CHAPTER XXVIII – 11. Delight in worldly prosperity to be denied
can hear them say, that they would not work, at least but little, if they had but money enough. God will judge these as idle persons, because he takes the will for the deed. You must labour in obedience to God, and work as his servants, and that with cheerfulness and delight, and deny that self and flesh that would have ease, if ever you would have the heavenly reward.
CHAPTER XXVIII
The Delight of Thriving and Prosperity, &c.
11. ANOTHER selfish interest to be denied, is, a delight in prosperity, and seeing ourselves thrive, and our designs succeed for worldly things. The possession of these things doth not so much delight, as the hopes and successes of our endeavours to attain them. The very thoughts of prospering in our undertakings, and of being in a thriving course, and likely to reach some higher things which are in our eye and hope, is the greatest part of the content of worldlings.
Men think that the world can do more for them than it can, and is sweeter than it is, and therefore they are very eager in seeking it, and please themselves much with the thoughts of their supposed felicity; but when they have reached the matter of their desires, they find it is not the thing they took it for. But in the meantime they feed themselves with fancies and expectations, and think that though this doth not content them, which they have attained, yet such or such a thing more would do it; and when they have that, yet something more would do; and still, though they come short of the felicity they expect, yet it pleaseth them that they think they are in the way to it, and see their endeavours seem to prosper. The poor man that hath a desire but to reach to a competency, doth please himself much when
he perceiveth that he is fair for it. Much more do the rich in the prospering of their designs, for the increase of their riches; and thus the "turning away of the simple doth slay them, and the prosperity of fools doth destroy them;" Prov. 1:32. If their prosperity be such an eyesore even to the godly in temptation, when they judge according to the flesh, no wonder if it be a great matter in their own eyes; Psal.
73:3. If the best are in danger of puffing up with carnal delight and confidence in their attainments, and saying in their prosperity, "we shall never be moved," Psal. 30:6., no wonder if it be much more so with others. Prosperity is as strong a trial to many as suffering for Christ; O, how eager is the flesh upon this bait, and how close doth it cleave to what it doth attain!
See then that in this you deny yourselves: not in refusing prosperity when God bestows it on you, but in refusing the sensual delights which it affordeth the flesh to satisfy its lust. Not in pulling down your houses, or casting away your estates, or hindering your increase; but, 1. See that you do not promise yourselves too much in the creature; feed not your carnal fancies with vain hopes. Think not too highly of a prosperous state. Judge not of it as it accommodateth the flesh, but as it either helps or hinders you for God and heaven; and then you will perceive that it is a heavy charge and burden to the best, if not a dangerous temptation. O, if you knew but how dear the most do pay for their prosperity, you would pity them, and have lower thoughts of prosperity.
2. Seek not after prosperity too eagerly. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then if other things be cast in, or added to you, take them thankfully, but with self-suspicion and holy fear; but run not after them. "Labour not for the meat that perisheth,
but for that which endureth to everlasting life;" (John 6:27.) and then take your daily bread as from your father's provision. Labour about the world, in obedience to God; but not for the world as your ultimate end.
3. When prosperity is given you by God, then above all take heed how you use it. Let carnal self and corrupt desires fare never the better for it, if you had all the country, or were princes in the earth; but as you have it from God, remember you have it for God, and use it for him.
When the flesh would be pleased and lifted up, whether with delicious meats and drinks, or carnal pomp, applause or ostentation, or by sports, or idleness, or any other sensual delight. deny it these desires, as much as if you had no riches, and use nothing but for health and the service of God; and tell the flesh, 'It was not for thee, to the pleasing of thy desires, that God hath prospered me, but it was for his own more blessed ends; and therefore I will not serve or please thee by my prosperity, but him that gave it me.' Do not think you have ever the more liberty to gratify your appetites in eating and drinking, because you are rich, or to gratify your flesh in inordinate sleep, or ease, or sports, or idleness; but let the flesh have as little as if you had the meanest estate, in which necessity did not deny you that which might fit you for the work of God.
Quest. But may not a gentleman fare better than a poor man? And may he not spend more time in ease or recreations? Or may he not wear more sumptuous apparel?
Answ. 1. A rich man that hath a greater family, must have a greater quantity of provision than a poor man that hath but few; and so must the poorest too that hath the like number. And for the quality: many
poor are deprived of that which is most healthful through their necessity; and therefore here it is lawful for the rich to go beyond them, and to use so much of the creature as is most healthful and useful to their duties. But for all this, the richest man in England hath no more allowance to eat or drink one bit or cup for the mere pleasing of his carnal appetite, without any higher end, than the poorest man that is: it is a sin to both. It was a rich man that was tormented in hell fot taking up his good things in this life, in being clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring deliciously or sumptuously every day. Luke 16:22. And the same answer I must give to the rest of the question, if a poor man want that ease, or sleep, or recreation, that would fit him for God's service; a rich may take it, but not a jot more. He may not lie one hour in bed, nor spend one hour in talk, or sports, or long dinners, beyond what is useful to his
Christian ends, let him be never so rich. Rich men have as much work to do as the poor, and as much need to watch, pray and fast, and study to prepare for death and judgment, which will not spare them because they are rich. If it be far hardest for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, by Christ's own testimony, then it is clear that rich men have far greatest need to be painful to overcome their dangers, and make sure work for their immortal state. 3. And as for apparel, I grant, that rich men that are magistrates, or in any office or calling that requires it, may lawfully go in richer apparel than the poor; but this should not be one jot to please their carnal, proud fancies, or gratify inordinate fleshly desires, but merely for health, and for such ornament as tendeth to the honour of their office: so that God, and not self, must be the end of all. Take warning therefore by the ruins of so many thousands as prosperity hath undone, and by so many dreadful passages of Scripture which shew the danger of it;