A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 4 That though many godly men are poore, yet godlinesse is no cause of their pouerty.

In the second place I answere, that though many are poore who are godly, yet their godlinesse is not the cause of their pouerty; seeing it onely findeth, but not maketh them to bee in this penurious estate. For when the Gospel is preached, the poore rather receiue it then the rich, seeing the little comfort which they haue in earthly things, doeth make them to seeke for it in spirituall and heauenly; whereas the abundance of the rich intangleth their hearts in the snares of worldly loue, choketh in them the seed of Gods Word, and maketh them to neglect the meanes of their saluation. Thirdly, I answere, that godlinesse is a cause and meanes of riches, and not of pouerty, seeking it hath the promises of this life, and that which is to come; and God hath vndertaken (who is able and all-sufficient) seeing the earth is his, and all that therein is, and most true and infallible in

his Word) that nothing which is good, shall be wanting vnto those that feare and serue him; that if we will first seeke his Kingdome and righteous∣nesse, all other things shalbe cast vpon vs; that he will withhold no good thing from them that walke vprightly. That if we will cease to doe euill, and learne to doe well, if we consent and obey, we shall eate the good things of the Land. If indeed riches were simply our owne earnings, and could be gotten by our owne policies, care and labour, then those who exceed others in all these, might promise vnto themselues the greatest plenty, though they vtterly neglect Gods seruice; but seeing it is onely Gods blessing that maketh rich, it is not to be imagined, that the Lord, infinite in bounty and goodnesse, will be lesse liberall in paying our wages, because we are more faithfull and diligent in doing his worke. And therefore if wee feare want and pouerty, it must not discou∣rage vs from the seruice of God, but rather be a strong motiue to make vs serue him with more earnest indeuour, seeing he will pre∣serue those who serue him from pouerty, so farre forth as it is euill and a punishment of sinne, and will giue vnto them all temporall bles∣sings, so farre forth as they are good and profitable. And if he scant them of these earthly trifles, it is but to fit them for the receiuing of his greater and better gifts, euen the rich treasures of his spiri∣tuall graces, faith, hope, patience and the rest, and for the euerlast∣ing riches and glorie of his heauenly Kingdome. For he that re∣warded Salomon with peace, wealth and honour, because in the first place he desired ciuill wisdome to gouerne the people, will not deny them vnto those, who affect aboue all things spirituall Wisdome, consisting in true godlinesse; if in his diuine Wisdome, he doth see that it is better for them to haue them, then to want and be scanted of them.

Notes

• 1. Tim. 4. 8.
• Psal. 24. 1.
• Psal. 34. 10. & 84. 11.
• Esay 1. 17, 18, 19.
• 1. King. 3. 9, 11.