VER.5. ephefians,Chap. 5. 599 unbelief:: in God and confidence in the meanes : for as it excludeth negligence, which tempreth God ; fo that doublediligence in which the heart refleth withdrawne fromGod.This is a leeret which bring- eth many within the compaffe of covetoufneffe,this doing fo much that they think all Lure enough without looking toGod; and therefore Ecclef4.8. this is made to decipher acovetous mifer, there isno endto bútravail, he hath more irons in the fire then hecan turne to : and this is a truth in Chriftian experience,thatmultiplying outward means exceffively in any kind, goeth withdiflruft in God and confidence in the flelh. Looke asone that is alwayesgetting crutches, hisdeed faith hecannot goe alone: So a man that is alwayes in this or that meane ofhealth or wealth, proclaimeth thathis truft Godward is exceeding lame. It alike fighteth with faith to negleót meanes , and fo to tempt God,as to multply meanes and reft there , the heart not lifted up to God. And as therecares &double diligence,fowant of love in ourdea- lings makeih us finfull feekers ofwealth and covetous: as whenI care not how another is pinched, fo I makea goodhand my felfe : This for the unrighteous feeking which difcovereth covetoufneffe. Now the keeping is more eafy, for it will make a man for the love ofmoney de- ny himfelfe andothersthe reliefe they fhould have : the firft is often Peen, as Ecclef..4.8. but that is not alwayes, there may be acovetous glutton: bur the latter is alwayes, for a covetous man,though hemay give a little ofhis fuperfiuity, yet will never open his hand to due re- lieving others diflrefl'ed: thus thecovetous Pharifees, our Saviourfor this covetous humour dothevery wheretax them,Lake t r.39:4t.Luke z2.33. Sell thatye have andgive almes. 3. Now for the third, a covetous humour is dete led by want of Contentation: for looke fo farre as thou dollnot teacontented in that thou haft, fo farre forth you arecovetous: Godlineffe rc gaine with [eelfe. fufficiency. Heb.t 3.5. Letyour conversation bewithout covetou fne(je,and be content with (acb things ac you have; for this lingring and having months mindsafter this, and that, new proje&s 11111 before us, area plaine covetous converfation. 4. Wemay fee it byour takingofloffes,for acovetous man wilgrieve more for hiswealth gone, then forGods countenance eftranged.Hof. 7.14. They howled upon their beds, they affembled themfeelves for corne andwine. Look therefore,fomuch as our griefe or joy in poffeffing and lofing thefe things is greater then thatwe have for havenlythings, prefent or abfent,fo much we are overgrowne with covetoufneffeand idolatrouslove ofour corruptible riches. Now for the2. Whyit is idolatry. The anfwer is in3. regards. z. In refpea it hath the heart, the thoughts,defires, endeavours, affe4 lions run that way; wherethe treafure is , there the heart will be. When riches increafe set net thy hearton them. a. Becaufe we ferve them;thatwhich one of us worlhippeth and ferveth is our God; manytherfore that fay,Weknow moneyis but re- fined earth, we efteeme as barelyof it as others; all thefe words will not Pfal.óa.so:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=