is beheaded by a silly woman , Senacheribs is slaine in the Temple , Herods is consumed with vermine , this earthly honour is so attended with death and infamie , that hee that desires it shall in the ende bee found guilty of his owne endlesse ouerthrow . Honour flies from those that followes it , and followes those that flies it . Who desired it more then the Monarchs ? and who had lesse ? who esteemed it lesse then the Apostles ? and who had more ? those that liued in honour died with disgrace to liue in endlesse torments ; and those that liued in disgrace , died with honour to liue in endlesse glory . Then we must not bee thus satisfied , but seeke some better benefice , Matth. 21.9 . for it will profit vs nothing to win worldly honour .

2 Shal we account our selues happie to enioy the praise of men ? Luk. 23.21 . no ; who desires the fruits of stinking breath that is rotten before it bee fully ripe ? The heathen saith ; Non refert quam multi laudent te , &c. It forceth not how many praise thee , but how good , for to bee praised of the wicked is to bee dispraised , it is Pauls resolution , 1. Cor. 4. I passe very little to be iudged of men . There are a number like the Babylonians spoken of in the third of Daniel , a little sweete musicke made them to fall downe and honour Nebuchadnezzars new God , and a little flattering & praise of men will make a number to dishonour Iaacobs true God . The bright Angels in heauen seekes not their owne but their makers worship , Reu. 22. The glorious Elders takes off their Crownes and casts them at the feet of the Lamb , and sing not their owne , but their Princes praise : yet man being but a poore worme , would bee extolled , and makes Sycophants and flatterers the best welcome . I can heare none crie with good King Dauid , Psa. 141. Away with this oyle and oyntment of sinners , it shal not come vpon my head . A man may haue the praise of a multitude , & yet be neere his fall . Note the profite that came to the great Prophet by mens praise , Matth. 22. at Iesus comming to Iernsalem , the gates were opened , bonefires kindled , branches cut , garments spread , trumpets sounded , and the sacrifice of euery one was , Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid , Matth. 21.9 . blessed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord . This praise was great , but it both begun and ended together , they forgot Hosanna in a few houres , and the very same lips cried crucifige eum , Luk. 23.21 . crucifie him , crucifie him . Who couets the praise of the people that commends Barabbas the murderer , and condemnes Iesus the Sauiour ? Let vs maintaine the Apostles motion ; Nolite esse pueri sensibus , bee not you children in vnderstanding : run not after bables , but seeke the true treasures ; we are set at libertie to gather gold in Canaan , shall not wee then disdain to toyle for straw in Egypt ; let vs stretch our best indeuours to finde some better benefice , for it will auaile vs nothing to win worldy praise .

3 Is any true felicitie to bee found in rich apparell ? No , I haue read the King of Cypresse hauing put on princely and sumptuous attire , and being set on his Royall throne , demanded of Solon if hee euer saw a more glorious obiect . Solon told him , hee had seene cockes , pheasants , and peacockes , and that hee thought those birds were more beautifull , for because their colours were both faire and naturall . It is most true , that we are most wretched of all creatures , and miseros facit populos peccatum , sinne is the thing that makes men miserable , and wee plucke from euery thing something to be couerings to our miseries ; one lends vs skinne , another wooll , another furre , another feathers , another pearle , another gold , another silke , another precious stones and iewels , yea , euery creature , and euery element affords some things to furnish vs , and yet wee are as proud of this as if it were ours by nature , when indeede ours is the least part , for if euery creature should come and challenge his owne , all our costly couerings would dissolue to nakednesse . Therefore that of Dauid cannot bee told too often , Psalm . 39. Doubilesse man walketh in a shadow , and disquieteth himselfe in vaine . Howsoeuer wee drawe curtaines and couerings about vs , to make vs appeare more seemely then wee are ; yet our ilnesse will be manifest . Clouds that are ouercharged with water must needes droppe . God is omniuident , and the power of policie cannot preuaile so much as to conceale any thing from the Prince of piety : It is not Art , but grace , must helpe the defects of nature , we main taine our clothing against the Rule of God . Our noblest fathers wore coates of skinnes , Gen. 3. The Saints recorded in the booke of God , Hebr. 11. were but clothed in camels haire and goats skinnes . Christ said in Luk. 7. they that weare delicate and soft apparell , are in Kings houses ( vnderstand this , lest you take it for a preferment ) not fighting in the great Kings campe , but flattering in pettie Princes Courts : to checke vs for our carelesse wantonnesse , ( in this kinde ) there is an example in Luke 16. The rich Glutton wa● clothed in fine linnen , and curious silkes very sumptuously , and fared very deliciously , died very damnably , and shall liue in torments eternally . Now you that would auoid his portion , damnation , you must detest his proportion , ambition ; for the command is , in vestitu ne glorieris vnquam , see thou now neuer take glory in thine habite .

