cipal Sins of the present Age, is spread to a Degree that none of the former ever knew, and daily brings forth Fruits that many fucceeding ones may have Cause to lament.

But fuppofing Wealth be neither spent in this, nor any of the grofs Vices mentioned before; yet if it be employed in ministring to a Course of more decent and refined Luxury, or in fupporting such a Pomp of Life as nourishes Vanity and Pride, or in filling so much Time with unprofitable Entertainment, that little Room is left in the Mind for Objects of Importance: thefe Things alfo the Rich and Great must be charged to amend. For though their Condition will permit Plenty and Elegance, Diverfions and Amusements, perhaps Dignity and Grandeur; yet it will not permit their living to these Things, their being quite taken up with them, and loft in them. For not only the Transition is too eafy from several innocent Pleafures to forbidden ones, and Expensiveness in any Way breeds powerful Temptations, both to omit right and to do wrong Things; but fuppofing these Dangers avoided, yet a Life devoted wholly or chiefly to the Gratifications of Sense, the Enjoyment of Greatnefs, or Indulgence of Trifles, is not VOL. III.

N.

the

the Life of a rational Agent; lefs ftill of a moral and religious one; but leaft of all of a miferable Sinner, who has fo very much to account for, and that fo very foon. And what our Account will end in, if we make it our great Bufinefs here to delight ourselves, without looking further, St. Paul hath given us a strong Intimation, when he faith, they that live in Pleasure are dead whilft they live" Our Saviour too hath forewarned us at large to the fame Purpose, in that awful Parable of the rich Man, who, being neither charged with Injustice nor Debauchery, but only defcribed as clothing himself in Purple and fine Linnen, faring fumptuously every Day, and receiving these as his good Things, on which he placed his Heart; did notwithstanding after Death lift up his Eyes in Torment, and petitioned in vain for a Mitigation of his Sentence: an undeniably just one upon all those who trust in uncertain Riches, or any Thing they can procure with them, instead of the living God, who giveth us all Things richly to enjoy. But this Part of the Text must be referved for the Subject of another Difcourfe. I would only obferve further at present, that our blessed Lord

1 Tim. v. 6.

3

• Luke xvi. 19—31.

háth

hath cautioned us no lefs against the Cares than the Pleasures of this Life; and that his Reason to avoid overcharging our Hearts with either, is the most forcible that can be; left that Day come upon you unawares". Riches and Greatness no one thinks can secure him from Death; but they can make many forget it as abfolutely as if they did think fo; and please themselves with the Imagination, that they have much Good laid up for many Years, till, when they apprehend it leaft, their Soul is required of them. Therefore we should often call to Mind the Pfalmift's Admonition: They that truft in their Wealth, and boast themselves in the Multitude of their Riches, none of them can redeem his Brother, nor give God a Ranfom for himself, that he should live for ever, and not fee Corruption: when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his Glory shall not defcend after him. Man that is in Honour, and underflandeth not, is like the Beafts that perish': like them in this World; but will wifh in vain to be like them in the next, when all that have lived unmindful of God, the Kings of the Earth, (as St. John foretells) and the Great and the Rich and the Mighty hall hide themselves in the

p Luke xxi. 34.

6, 7, 9, 17, 20.

Luke xii. 19, 20.

N 2

Pf. xlix.

Dens,

Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains; and fhall fay to the Mountains and the Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the Face of him that fitteth on the Throne, and from the Face of the Lamb: for the great Day of his Wrath is come, and who fhall be able to ftand?

› Rev. vi. 15, 16, 17.

SER

SERMON IX.

I TIM. vi. 17, 18.

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 all Things richly to enjoy: that they do good, that they be rich in good Works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate.

I

Have already, in two Difcourfes on these

Words, explained and enforced the two Cautions, which St. Paul requires that the Minifters of God's Word fhall give to Perfons of Wealth and Rank, against the Sins, to which they are peculiarly liable. And now I proceed to the Duties, of which he enjoins they shall be peculiarly reminded.

I. The first is, to trust in the living God, who giveth us all Things richly to enjoy. After warning them against placing their Happiness in the Pre-eminences, the Pof