VOL, XVII. c
34 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeK. X.
in the world, then they should serve God without distraction, and if they had such a proportion they would care for no more ; but if those desires be ^a-anted, they find themselves entangled, and their hearts deceived, and still they must have more and more, until they settle into a worldly course. As a river, the greater it grows by receiving of little brooks, the wider and deeper still it wears the channel, so out- ward things, the more they increase, the more they enlarge desires. Men would be a little higher in the world, a little better accommodated ; and when they have that, they would have a little more, and still a little more, and so keep 'joining house to house, and field to field, till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth,' Isa. v. 8. They would seize upon all things within their grasp and reach. As fire increaseth with new fuel, so this burning desire doth increase on their hands ; whereas we should still take thankfully what God vouchsafeth to us, without those vast cravings and desires, and look after no more than will serve us in our passage to heaven. Mariners freighted for a near haven will not victual for a long voyage. Magno viatico hreve iter non instruitui- — ' Time is short,' 1 Cor. vii. 29. Thus there is very great difficulty with respect to the sins that are incident to a plentiful estate, and grow upon us insensibly.
Use 1. This doctrine showeth us how contented we should be with a mean condition, if God reduce us thereunto. We can hardly be poorer than Christ and his apostles, and shall we murmur ? Many have more than they had, take them altogether, and yet think their condition hard and strait : 1 Tim. vi. 8, ' And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.' God hath freed thee from those snares and occasions of sin which others are ^subject unto, and so thy way to heaven is made more easy. Certainly they that do indeed intend the kingdom of heaven would not desire a more difficult passage ; therefore be content with a mean estate, though you have no more than neces- saries. Contract your desires, and your trouble will be lessened. The Israelites said to the king of Edom, ' Let us go through your land in peace ; ' but the cravings of carnal men are endless, * They enlarge their desire as hell,' Hab. ii. 5. Not to be content with our lot and portion, especially when it is competent, is a great sin. When you hunt after more, what do you but increase your temptations, and multiply your snares? 'You load yourselves with clay,' Hab. ii. 6; base riches which pollute you, thorns which make your condition more uneasy. And when will there be an end of these desires ? Lust will grow with the possession ; the more wood you put on, the more the fire increaseth. Therefore, rather bring your minds to your estates than your estates to your minds ; if you be not content with what you have now, you will never be contented hereafter; a greater estate will not do it, if grace do not do it ; as in some diseases, non opus habent imple- iione, seel jjurgatione, there is more need of purging than filling; a man is still hungry though he hath eaten enough, and still thirsty though he hath drunk enough. The way is, not to increase our sub- stance, but to moderate our desires.
Use 2. It teacheth us patience and comfort under loss of goods. We should possess the things of this world as if we possessed them not, and therefore when God taketh away our plenty, we should mourn as if we
VeK. 23.] SEKMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 35
mourned not. You may find gain in this loss, and profit in this trial. The Lord seeth fit many times to take away the fuel of our pride and other lusts, to draw us to seek better treasure in heaven, the purchase whereof is certain, the possession firm, and the price incomprehensible. The Lord will keep you aloof from temptations ; he knows that if you were rich, you would grow sensual, insolent, and negligent of spiritual things. God knoweth what condition is best for you ; you should have a greater account to make ; he expecteth from others charity, from you patience. Besides, says Job, chap i. 21, ' The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' Some think it is the greatest misery to have been sometimes happy, but that is through corruption, when former enjoyments make men more nice, delicate, and tender, and so less able to bear the present cross. But if we consider rightly, the less we have been afflicted, the less are our afflictions on tiiat behalf". Is it nothing that God hath given us to pass over some of our days with peace and comfort ? should we be so unthankful as to account that no benefit because it is past ? Job ii. 10, ' What ! sliall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? ' is not what you have received a pledge of what he can do for the future ?