(3.) This must needs be a very great sin, for it is the ground of all miscarriage in practice. When men think they cannot be happy with- out money, they dare not obey God, for fear of offending mammon ; they shall lose their wealth, which is their happiness : I John v. 3-5, * For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God, over- cometh the world : and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that be- lieveth that Jesus Christ is the son of God r* It is notable, when the Spirit of God speaks of ' keeping the commandments,' he presently speaks of 'victory over the world.' What is the connexion and contexture between these two sentences ? The world, that is the great hindrance of keeping the commandment ; it hinders the soul from looking after heavenly things. It is impossible a man should fix his heart on things above, unless he be w^eaned from trust in the world. All our esteem, of riches comes from the trust in them. If men were truly persuaded that all things were vain, they would make out after other satisfactions ; but men think there is no want in their condition, therefore they neglect heaven.
(4.) It is the ground of all disquiet and discontent of mind. If a man would live a happy life, let him but seek a fit object for his trust, and he would be safe ; we lose the equal poise of our spirits, because we bind up our life and happiness with the life and presence of the creature. David saith, Ps. xxx. 6, 7, 'I said in my pro- sperity, I shall never be moved, my mountain standeth strong. Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.' When once we begin to think of a strong mountain, and set up our hopes and heart here, it doth but make way for a great deal of trouble. A man shall never want trouble that misplaceth his trust ; he will always be up and down as the creature is. Whereas a christian whose heart is fixed in God is like the nave and centre of a wheel, it is still in its own
236 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL, [BoOK I.
place and posture, though the wheel move up and down ; such christians keep their spirits in an equal balance in all providences. A child of of Grod. whose heart is fixed on God, though there be a great change made in his condition, he is where he was still ; but a wicked man, his hope and comfort ebbs and flows with his estate ; when his estate is gone, his confidence is gone. It is a sad thing to have our hopes fixed upon that which is subject to so many casualties, the waves, the wind, the fire, the wrath of man, the undermining of thieves, the unfaithful- ness of a debtor. Certainly we shall never have peace till our confidence be rightly placed. Ps. cxii. 7, it is said of a godly man, ' He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.' Why ? Because ' his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.' Thongh there come messenger upon messenger, as to Job, one bringing him news of a bad debt, another of a loss at sea, another of an accident by fire, a tempest, an earthquake, or it may be of the violence of thieves, or robbers, he is not ' afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed,' trusting in God. As Job, he was equally poised and equally balanced in spirit, his joy doth not ebb and flow with the news that is brought to him. But now see the contrary in wicked men : Jer. xlix. 23, they have heard evil tidings, therefore their heart fainteth. The enemy was broken into the country, all their estate that lay upon the borders was lost, for of that the prophet speaks ; this causeth faintness and trem- bling at the heart. It is a sad thing to put your joy and your content- ment under the creature's power. Now till your trust be rightly placed, so it will be.
[3] The third thing is, to give you the signs by which this confidence may be discovered. I will give you but three plain evidences : by your care to get wealth ; by your thoughtfulness in the possession of it ; and by your grief for the losing of it.
(1.) By your carking care in getting an estate ; when men cumber themselves witli much business, and have confidence in the means, with neglect of God, it is a sign we think we cannot live without an estate. A man that is always getting crutches showeth that he cannot go alone. There is a lawful labour. Wealth may be sought for the necessaries of life, and for the exercise of good works ; but when men make it their main aim to get an estate, it is a sign they place their happiness in it ; they make it tiieir chiefest good, and utmost end. Now because it is hard to distinguish honest labour from worldly care, you must examine it by the di.s])roportion of your endeavours in spiritual and heavenly things. Our Saviour concludeth his parable against trusting in riches : Luke xii. 21, 'So is he that heapeth up treasures to himself, and is not' rich towards God.' Men make most provision for the world, and a little slender care serves for heaven. They have no care to provide suitably for their souls ; all their endeavours are to leave their posterity an estate, but they are not so careful to see grace in their hearts. That which they desire is to see them well matched, well provided for, but are not troubled about their carnal or unregenerate estate. They can be contented wilh slight assurance in the matter of heaven, but all things seem too little to settle their estate upon earth. A little degree of sancti- fication serves the turn, but in the world they would still have more and more, join house to house, and field to field, not faith to faith, and virtue to virtue. They have a lean soul, and a fat estate ; they sufi"er the