Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

436 That worldly thing"' cannot fatisfieor bring contentment, and bellies ; and which is wort} of all, will not affoord vnto them good education,becaufe it requireth coil : whereby it manifeltlyappearech that the loue of nothing but of their money, and thx,for i t owne fake, without refpeelofflrther vfe,is the true caufe of all their greedie fcraping. And to fay truth,how can he be good to others who is naught to him- felfe ? how can he be anothers friend, who is his owne cne- umillws aria- mie ?But the couetous miter (as euen the heathen man could re pró111ufSet difcerne with the eye of nature) though hee bee good to nec.epüt.toß: none, yet bee is worft of all to himfelfe; for hee robbeth his owne foule of neceffaries, that hee may leaue behind him fuper fluitics ; and like an vnnaturall theefe, bee de- fraudeth himfelfe of thofe rich bleflings which God inhis bountie bath imparted voto him. He fareth hardly, and go- eth bafely, and in all refpeóts maketh vntohimfelfe a more (bort allowance, for all his great care and labour, then any mafler(vnleffe he were as wretched as he) would afford vn- to him. In which refpeót one concludeth that the mi ter is not onely a theefe,but alto a felfc- murtherer,feeing bee will not uid eft amt. allow vnto himfelfe ii? ceffaries to preferue life. What ( faith sa, ?(ai hëicida, he) is a couetous mart . a murtherer of himfelfe. What is co- ga;deTtaaari uetoufneffe ?a liuing poore forfeare of pouerty. Wherein sia6 auperta- the mifer doth onely this worke ofittftice in all his cariage, tiriim>r,fcm- that he Both not caft away his wealth vpon his vnworthie per in paaperta- felfe,but referueth it fafe and vntouchcd, for thofe who bet- teviaepift. ter deferue to enio and fend it. Rightly therefore is this nard.cpiß. Y P g svlueft. miferablenef%called a wormewood (inne,, which bringeth hispunilhment in the very committing,fauing that it is nei- ther fweete nor wholefome, but a delightfull vexation, a rich beggerie, a fuperfluous penurie and affedted want, which turneth Gods blcffings into curlings; his gifts into clogs, and maketh all his benefits heauie burthens. And this commethtopafTeby the Tuft iudgement of Godpunifhing their immoderateloue of theft earthly things; that though they fhould haue abundance in po{fellion, yet they fhould haue nothing in fruition, much in keeping and nothing in vfe,b.ecaufe hee fo flraiteneth their hearts and reftraineth their liberty, that like the prince in the booke of the Kings they