a HOLY LIFE. 47 



which drown men in deftruEtion and perdi- 

 tion. It is clear that Riches do expofe to 

 the temptations of Pride and Luxury, and 

 the fad confequences thereof. 



You will fay. If Riches have fuch an ill 

 influence upon Mens Manners, why then 

 are they propofed in Scripture as rewards 

 to virtuous actions ? why are they made the 

 effefts and fruits of God's Bleffing? 



I anfwer, Riches if well ufed , and it is 

 Our own fault if we ufe them not well, are 

 real Bleffings, enabling us to do much good 

 in the World ; to be rich in good Works, 

 to relieve the Neceffities of others, to feed 

 the Hungry, to cloath the Naked, to re- 

 deem Prifoners and Captives, to deliver 

 the OpprefTed, to minifter to the Sick con- 

 venient Diet and Phyfick, &c. And our 

 Saviour tells us, That it is a more bleffed 

 thing to give, than to receive ; and confe- 

 quently to have whereof to give. 



I fliould nowproceed to fliew,That Riches 

 are a Bleffing promifed to our Obedience, 

 and likewife a natural confequent and ef- 

 feft of it : And in the firft place to explain 

 what is meant by Riches-, but I find this fo 

 well done to my hand by * ^.Wilkins, late 

 . T \ - 



* Treanfe of Natural Religion. 



Bifhop 



