The Way to Thrive: OR THE HEAVENLY THRIFT.  
Teaching a man so to THRIVE here, that he may Thrive for ever hereafter.  
By Alexander Mingȝeis, Minister of God's Word.  
He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Prov. 15.27.  
For the desire of money is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1. Tim. 6.10.  
But godliness is great gain, if a man be content with that he hath. 1. Tim. 6.6.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, MDCLIII.   

The Way to Thrive, etc.  
THere is no end (saith the Preacher) of making many Books, Eccles. 12.12. especially in these times wherein English men have gotten Athenian ears; that is, either to tell or hear some news, Acts 17.21. and what more welcome news, than both heavenly and earthly thrift?  
Thrift I know cannot choose but be a welcome guest unto all: this is it that all men (now adays) do look and long for, that the blind world most hunts after, high and low, rich and poor, one with another. But divers, divers manner of ways: the Covetous, he thinks that thrift doth consist in heaping up riches, the licentious in his pleasure, the proud in his ambition; but this is not the right way of thriving.  
The right way therefore of thriving is to learn so to thrive in Grace here, that we may thrive in glory hereafter.  
First, I say, we must learn to thrive in Grace.  
And the reason is twofold: first, because Grace doth not only bring to glory, but also because it hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come, 1. Tim. 4.8.  
The first step therefore to the Heavenly thrift, is, to learn to be holy, and to walk close with God, as Enoch did, Gen. 5.24.  
Now the way to be holy, is not only to live the life of Grace, but also to improve it; that is, to put our talon to use, to the end, that when the Lord cometh, he may receive his own with advantage, Mat. 25.27.  
Tradesmen and Shopkeepers do not hoard up their ware, to have it lying by them, but all their care is to put it off, with the most gain; and look with how many more they trade, by so much greater is their profit. It is a fine thing to have some ware in every man's shop, an Oar in every man's boat, and some traffic in every Country; for if one fail, yet all seldom or never fail. It is a rich thing to have a stock of prayers going in this Town, in that Country, in that house, Village, or Family: for if the prayers of one righteous man availeth much, Jam. 5.16. what doth the prayer of a hundred, or a thousand? the godly man therefore must needs be a rich and a thriving man, that hath not only his own stock, but also the riches and treasure of Heaven and Earth; for in Heaven he hath Christ and his Saints, and all the holy Angels for his Advocate and friends: upon earth he hath the Godly all the world over.  
As for the wicked, he needs not heed them, for they shall be as chaff which the wind driveth away, Psal. 1.4. for as they mind only earthly things, so shall they come short of heaven, and though God fill their bellies with his hid treasure yet they are no better then filthy swine, always wallowing in the mire of sin, and rooking in the dunghill of the earth, being kept for the day of slaughter.  
But for the godly man, though his portion (for the most part) is the least in this world, yet his is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven; and though he seem to be most subject to the losses and crosses of this life, yet he knows that all things do work for his good, Rom. 8.28. and greater comfort in the Heavens, because there he hath stored up his treasure, Mat. 6.20. And albeit it doth not appear here what he is, because his life is hid with Christ in God, Coll. 3.3. yet when he which is his life shall appear, then shall he also appear with him in glory, 1. John 3.2. and shall shine as a star in the midst of the firmament of Heaven, Dan. 12.3. all things working for his good, all things furthering his salvation, and sending him heaven-ward.  
The godly man therefore must needs be a rich man, who gaineth in death, triumpheth in sorrows, groweth rich in adversity, and thriveth then most when he loseth most; for look by how much less he enjoyeth of this world, by so much more he getteth of Heaven; he in a gainer, I say, in death, in life, in prosperity, in adversity; for so long as he hath God on his side, so long he hath Heaven upon Earth, comfort in despair, joy in grief, pleasure in pain, health in sickness, freedom in bondage, life in death, and all manner of comfort in the extremest pangs of misery, Christ being unto him all in all things, Col. 3.11. He is greater than any calamity can overcome, being more than a Conqueror, through him that loved him, and washed him from his sins in his blood, Rom. 8.37, Rev. 1.5.  
