The Evil and Folly of Ccvetoufnefr. 323 tnore important bufinefs of religion, is a fin ; S E R M. fober frugality in regulating the expences of XI. living, and avoiding a needlefs profufion and `-Y.a' fuperfluity, is a virtue ; flingy parfimony witholding more than is meet, more than prudence requireth or a difcreet liberality in- clineth to, this is a vice ; to feek riches, or more than what neceflity requireth, for the purpofes of charity ; to work diligently with ones hands, or in any way of an honeft calling, that he may have fomewhat to filare to them who need, is highly commendable ; to be very intent on getting gain, without an habitual prevailing intention to make fuch ufe of it as religion direteth, and without a fuperior re- gard to charity and virtue, is inconfiftent with true piety and that love of God in which the effence of it confifteth. To be effe tually preferved from covetouf- nefs, let us remember that other vices are to be avoided, and all the deeds of the body mortified together. Pride and luxury, under the fpecious names of decency and generofity, make very expenfive demands, and to anfwer them, great wealth muff be heaped up; fo that through the influence of other corrupt affections the heart becomes really covetous, at the fame time imagining it felf to be quite otherwife. Again, to cure this unhappy dif- Y 2 temper
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