Thirdly, A little of the world will give thee content, if holiness be kept in its power, as few clothes will serve a hale, strong man ; and better is the warmth that comes from blood and spirits within, than a load of clothes without. Better, I trow, the content which godliness gives the Christian in his poverty, than the content, if there be such a thing in the world, which the rich man hath from his wealth : ' Godliness with content is great gain.' The holy person is the only contented man in the world. Paul tells us, ' he had learnt in whatsoever state he was to be content,' Phil. iv. 11 ; but if you ask him, who was his master that taught him this hard lesson, he will tell you, he had it not by sitting at Gamaliel's feet, but Christ's, ver. 13 : 'I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.' What the philosopher said in a brag, that the holy soul in truth and soberness can say through Christ, when he is lowest and poorest, that his heart and his condition are matches. We would count him a happy man, stiloviundi, that can live of himself without trading or borrowing, or that when he would buy or purchase, hath ready cash for the purpose in his coffers ; when he would indulge his fanciful appetite with varieties, hath all within his own pale, what rarities the several elements can afford, and needs not to send abroad to this market and that for provision. Godliness is so rich a continent, that it is able to maintain the Christian of its own growth, as I may say, and out of its own store, with all that his gracious heart can desire, without begging at the creature's door, and hazarding unworthily his holiness to attain.
Fourthly, Consider what a dear bargain they have, who part with, or pawn their ' breastplate of righteousness' for the world's riches ; which will appear, first, in the sin ; secondly, in the heavy curse that ti-eads upon the heels of that sin.
First, It is a great sin. The devil siu'e would tempt Clmst to no small sin ; we find him, Luke iv., laying this golden bait before him, when he ' shewed him all the kingdoms of the world,' and promised them all unto him, if he would ' fall down and worship him.' What was the foul spirit's design in this demand but to draw Christ to acknowledge him the lord of the world, and by worship- ping him, to declare that he expected the good things of the world, not from God, but him? Now trulj^, everyone that by unrighteousness seeks the world's pelf, he goes to the devil for it, and doth worship him in effect. He had as good speak out, and say he acknowledges not God, but the devil, to be lord of the world, and to have the disposing of it ; for he doth what God interprets so. Now, how much better is it to have poverty from God than riches from the devil ! Here is a daring sin, with a witness, at one clap, to take away God's sovereignty, and bestow it upon the devil, to do what he pleaseth with the world.
Secondly, It is a foolish sin, 1 Tim. vi. 9 : ' They that will be rich,' that is, by right or wrong, ' fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish lusts.' What greater folly than to play the thief to acquire that which is a man's own already! if thou art a saint, all is thine the world hath: ' Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come,' I Tim. iv. 8. If riches be good for thee, thou shalt have it, for that is the tenour of temporal promises ; and if it be not thought good by God, who is best able to judge, to pay thee the promise in specie, in kind, then another promise comes m for thy relief, which assures thee thou shalt have money-worth, Heb. xiii. 5 : ' Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' If God hath given thee riches, but calls thee to part with it for his name's sake, then he gives thee his bond, upon which thou may est recover thy loss, with a hundred- fold advantage ' in this life,' besidts ' eternal life in the world to come,' Matt. xix. 29. And he is a fool, with a witness, that parts with God's promises for any security the devil can give him.
Thirdly, Unrighteous gain will appear to be a dear bargain from the heavy
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. g^g