•. The Sigm of Covetoufnefs. On eanh or in Heaven? Col. 3• 1, 2, 3· Mat. 6. :.w, 21. The quefl:ion is not w.hether you give noW and ·rhen an alms to deceive your Confciences, and part with fo much as the fldh can fpare, as a (wine will do when he cJn cat no more: But whether all that you have be devoted w the will of God, and made ro fioop to his fervice and the faving of your fouls, and can be forfaken rather than Chrifi for~ faken. Luk.! 14· 33· ~· r 4 . 8. Another thinks that he isnot Covetom becaufe _it is but for his Children that he providtth: And he that provideth not for his own, is worfC" than an infidel. r L'im. 5· 8. But the Text fpcaketh only of providing nccdfaries for our families and kindre? ra~hcr than ca.tt them on the C:hurch to be mainLined. If you fo overvalue the world, that you thmk 1,t the happmefs of your chtldren to be Richl you are worldlings and Covet~M both ~or y~ur felvc~ and them : It is fOr their Children that the Richefi and Greatefi mal{e provifion, that thetr pofienty may be great and wealrhy after them ; and this 11\1.keth them the more worldlings and not the Iefs; becaufe they are covtiiJIM for after ages, when they are dead, and not only for themfc:lves. §. 1 5· 9· Another thinks he is no wor!tiling becaufe he can fpeak as hardly of covetous men as any other: But many a one revilcth orflhs as covetous that is covetous himfelf: Yea covetous men are aptelt to accufe others ofcovctou[nefs, and of felling too dear, and buyin~ tOO cheap, and giving too little becaufe they would get the mort themfelves. And many Preachers by their reading and know.. ledge, may make a vehement fermon againll worldlinefs,and yet go to Hell at lafi for being worldliug!. \Vords are cheap. . y. 1 6. IO· Another thinks he is not covetom, becaufc he purpofeth to leave much to charitable ufe$ when he is dead. I confefs that much is wdl; I woul~ more would dofo. But the fidh it fdf can fpare it, when ir fecth chat it mull: lie down in the grave. If they could carry their riches with them, and enjoy them afrer death, they would do it) no doubt. To leave it when you cannot keep it any longer, is nor thank-worthy. So the glunon and Grunkard, and whoremonger, and the proud muft all leave their pleafure at the grave. But do you ferve God or the fle01 with your Riches while you h:.~ve them l And do you ufe them to help or to hinder your falvation? Deceive not your felves, for God is not mocked. Gal. 6. 7• 9· '7·· VI. Yet many are falny accufed ofcovetoufnefi upon fuch grounds as thefe. 1. Bccaufe they Luke"· 4 s; poJJefs nmch and are Rich: For the poor take the .Rich for worldlinl{f· But God giveth not to all alike : & 16.9, to. He putterh ten talents into the hands of one fervant, and but one into anothers: And to whom men Mar. 2f. commit much; ofthem will they require the mme: Therefore to be entrufied with more than others) s.Cor· 2 • 1 ii: is no fin, unlefs they betray that trufi. · ~- 18. 2. Others are accufed as covetoiU becaufe they fatisfie not the covetous defires of thofe they deal with, or that expect muCh from them, and becaufc they give not where it is not their duty, but their fin to give. Thus th~ buyer faith the feller is c~verous: and t~e .fellerfaith rhe buyer is covetous, becaufc they anfwer not thetr covetous de(ires: An 1dle beggar wlll accl\fe you of uncharitablenefs bacaufe you·maintain him tiot in finful idlenefs. The proud look you 01ould help to maintain thei; pride: The drunkard, and ryotous, and gamcllers expect their parents fhould maintain their fin. No man that bath any thing, {hall fcape the cenfure of being covetous, as l~ng as there is another in rhe woild that covece~h that which he hath : frlfijhnefs looketh Io no rules bur their own defires. · ~ ' 9··19· 3· Others are judged covrtoUf becaufe they give not that which they have not to give : Thofe that know not anothers efiate, will pa[s conjectures at it: And if their hanforn apparel or deportment, or the common fame, do make men think them richer than "they are, then they arC accounted covetoMbecaufe their bounty anfwereth not mens expcd.ttions. . 9· 2.0. 4· Others are thought covetousbecaufe they are laborious in their callings, and rhtifty, and faving, not willing that any thing be loft. But all this is their duty: I[ they were Lords o'r Princes, idlenrfs, and wa{lfullnrfi would be rheii fin. God would have all men labour in their feveral callings that are able; And Ch1ifi jinfelf faid, when he had fed many thoufands by miracle, yet [Gather up the fragments tb~t remam, that nothing bt lvft J The quefiion is, How they ufe that which thev labour lo hard for, and fave fo fparingly. If th'cy ufe it for God, and charitable ufes, rhei< is n~ man taketh a righter courfe. He is the befi feivant for God, that will be lJborioUf and [paring that he may be able todo good. §. 21· 5• Others are thought covetous becau[c: to avoid hypocrifie, they .give in fecret, and keep their works of charity f10m rhe knowledge of men ; Thefe fuall have their Reward from God : ami his wrath lhall be the reward of their prt:fuiJlptuous cenfurers. 9· 22. 6. bthers are thought '""'"llf becaufe they lawfully and peaceably feek their right, and let not the unjufi and covetous wrong them ~t their pleafure. Its true, we mull let go our nght, when ever the rccovering.of it will do more hurt to others, than it will do us good : But yec the Laws are not made in vai.n : Nor mufi we encourage men in covetoufnefs thievery and deceit, by letting them do what they lill·: Nor mufi we be carelefs of our maflers talents: If he inrrufi us with them, we mull not let eve,ry one take·them from us, to fcrve his lufis with. , . ,. 23. Direct. 2· Serioufly coufider ofyour evcrlafting ftJJte, and how much greater things than Richu DiretJ. 2 • you have to mind: Behold by faith the endlefi joys whichyou may h•ve with God, and the rndlcfs mifiry whicb w~rldliugs mHfl undergo in Hr:U. There:: is no true cure for an earthly mirid, but by lhewing it the far greater ~atters to be minded: by acquainting ir better with its own concernments; and with the greater nuferjes t~an povelty or want which we have to fcape; and the ~rcater good Ll 2 than
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