56 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. XIL
in the world. This appears by the whole current of scripture ; God forewarns his people of it : Deut. xi. 12, ' When thou shalt have eaten and be full, beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God.' When men are full, and abound with so much accommodation, God is banished out of their thoughts. He complains of this as the cause of his people's forgetting him. Hosea xiii. 6, 'According to their pasture, so were they filled ; they were filled, and their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me.' God is forgotten in prosperity, when we have not such a sensible need of him and of his help. Men can live alone and apart from God, and therefore cast off all thoughts of him : 1 Tim. vi. 17, ' Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high- minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.' Plenty easily breeds forgetful- ness of God, therefore it needs often to be inculcated and enforced upon, and thought of by them.
2. This ought to be much pressed and seriously thought of, to awaken suspicion ; there may be a snare in our estate. To suspect danger is a good means to prevent it, and therefore, that we may draw men to self-suspicion, being compassed about by the snares of the devil, we must again and again tell you how hard it is for rich men to be saved. Agur was afraid of riches and the evil influence of them, and therefore prays for a competency : Prov. xxx. 8, 9, ' Give me neither poverty nor liches ; feed mo with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? ' Whereas men that never think of danger are surprised with it before they are aware ; therefore it is good to be suspicious of a prosperous estate, to be afraid of the world more when it smiles than when it frowns. Most men are afraid of poverty, but few are afraid of wealth, and yet there the snares and temptations lie ; and the reason is, because they prize their temporal interest more than their eternal salvation. Poverty is against their temporal interests, but wealth, fulness, and plenty is a hindrance to their eternal salvation, and men will venture their souls rather than their bodies. It is fat and rank soil that feedeth weeds ; therefore think of it often ; here lies the difficulty to have the world at will and not to be ensnared by it ; to learn to abound is the harder lesson. Paul had learned both, so must we : Phil, iv. 12, ' I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound ; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.' We say of a proud man or woman. Such a one would do well to be a lord or lady ; but it is harder than you imagine. How few are there that have any lively thoughts of eternity, or make any serious preparation for death and judgment, when they have health and wealth, and all the accom- modat ions wliich the carnal nature desires ? And therefore be suspicious when you find delight, and what is pleasing to the flesh, it is not likely to be safe for your soul. Oh ! possess your estates with fear. The fear of a snare may help to avoid it. How easily may such a carnal heart as yours be enticed from God, and grow cold and remiss about the great things of your salvation !
3. This ought oft to be pressed and seriously thought of, to stir up observation how it is with us. There is no man that observes his heart but will find this eflPect, that riches make the business of salvation more
Vee. 25.] se.::moxs upon mark x. 17-27. 57
difficult. Good David observed that his heart was corrupted by his condition : Ps. x. 6, ' He hath said in his heart, I shall never be moved ; for I shall never be in adversity.' And elsewhere we find he was sensible that worldliness was creeping upon him : Ps. cxix. 36, ' Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.' A child of God hath not the bent of his heart so perfectly fixed towards God but it is ever and anon returning to its old bent and bias again. The best may find that they cannot keep their affections as loose from the world when they have houses, and lands, and all things at their will, as they could when they are kept low and bare. The best may find that their love to heavenly things is on the wane as worldly things are on the in- crease. It is reported of Pius Quintus that he should say of himself, that when he first entered into orders, he had some hopes of his salvation ; when he came to be a cardinal, he doubted of it ; but since he came to be pope, he did even almost despair. Many may find a very great change in themselves, much decay of zeal for God's glory, and love to and relish of God's word, and mindfulness of heavenly things, as it fares better with Ihem in the world, i^ow it is good to observe this before the mischief increaseth. Look, as jealousy and caution is necessary to prevent the entrance and beginning of this mischief, so observation is necessary to prevent the increase of it. When the world doth get too deep an interest in our hearts, when it begins to insinuate and entice us from God, and weaken our delight in the ways of God and zeal for his glory, then we need often to tell you how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.