grace. (Isaiah i.-1 Sam. xii. 24, 25.-2 Chron. xv. 26. Psalm lxxviii.—Jer. xxvi.—Matt. xi. 22, 23.-Neh. ix. 28, 30.-Hosea vi.-Luke. xiii. 8, 9.-Ezra. ix. 14.-Prov. xiv. 14.-Acts xiii. 46.)

END OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH BOOK,

BY EDWARD CROOK.

PRINTED BY J. PICKBURN, NEW ROAD, AYLESBURY.

BOOK TWENTY-EIGHTH,

The Love of Money a Root of Evil.

This Book cautions us how to be aware of Riches, and it points out to us the danger of coveting after much earthly riches, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we shall carry nothing out. But having food and raiment let us be therewith content. And my friends, you may find many good observations in this Book, and some very important subjects relating to these things, which are very useful, good, and profitable for us, and that is to keep us from the snares of the flesh, the world, and the devil.

And now my friends, be ye aware of riches, and take heed that ye fall not by them, but consider that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we shall carry nothing out, For the Lord giveth, and the Lord takest away, and blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job i. 21.) I say therefore be ye aware of the deceitfulness of riches, be aware that thou forget not the goodness of the Lord thy God; lest when thou hast eaten and art filled, and hast built goodly houses, and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver,, and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied, then thine heart be lifted up, and forget the Lord thy God which brought thee out of thy distresses, and thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of mine hand hath gotten me wealth, I say that when the Lord hath blessed thee, and you do utterly forsake him, thou shall surely perish, and he wilt suffer a curse to come upon your blessings. (Deut. viii.) And they that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, but God will redeem my soul from the power of the

grave, saith the righteous, for he shall receive me. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. For a man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm xlix.) And again, see how low the king of Babylon was laid by pride, and by setting his heart so much upon riches; for he made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: and he commanded all people to worship it; and he erected a burning fiery furnace, and whoso worshipped not this image, was to be cast therein; and the three hebrew children would not worship his golden image, therefore they were cast therein, and the king saw the Almighty power of God displayed in the fire, for he saw four men loose walking in the midst of the fire, and the form of the fourth, said he, is like the Son of God, which stood in the midst of the fire, and assuaged the burning flame, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, so that they received no hurt. (Dan. iii.) And this seems to have humbled his proud heart a little at the first, but it appears that it did not last long; for at the end of twelve months, he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon, and with proud, daring words as it appears the king speak, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? And while the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, which declared that the kingdom was departed from him; and the same hour he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws; and thus you may see how riches lifted up his proud heart; and thus you may see how that poverty and correction humbled him; fcr at the end of those days, he lifted up his eyes unto heaven, and his understanding returned unto him again, and he blessed the most high, and praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose works are truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase. (Dan. iv.) Therefore if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God. (Psalm lxii. 10, 11.) Better is a little, saith Solomon, with the fear of the Lord: than great treasure, and trouble therewith. (Prov. xv. 16.) And again, a little that

a righteous man hath, saith David, is better than the riches of many wicked. (Psalm xxxvii. 16.) But perhaps some may be ready to say as much as this, Well, but if riches do increase, we need not set our hearts upon them, but still we may worship and serve the true and living God; yes my readers you are right, but remember that there is something to be done, if you serve the true and living God aright: now I wish not to discourage any, because I know, by my own experience, that man is weak, therefore be not offended, and I will put two or three plain questions to you. Now, if you have in your own possession, much cattle, houses, lands, and riches; now, if God were to suffer it to be that you must lose all this, do you think, do you know that you could give all these things up for Christ's sake, and that without murmuring? now you must give all up if it were required of you, if you worship God aright, for remember Job, and how that he gave all up for the love that he had for his Maker, for he said, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord; and so must we give all up, if it is required, if we serve God aright; and what should you think would have been said of Job, if he had not gave all up, and that without murmuring? Why it may have been said, that he only served God, and that because he blessed him with much earthly riches, even as Satan said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hath not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side, thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land; but put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face; but it was not so with Job, for when he was tried he was found faithful, and blessed the name of the Lord. Again, if you have much riches, do you think? do you know? are you willing to do much good to the poor godly man, and to the cause of God. I say we must do what good we can if we serve God aright. (see Matt. xix. 21, 22.) Again, if you have in this world a near and dear partner in life, and one, and only one beloved son, and great riches in possession; now, can thou suffer the loss of them, and that with righte ous tears if the Lord seeth fit to take them from you, and that without murmuring against the God of heaven? Yes, my friends, we must do all this, and we must resign our own lives up to his will, even in the time of health, riches, and prosperity for remember Abraham, and how he was com

if

manded of God to offer up his son upon the altar, for a burnt offering, and Abraham obeyed the command of the Lord, and in this he worshipped God aright. And it appears that Abraham had much riches in his possession. Now what should

you think would have been said of Abraham if he had not obeyed the command of his God? Why perhaps it may have been said of him, that he was not faithful to his God according to the covenant of grace, but that he only served God'for his earthly riches, and for his only beloved son Isaac, and if it had been so, for ought we know he may have lost the blessing, but it was not so, for Abraham was found faithful, and obtained the blessing. (Gen. xxii.) See my Book called The Trial of Faith, and there you may see something of the trial of Abraham's faith explained, which is worth your attention; but although Abraham was found faithful, yet at the same time, we must be aware of the deceitfulness of riches, because, where one hath stood his ground, there are many that have fallen thereby for the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it but the Lord? (Jerem. xvii. 9.) Therefore, we should do well if we were to take our Lord's example; Lay not up for yourselves, saith he, treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. And here is a danger in riches: for where your treasure is, saith he, there will your heart be also. (Matt. vi. 19.) And I say again, that there is a deceitfulness in much riches; for remember the seed which fell among thorns, which is he that heareth the word of God; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matt. xiii. 7, 22.) Choke not the word then by riches; quench not the spirit by lust and pride, lest the grace of God cannot take a full possession of your souls, for Whosoever will come after me, saith our Lord, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever. shall lose it for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. (Mark viii. 34.) For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark viii. 36.) Therefore, covet not after much earthly riches, my friends, lecause our Lord saith, that a