To preuent the destruction which was threatned to Niniueh we find in Ionah 3. the king commanded to keepe a solemn feast & to frame themselues for mourning , as the outward signe of inward repentance , & he himselfe forsooke his Throne , put on sackecloth , and sate in ashes . but was it wisely done to put on so poore attire , to stand in before the greatest king , being to begge his owne and Nineuehs pardon ? Yes surely hee did wonderous well , hee considered , that although hee was a king , since his power was perisht , and that he could no longer continue , except hee could begge his libertie at God , ( because ambition and sawcinesse becomes not beggars ) hee laid aside his rich clothing , and poorely went and purchased his owne and Niniuehs pardon . O remember Lazarus was found in ragges when hee was taken and preferred into Abrahams bosome . And we find , Lu. 2. CHRIST was but poorely lapt in clouts when hee came to conquer sinne , death , and hell , and yet left the earth with glory and victory . Be aduised then , it is not garish apparell that will preferre you ; obserue the holy direction , Eccles. 9. at all times let thy garments bee white . Clothe your selues with innocencie , and contemne this ambitious furniture ; all the gaine comes by it is this , It makes Christians that should die like lambes , to die like dogges , their skinnes prooue better then their bodies O keepe your selues free from this pride and vaine-glory , that you may ( without blushing ) disdaine such comparisons , and shewe your selues guiltlesse , and then seeke some other preferment , for it wil profit vs nothing to practise proud attire .

4 Next , for worldly wisedome it is little worth , there comes no lasting aduancement by it , because 4. Cor. 3. The wisedome of the world is folly with God . The wise men of the world Christ did seldome or neuer chuse to doe him any seruice , for , non multi sapientes secundum carnem . When the Messias was promised to come to bee the king of the Iewes , they expected a great earthly Prince , a Royall Caesar , and refused Christ , because hee came in pouerty , so hee was vnto them a stumbling blocke , and the Gentiles sauouring of nought but earthly wisedome , thought it was a thing vnlike , and meere folly for the Sonne of God , to leaue his Throne in heauen ( being so glorious ) to descend to earth to taste of mans miseries , so hee was to them foolishnesse , 1. Cor. 1. This is worldly wisedome , and who can be happy in it ? this shall one day be the worldly-wise mans confession , Nos insensati vitam i'lorum aes imabamus insaniam , Wis. 5. Wee foolish men esteemed the liues of Saints to be but madnesse : this shall be many of our wise mens confession , when their confession comes too late to haue a pardon ; the wisedom of the world is no more profitable , and therfore none can be happie in it . In times past the Apostles preached Christ crucified ( with the manner of his offering , and the merite of his suffering ) and the Philosophers and wise men of the world accounted them fooles for their paines .

Indeed the time present doth not much alter from the time past , when the ministers of God tooke , or takes paines for the fooles , they shall be accounted fooles for their paines , for that ●itle is the best that the wisedome of the world allowes them , but the Saints of God haue all his messengers in great regard , for the good turnes done by the master , and it becommeth well the iust to bee thankefull : therefore be better aduised and seeke better treasure , since there is no true profit in worldly wisedome .

