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It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,
Matth. 19.24.
IS Heavens gate less then a needles eye? no wonder few there be that finde it, Matth. 7.14. or is it the rich mans greatness that obstructs his passage and denyes him en∣trance? indeed our Savior en∣titles the Poor to a propriety in this Kingdom, Luke 6.20.
and its the onely inheritance that usurping Ahabs could ne∣ver yet plunder from our poor and innocent Jezreelites. But why so difficult a thing for rich men to enter heaven? because so facile a thing for hell to en∣ter them. Though it be even a Proverb with Solomon, Prov. 14.20. That the rich hath many friends, yet he may not expect to be Abrahams bosom-friend; there's not a drop of water for him in heaven, who hath not a crum of bread for Lazarus on earth. 'Tis possi∣ble that Creatures of a larger bulk then Camels, may by the dexterity of the Artist pass through a needles eye in some
exquisite acupicture piece; so you may finde the Portraict of a rich man in the picture of a parable, but a great gulf-wide from heaven: It is the invellei∣ty of the Creature, which oft times renders that impossible, which in it self is feazible; and if Heaven were an earthly Pa∣radice, or Eternity could be rated and purchasable at twen∣ty years value, the rich being here but Tenants at Will, at most for Term of Life, it should cost them an Hospital, but their souls should have a rever∣sion in Heaven; were that transparent anonimity, 1 Cor. 2.9. and 2 Cor. 12.4. but penetrable by such blunt and
sensual dross: Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl, &c. Jam. 5.1. Indeed without are dogs, Rev. 22.15. what sad news is this? news more desperate then a Bankrupts debt; Is there no possibility of entrance into heaven for the rich? hath that Saint, whom the Roma∣nists idolize as the Clavis of Heaven, wept out all his Apostacy, yet no room but at the Italian Ephisus for a little bribery? have the Mammo∣nists on earth nothing to do with Heavens Exchequer? dare we say such a man is not in Heaven because he dyed rich? God forbid; our Savior never superfluated any Truth;
he saith, A rich man shall hard∣ly enter into heaven, Matth. 19.23. but all difficulties im∣ply a possibility; and if but a grain of faith can cause Moun∣tains of earth to skip into the Sea, Matth. 17.20. & 21.21. can it not as easily convey a few earth-worms into heaven? onely it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter in∣to the kingdom of God, Matth. 19.24.