Verse 23. A rich man shall hardly enter]
With that burden of thick clay, that camels-bunch on his back: heaven is a stately* 1.1 pallace with a narrow portall; there must be both stripping and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ere one can get through this strait gate. The greatest wealth is ordinarily tumoured up with the greatest swelth of re∣bellion against God. Vermis divitiarum est superbia, saith Au∣gustine, Pride breeds in wealth, as the worm doth in the apple, and he is a great rich man indeed, and greater then his riches, that doth not think himself great, because he is rich. Charge those* 1.2 that are rich that they be not high-minded (for the devil will soon blow up such a blab in them, if they watch not) and that they trust not in uncertain riches, so as to make their gold their God, as all worldlings do, and worse: for could we but rip up such mens hearts we should finde written in them The God of this present world. They that minde earthly things have destruction for their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Philip. 3. Have them we may and use them too, but minde them we may not, nor love them, 1 John 2. 15. that's spirituall 〈◊〉〈◊〉, such as Gods soul hateth, and he smiteth his hands at, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 22. 13.