5 For riches , I say to you as Aristippus said to his man that carried his treasure after him . That which is too waighty cast out . and that which thou canst well , carrie . So cast away such triflles as are needlesse , & keepe such treasures as you may with ease and without danger vndergoe , as necessary . These riches are but thornes , they are but miseries and afflictions . And we see , quomodo suffocant , how they do choake vs , by swallowing them too greedy . Paul esteemed all riches but as dung . Phil. 3. They are indeed but vanity it selfe . We find that Solomon was the most absolute paterne of worldly prosperitie . 1. Kings 4. Gold and siluer was as plentifull with him as stones , So much , that the abundance of both , made both little esteemed ; his iewels and plate were not to be valued , his pretious apparell and armour was infinite , his Throne of Maiestie was borne vp with twelue Lyons of gold , farre exceeding all other kingly seats in the world : all the vessels of his house were of pure gold , for siluer was not esteemed in the dayes of Solomon : He had all the Kings from the riuer of the Philistians to Egypt to serue him . Hee had fortie thousand horses in his stables to ride . He had 12. thousand Chariots and horses , with furniture to them for his vse . Hee had two hundred speares , and three hundred shieldes of beaten gold borne before him , and it is said that he spent in bread euery day in his house one thousand nine hundred thirtie and seuen quarters of meale and floure , he spent in flesh thirtie fat oxen , an hundred sheepe , besides Harts , Buckes , and fat Foule ; He had seuen hundred Queenes , and three hundred Concubines ; were not these things verified in the sacred Historie , I should blush to report them ; because they almost seeme impossible : and therfore incredible , yet not these , but more things the holy Scripture testifies of Salomons worldly riches and prosperitie : but now since he inioyed all these things in his dayes , let vs know how he was satisfied in the euening , and whether he went content and pleased to his bed or no ? no that he did not : for hauing fully and largely tasted all the best content that those riches could afford ; he deliuers these words from his vnsatisfied mind , with a disliking voyce . Fccles . 1 Vanitas vanitatum , & omnia vanitas , Vanitie of vanities , and all is vanitie ; those that now will not , hereafter shall repent when this remedilesse complaint , ( shall come too late . ) Diuitiarum Iactantia quid nobis contulit . What hath the brauery of our riches profited vs ? none at all . They can doe the possessors of them no good , when they haue most neede of helpe , Prou. 11. They cannot profit a man in the day of wrath .

I haue read that Byas Priennaeus a Sage of Greece , beholding his Countrey ouerthrowne by his enemies , forsook it , & fled with his neighbours , & they carried away so much of their riches , as by all means they could , & seeing him goe so singly and beare nothing but himself , demanded of him why he left his treasure behind him ; he answered , my treasure is in my brest , I take it , yours is but vpon you backes : you mistake it ; it is in the power of the enemie to make you poore ; and no change , no mishap , no enemy can take my treasure , for whilst I haue a being I am rich , and when I am not , I am not poore : his resolution deserues eternall memory ; it is look't for in a Christian , but it is strange to heare a Heathen esteeme all things vanity : Man is like vnto a rouling wheele that runs about from day to day , and yet it is but in the same place at the yeers end , where it was in the beginning . So man toyles and labours all his time vpon earth to gather wealth and riches , and yet is as poore vpon that day he dies , as he was vpon that day he was borne . Therefore I say to you as Saint Paul did to Timothy , 1. Tim. 6. We brought nothing into the world , and it is certaine we can carry nothing out . Therfore , if we haue food and raiment let vs therewith be content : content sits reioycing and singing in a supposed chaire of state ( & indeed ' its rather a truth then a supposition ; for it is a chaire of contented estate , ) and smiles to see the couetous worldling take such paines to make other men pleasure ; and although the contented man be but tenant to a poore Cottage , coucred but with straw or clods of earth , sheltered from the violence of the winds , with the curled tops of the shadie trees : such a one as he may stand in the middle and touch the roofe with his head , and both wals with both his hands . Yet he heares not of the mutation in the Court , he feares not their disimulation in the Citie ; but liues richly content in a poore home : you see the Cottage is as much worth as the Court , but for the show . Weake walles of clay , giues as much assurance of safety , as walles of stone lined with Wainscot or cloth of Arras ; all the oddes is in the show . The poore man sleepes as soundly vpon his bed of straw , as the rich man vpon his bed of downe ; and the difference is but in the show : and the mean man is kept as warme in countrey russet and homely gray , as the mightiest man in his cloth of gold , and curious silkes ; yet all the oddes is in the show : the poore mans woollen cap , keepes his head as drie , as the rich mans beauer ; they only but differ in the show : a browne crust , and fountaine water , preserues the poore man in health , as well as the rich man is kept with his daintest cates , & purest wine ; stil the difference is in the show : a wooden dish is as wholesome to drinke in , as a cup of gold ; but for the show : the rich man exceeds the poore for the quantitie , the colour and the show ; but the poore man exceeds the rich for the quality , the condition , and the substance : the rich mans part is greater , but the poore mans part is better : and I know not how it happens , they were both set to run one course , and the rich hath all the honour and glory of it from the poore in the middle of it ; but sure I am , they were both alike in the beginning , and shall be alike in the end . Aut in vtero , aut in vrna , Senec. Epist. 91. Either in the wombe , or in the tombe . Interuallis distinguimur , exitu equamur , It is the interim of this short life , that we are somewhat in some things vnlike : some are Lords of more , and of lesse ; some are Princes , and some are beggars , and some winne the world , and some lose it ; and some haue much , and are not pleased , and some haue little , & are well content : but Ex. 16. He that gathers much hath nothing ouer , and he that gathers little , hath not the lesse .

