May 16, 1602. fo. 20 b . May 16, 1602. At Paules Crosse.
One Sanders made a Sermon, his text 1 Timoth. vi. 17: "Charge them that are riche in this world that they be not high mynded; and that they trust not in vncertayne riches; but in the liuing God, which giueth us abundantly all things to enioye."
Charge them that they lift up their soules to God in heavenly meditation, not against God by worldly presumption.
Charge the riche, therefore there were diversitie of condition and estates of men in the primitiue Churche, not all thinges common in possession, as the Anabaptists would haue it.
When there came one to Pope Benedict to entreat him to make more Cardinals, he demaunded first yf he could deuise how he might make more worldes: for this was to litle for the Cardinals which were already. Such ambitious covetousnes the Pope noted in those holie ones.
Good meate is often tymes corrupted by a bad stommache, and good doctrine of small effect with bad hearers. Yett the minister must not be discouraged: but proceed in his calling, that yf synn cannot be avoyded yet it may become vnexcusable.
Ephesus, whereof Tymothie was Bishop, was the confluence of honour and wealth, like our London.
The surgeon is not to be blamed that findes and shewes the corrupt and rotten parts of the body, but the body which is soe corrupt as to breed them; soe the preacher not to be disliked for reprehending our synnes, but our selves for committing things worthy reprehension.
May, 1602.
fo. 21.
Good things though common are not to be contemned for their commonness, noe more then the sunne, the light, the ayre, &c.
The vsuror sometymes looseth both his principall and interest, the husbandman his labour and his seede, the merchant aduentures lyfe and goods; but the profession of the preacher is subiect to greater then all these, for he may loose both his owne and the peoples soules.
It is one of the most heauie judgments that God useth to threaten to anie nation with whom he is displeased, that he will remoue their candlesticke and send a famine of the word amongst them.
God made some riche, and some poore, that twoe excellent virtues might flourishe in the world, charitie in the riche, and patience in the poore. Pride is the sting of riches. Tolle superbiam, et diuitiæ non nocebunt.
A man may speake of his owne riches, soe it be without arrogancy, for it is a good thinge to speake of the loving kindenes of the Lord.
Magistrates and rich men must not be like the filling stones in a building, but arche and corner stones, which support others.
When persons of meane worth thrust themselves into places beyond their condicion and hability, it is all one as yf the rough mortar and pebles should appeare in the roomes of the squared stones in a fayre building.
Themistocles said there was no musicke so sweete vnto him as to heare his owne prayses.
In the primitiue Churche the riche men were soe proud that they refused to receive the Sacrament with the poore.
The examples of the incertaintie of riches by often and suddain casualtyes should be like Lott's wife to the beholders, to remember and avoid the like. The multitude followe the riche men, as a swarme of bees followe a man that carries the hiue of honie combes, rather for the love of the honie then his person, more for the love of his money then his manhood.