OUR Saviour allowed his Disciples when they should fall under Perfecution, to flee from one City to another, though they were to be as harmless as Doves, yet he commanded them to be as wife as Serpents.

IF therefore the Enjoyment of Riches bad been a thing that had fuited with his Religion; was not a Renunciation of all worldly Wealth, a Temper necessary and never to be dispensed with, one would fuppofe, that it would leaft of all have been impofed, at a Time when there were fo many other unavoidable Burdens to be undergone.

SINCE therefore this forfaking and renouncing all by our own Act and Deed, fince this Degree of Self-denial and Selfperfecution was commanded at a Time, when all the World were Enemies to Chriftians, fince they were not then spared or indulged in any pleasurable Enjoyments of their worldly Wealth, but were to add this Inftance of Suffering, to all the Sufferings from their Enemies, we may be fure, that it was required because it was a neceffary Duty, because it was a proper Behaviour of fuch as were born of God, and made Heirs of eternal Glory.

IF this be true, then it must be own'd, that it is ftill the fame neceffary Duty, and

is

is now as well that proper Behaviour of those who are Sons of God, as ever it

was.

FOR Christianity is just that fame fpiritual heavenly State, that it was then, the Dignity of Chriftians has fuffered no Alteration fince that Time, and a Treafure in Heaven, an eternal Happiness are ftill the fame great and important Things.

CHAP.

CHA P. IV.

A Continuation of the fame Subject.

NY one that is at all acquainted with Scripture muft Obferve, that the Doctrine of the foregoing Chapter, is not bare

ly Founded on thofe particular Texts there confidered, but that the fame Spirit of renouncing the World, is the most common and repeated Subjectof our Saviour's heavenly Inftructions.

A CERTAIN Man faid unto him Lord, I will follow thee whither foever thou goeft. And Jefus faid unto him, the Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Nefts, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head (a).

ANOTHER also faid Lord, I will follow thee, but let me firft go bid them farewell, that are at Home at my Houfe.

(a) Luke ix. 57, 58.

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AND

AND Jefus faid unto him, no Man having put his Hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

THESE Paffages are all of a kind with what our Saviour faid to the young Man, they directly teach that fame Renunciation of the World, as the first and principal Temper, the very Soul and Effence of Chriftianity.

THIS Doctrine is prefs'd, and urged upon us by various Ways, by every Art of Teaching, that it might enter into the Heart of every Reader.

THE Kingdom of God, faith our Saviour, is like unto a Merchant-Man fecking goodly Pearles, who when he had found one Pearle of great Price, he went and fold all that he had and bought it (a).

THE Doctrine of this Parable needs no Interpretation, it is plain and strong, and preffes home the Advice that our Saviour gave to the rich young Man.

WHEN it fays, that the Kingdom of God is a Pearl of great Price, I fuppofe it means, that a great deal is to be given for it, and when it fays, that the Merchant went and fold all that he had and bought it, I fuppofe this is to teach us, that it cannot be bought at any lefs Price.

(4) Mat. xiii. 45.

THE

THE modern Jews would be upon much easier Terms than those who lived in our Saviour's Days; if we can now tell them that the Kingdom of God is no longer like one Pearl of great Price, and that they need not fell all that they have and buy it; but may go on seeking Pearls as they used to do, and yet be good Members of the Kingdom of God.

Now if we may not preach fuch a new Gospel as this to the prefent Jews, I don't know how we can preach it to Christians.

THIS Parable does not fuppofe, that the Merchant went to Trading again, after he had fold all, and bought this Pearl of great Price. He was content with that, and did not want any other Riches.

IF the Kingdom of God, is not Riches fufficient for us, but we must add another Greatnefs, and another Wealth to it, we fall under the Condemnation of this Parable.

To proceed. The peaceful, pleasurable Enjoyments of Riches, is a State of Life every where condemned by our Blef fed Saviour.

Wo unto you that are Full, for ye shall Hunger, wo unto you that Laugh now, for ye Shall Weep and Mourn (a).

(a) Luke vi. 25.

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IF