Qui dilligit auram non iustificabitur , Hee that loueth gold , shall neuer be iustified , and the words of Christ are , Matth. 19. Verily I say vnto you , a rich man can hardly enter into the kingdome of God : because some take so much care and toyle to lay vp treasure together vpon earth , which theeues , and moths , and canker consume , and are both negligent , and vnwilling , to lay vp treasure in heauen ; such setting their minds onely vpon earth , with earthly riches shall perish : and prouiding no treasure heauenly , in heauen shall neuer come . Iames 5. Go to now you rich men , weepe and howle for the miserie that shall come vpon you : your riches are corrupt , your garmentsare moth-eaten , your gold and siluer are cankred , and the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you , and shall eat your flesh vp , as it were fire : you haue heaped vp wrath for the last dayes . A man accounts his riches his best friend to accompany , relieue , & comfort a man in aduersitie : and riches can neuer doe it . They are like flatterers , which when a man is in most need , will do him least good ; for they shall not profit him in the day of indignation : neuerthelesse , the rich man is confident in the contrary . I conceiue so much in his carriage , for hee hath erected faire and sumptuous building , deckt his habitation with richest furniture , furnisht his lodgings with beds of down , fil'd his possessions with store of cattle , stuff'd his barnes with purest corne ; prouided for his diet the daintiest meat chosen , for his backe the richest clothing , prepared for his eares the sweetest musicke , flatters himselfe with with a supposed content , withdrawes himselfe into the roome of his plenty , scats himselfe in the chaire of ingratitude , and shuts vpon him the doore of couetousnesse , numbers the angels in his chests ; and forgets the Articles of his Creed , throwes himselfe vpon his bed of vanity , and there fals into a golden dreame , and wakening , vtters this resolute speech , Luke 12. Soule , thou hast much goods laid vp for many yeeres , liue at ease , eate , sleepe , and take thy pleasure . But this would not last , his disolute resolution had a resolute disolution . Foole this night they will take away thy soule , and whose shall all these things be which thou hast prouided . Thus it happens to those that trust in their riches . The Prophet demaunds , Baruch 3. Where are they now which hoarded vp siluer & gold , wherin they trusted , and made no end of scraping together . Hee answeres himselfe : Exterminati sunt & ad Inferos descenderunt , They are now rooted out and gone downe into hell . Therefore , woe be vnto the rich , for they haue receiued their consolation , Luk. 6. Like vnto vnthrifty heires , sold all , and spent all ; to whom , and for whom , nothing remaines but misery . Then since the wealth of the world is worthlesse , and yeelds no perfit happinesse , but for a time flatters fooles , and leaues them vnsatisfied . It shall be our care to finde out some better benefit , for it will profit vs nothing to winne worldly riches .