Who now would not but be a godly man, and desire (with Balaam) to die the death of the righteous, to the end, that his last end might be like his? Numb. 23.10. Who would not but (with the Apostle) count all things loss and dung to gain Christ? Phil. 3.8. And think godliness to be great gain, 1 Tim. 6.6. Seeing it is it, that not only giveth a man right to the things of this life, and of that which is to come, but also it procureth a blessing in and upon all he enjoyeth; and therefore if a man would thrive, let him learn to be godly, for that is only the true thriving way, the blind world therefore is mistaken, that counteth gain to be godliness, and the worldly thrift to be the only thrift which placeth its chief felicity in the things of this life, and so that people be but rich to the world, they care not how poor they are to God, and how barren in grace. Heaven is but dung to them, and Mammon is their God; and yet it is a wonder to see how these empty vessels do jet it upon earth! how they take upon themselves to be the only people of the world! and that we can easily grant them, while we look Heaven-ward, and lay hold upon eternal life, 1 Tim. 6.12. I cannot but wonder (I say) to see how they despise the poor, of whom God hath made many rich in faith, Jam. 2.3. when as they do not see themselves, how they are not only poor, but also blind, wretched, miserable, and naked, Rev. 3.17.  
But it is no wonder, that they which despise God, should despise man, that those whose hearts are glued to the world should contemn Heaven: for it is just with God, that those for whom sorrow is ordained hereafter, that they should have their portion in this life; and they that thrive not heaven-ward, should thrive hellward; yea, but give them riches, and let them enjoy the Earth, they care not what becomes of Heaven; they are content to set all at sinque and since, and let them go at hazards  
Oh fools, and unwise! what have they gained, when they have gotten the whole world and lost their own souls? Mat. 16.26. do they not well deserve to be shut out of Heaven, that will go wilfully to Hell? or do they not know that one soul is more precious than a thousand worlds?  
But what do I talk of souls, of heaven, and hell, or of the world to come, seeing all is denied in this age, and people live as if they never should see death?  
I answer, it were well for them if they never should so do; but though the wicked do flourish like a green Bay-tree, Ps. 37.35. yet I know that there is a reward for the righteous, and a God that judgeth the earth, Psal. 58.11.  
They are counted the wisest men now a days, that are thrivingest men; if then we desire to be wise and thrive, let us learn to be godly; for thereby, we see, we shall grasp Heaven and Earth at one span: we shall thrive in Heaven, and we shall thrive upon earth; we shall thrive here and hereafter. This is to play the part of wise men indeed, to be rich in grace, and rich in glory; rich in life, and rich in death; rich in heaven, and rich upon earth.  
I do not say here, that men may be lazy and thrive; neither that this heavenly thrift consists without labour and pains; but as the worldling cannot thrive without industry, no more can the godly without some endeavour: yet as the Race is not to the swift, nor the Battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, Eccles. 9.11. so the most laborious man, is not always the most thriving man; because it is not to him that riseth up early, and lieth down late, and eateth the bread of carefulness, but to whom God giveth the blessing Psal. 127.2.  
Not that therefore we should not take pains, but by reason hereof strive the more earnestly, Luke 13.24. especially for the Kingdom of heaven, Mat. 6.33. which suffereth violence, Mat. 11.12. and for all other things they shall be cast upon us.  
Seeing therefore that godliness is the most gainful life, and a holy life the most thriving life.  
We are here in the second place to learn, how to lead a true and godly life.  
I answer, God hath divers ways and means to bring us to this: sometimes for the hope of worldly gain he brings us to heavenly treasure: sometimes by taking that from us which we have, he gives us that which we have not, and brings us to everlasting comfort: sometimes he imbitters the world unto us, to make us relish Heaven: sometimes he brings us in love with Heaven, that we might learn to despise and contemn the world.  
But in sum and all, the only way to thrive Heaven-ward, is, with Christ, to learn to deny ourselves, and to take up our Cross, and follow him daily Luk. 7.23. we must learn to abandon the world, and to bid all worldly comforts adieu. And while our faces are Zion-ward (Jer. 50.5.) we must forget the flesh pots, the Onions and Garleek of Egypt, Exod. 16.3. Levit. 11.5. We must learn to forget our own people and our Father's house, if we would have the King to delight in our beauty, Psal. 45.10.11. or be true Israelites of the Heavenly Canaan, or Citizens of the Celestial Jerusalem.  
But may we not keep correspondency with the world and Heaven too? be rich upon earth, and rich in Heaven; take our pleasure here, and have it hereafter?  
I answer, no; for first the Apostle adviseth us not to be conformable to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, Rom. 12.2.  
Secondly, concerning riches; first, Solomon adviseth us not to labour to be rich; Prov. 23.4. Again, Christ tells us, that it is as hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God, as for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, Mat. 19.24. and therefore in Luke 6.24. he pronounces a woe unto them that are rich; adding the reason, because they have received their consolation. And S. James bids them weep and howl, for the miseries that shall come upon them, James 5.1.  
