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1. THough we are not to suffer our selves to be ta∣ken captive by the riches of this world, yet we must provide against the other enemy, which is Poverty.
Poverty will be creeping in to take possession if it be not resisted: And though Poverty be of such a con∣trary nature to Riches, whereby no man loveth it, be∣cause it is not delightful, yet where it takes possession, it is not easily flung out again.
2. Therefore let no Believer give himself too much liberty, lest Poverty fall upon him, but when he hath him under him, let him keep him down.
3. And Poverty is easily kept down with Industry, by him who is willing to labour, and mindful to pre∣serve that which he hath taken great pains for.
4. Again, it is not the earning of a great deal of Money in a Day or in a Week that causeth a man and his Family to live comfortably, but the well mana∣ging what he getteth, this I know by Experience.
5. I have known several men, though not Belie∣vers, that could by their Trades earn 20, 30, or 40 shillings a week, and some more money, yet by their immoderate living, being given to extreme Wasteful∣ness;
6. Or else being given to Idleness, trusting to what they could earn in a day or two in a week, so that their families have lacked both food raiment which was convenient for them.
7. When those who could not earn half so much, have by their carefulness lived comfortably, and lack∣ed for nothing that was necessary.
8. Therefore let every man observe that old Pro∣verb, To cut his Coat according to his Cloath, that is, that he spendeth or layeth out no more than what is agree∣able to his comings in, and then there will be no want.
9. Again, I know several whose earnings are but
small, which will not amount to above six, eight, or ten shillings a week at the most, if they work all the week, and yet these will spend so much of their time idly, and so much of their little earnings wastefully, that they can hardly spare their Family money to buy them bread in time of health and strength.
10. But what will become of them then in time of Sickness, Lameness, or Old Age? Surely nothing but sorrow and calamity.
11. Poverty doth make people run into many dan∣gers, many will rather adventure their lives by break∣ing the Law, than to want those things that are neces∣sary in this life.
12. Most commonly this want is procured either by mens extravagancie in spending their yearly Reve∣nue, or what they have hardly laboured for, or else by mispending their time in idleness.
13. I am sure whosoever is guilty of any of these things cannot be at peace in his mind upon a spiritual Account, and therefore Poverty and Wastefulness is an enemy to truth.
14. Furthermore, will not the words of a Child cut more sharp than a two-edged Sword, when he shall ask for Bread and his Father or Mother hath none to give him, nor mony to buy food to satisfie their hungry Babewithal; this must lie very heavy upon those who have brought themselves into such a condition by their own wilful extravagancie or idleness.
15. But it may be some will say, they have no Children, the cry of a Child cannot trouble them; but if it be the cry of a wife, or of his own poor Soul, be∣ing through sickness, lameness, or old Age brought to want food or rayment, and all for want of a providen∣tial
care in the time of his health to keep something to help him at such a time when comfort is required; these things must needs break the peace of the mind; therefore poverty is an enemy to truth.
16. Though we are commanded to love our Ene∣mies, yet we are not to love such Enemies as will break our peace with God, which these Enemies before mentioned will do, if we make a league with them; and it is written, He that provideth not for himself and his family is worse than an infidel.
17. I hope no Believer will be guilty of that sin; neither are we to take hold of those words, Take no care for to morrow, but let the day bring forth with it self; for those words were chiefly spoken to the Apo∣stles, and those whom they had ordained to be fellow-labourers with them in the Gospel of Christ.
18. They indeed were not to take scrip, nor staff, nor two Coats apiece, signifying that they were not to take care in this life for any thing but to seed the Church with the Gospel of truth, and temporal ne∣cessaries should be added, as it is written, They that preach the Gospel shall live by the Gospel.
19. Nevertheless St. Paul saith, that his hands mi∣nistred to his necessities, rather than he would be a burthen to the Church.
20. Therefore let all Believers take such care, that by their labour or lawful industry they may be able to minister to their own necessities without being a bur∣then to the Church, which are the Houshold of faithful people: And that they may have something to spare, because it is a greater blessing to give than to receive.
21. I write these things to encourage Believers and
all other civil people to be careful and industrious in the time of their health and strength, and when they have store of imployment to lay by something to help them when either their health, strength, or imploy∣ment faileth them.
22. Then is the time of their necessity, and in time of necessity and want of bread the peace of a mans mind is broken, and he hath no more liberty and free∣dom in his mind, to mind the glorious things of Eter∣nity, than he hath whose mind is intangled with the Riches and Honour of the World, therefore Poverty is an enemy to Truth.
23. When Poverty is come, then doth the thrift∣less man begin to imploy his mind altogother on world∣ly things and matters, how he shall escape that great danger he hath brought himself into.
24. To steal he is afraid, to beg he is ashamed, his Credit is so bad no body will trust him, and in this Condition there can be no peace.
25. Neither can the effects thereof prove good, for he must be forced either to beg, or to take some evil course at last, except some friend or friends do take pi∣ty on him, and relieve him.
26. Then if he be by that means brought to see all his former folly, and to repent of it, then the taste of want hath proved good to him.
27. But for my part, I cannot understand what pleasure or delight any man can take in spending and consuming that mony in waste which they labour for, when they are sensible what a sad condition many peo∣ple have brought themselves into by the like extra∣vagancie.
28. Let these things therefore be an example to all
Believers, lest they should be taken in the same snares with the wicked, and so should undergoe that punish∣ment due to them, which is to want all temporal com∣forts, besides that horror which will be upon the mind for the dishonouring that Truth of which they are partakers.
29. Though it is written, Those that are poor in this world and rich in Faith are Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, yet that was not written to encourage any be∣liever to live in idleness, or to spend his mony or time wastefully, whereby to keep himself poor, for Poverty (as beforesaid) is an enemy to truth and to the peace of the mind.
30. Also be that is rich in Faith hath that Riches of Temporal wisdom in him to use the uttermost of his endeavours to keep himself and family from want∣ing temporal comforts in this life.
31. If there be any Believer that hath been indu∣strious in his calling, and careful to maintain himself and family to the uttermost of his power, not waste∣ing his time or mony idly, I say, if such an one should be brought very low and poor, by either losses, sickness, greatness of charge, having many Children, old Age, Persecution, or such like causes, I have not written any thing here to hinder those from being re∣lieved.
32. It doth make my Soul to mourn, when I hear of a Believer to want food or rayment which is con∣venient for them, and I have always been willing to help such poor Believers, and ever shall be if I have it to give.
33. And I would have all Believers according to their ability to be willing to help such poor Belie∣vers
whose Poverty comes not by their own wil∣ful extravagancies.