As for those that live in pleasure, they are but dead, whilst they seem to live, 1. Tim. 5.6. They spend their years in pleasure, and in a moment go down into Hell.  
And therefore we must learn to improve ourthoughts, our words, and actions; our state, our health, our wealth, our treasures, to God's glory, our own comfort, and the good of others: We must learn to order our ways aright, so that no occasion or opportunity of time be let go, without doing of some good, without drawing nearer unto God Jam. 4.8. and having a sweet union and communion with him, in being at peace with him, having joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17. and walking in the strength and power of God: yea, and that though no eye did see us, God did not seem to regard us, nor the world to take notice of us, because we know where our reward is. We look at eternity, and an eternal well-being with our God, in whose presence is fullness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore, Psal. 16.11. His love doth constrain us to do what we do, to suffer & undergo all things for his sake, because we do know, that the sufferings of this life are not comparable with the joys that shall be revealed, Rom. 8.18. and the rather because we do know, that this life is short enough, if not too short, to fit and prepare us for eternity, and therefore we make so much the more speed to hasten our journey homeward, which is Heaven.  
The world we pass by with scorn, not heeding it; for though we buy, yet we seem not to possess; and though we use the world, yet we seem not to enjoy it, 1 Cor. 7.31. by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet known; as dying, & behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowing, and yet always rejoicing; as poor, and yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, 1 Cor. 6.8.9.10.  
And as the worldling lets no occasion pass by him, without bringing some of his erterprises to pass: so the godly slips no opportunity of time, without accomplishing his design: the time passed he redeems with fervent preys, the time present he bestows in all holiness and honesty; the time to come, he is careful to spend it to God's glory, his own, and another's good: he is diligent in reading, in hearing, and holy meditations; the godly is all his delight, and the Saints are his chiefest treasure; he is at all times, upon all occasions, and in all places, exercised in holy duties, and in devotion both public and private: the distressed (by him) is relieved, the sick is visited, the captive is redeemed, the poor is comforted: he is eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, and counsel and strength to the weak and ignorant: he hath the prayers of others, & his own prayers do good to others, & his example reacheth all the world over: he is painful in travel, patiented in affliction; the world he contemns, and all the glory of it; Heaven only is his aim, God is his comfort, Christ his treasure, and the blessed Saints and Angels his only Companions; and when the world leaves him, Heaven receives him: there is not a Grace, but he puts it to use, and gets interest upon it, yea Grace for Grace, Joh. 1.16. as he walketh from faith to faith, till he appear before the living God in Zion, Psal. 84.7.  
Now as there is a thriving in godliness, which I call the Heavenly Thrift; so there is (in the third and last place) a worldly thrift, which is our thriving in earthly affairs; but because there are but few, but seem to be instructed in this way, I will only briefly set down a twofold Rule.  
The first is, that we have a care to avoid idleness. 2. That we get nothing by false ways, or means.  
First therefore, I say, that if we desire to thrive upon earth, we must avoid idleness; because it is not only an enemy to thrift, but also the very mother, or nurse of all evil: therefore an idle man cannot be said to be a thriving man; because it is only the diligent hand that maketh rich, Prov. 10.4.  
Secondly, we must have a care that we get nothing by false ways, or means.  
We must have a care of false weights, and measures, of adulterate ware, of bribes, covetousness, cruelty, and oppression, of fraud, deceit, and extortion, and that we preach not the word for filthy lucre sake, whereby we make merchandise of it, and set God, our own Consciences, and people's Souls to sale. We must have a care of swearing, and forswearing of ourselves, lest the flying curse take place amongst us, and consume the very stones and timber of out houses, Zach. 5.4. We must have a care that the cry of the poor, fatherless, and widows, come not into the ears on the Lord, and root us and our posterity for ever out of the Land of the living. We must have a care that we entangle not ourselves with the cares of this life, that we meddle not with the times, nor with Power and Authority, nor with them that are given to change, Psal. 24.21.  
But because the worldling will be careful enough in this behalf, viz. to study his own welfare and happiness upon Earth; I leave his worldly care to bring him to a true and spiritual care of his everlasting happiness and welfare in the world to come, seeing that for this he was borne and brought into the world; and that this is the only thrift, if there be any true thriving way under Heaven: Which way and means, God grant us, for Christ his sake. Amen.  
FINIS.