2 54 the Nature of Covetoufnef. Vol. I. I. Th6. great danger ofthis Sin ; how apt we are to fall into this Vice, and of howpernicious a Confequence it is to thofe in whom it reigns. I. How apt we are to fall into this Vice And excepting thofe Vices which are iüimediately founded in a Man's Natural Temper and Conftitution, there is none that Men have a more Univerfal Propenfiori to, than this of Covetoufnefs. For there are two Things whichHuman Nature does more efpeciàlly defire to be fecu- red againft, which are Want, and Contempt : And Riches feem to be a certainRe- medy againft both thefeEvils. Andhecaufe Men think they can.never be fuffci- ently fecured againft thefe, therefore their defire of Riches grows endlefs and infa- tiable ; fo that unlefs Men be very jealous and watchful over themfelves, this De- fire will grow upon them, and enlarge it felf beyond all Bounds. 2. As Men are very apt to fall into this Vice, fo is it of very pernicious Confe- quence to thofe in whom it reigns. The Mifchief of it is very great, and very ex- tenfve : So St. Paul tells us r Tim. 6. 8,. 9, ro. where he preffeth Men to be contented with a finali competency of the Things of this Life, becaufe of the great Danger and Mifchief of a Covetous Mind ; having Food and Raiment, let ice he therewith content. But they that will he Rich ( that is, they that are bent and refolved upon beingRich) fall into Temptation and a Snare, and intomany fool- ifh and hurtful Lufis, which drown Men in Defiruílionand Perdition. For the love of Money is the root of all Evil. But this I (hall fpeak more fully to, when I come to (hew the great Evil and Unreafonablenefs of this Vice. II. This earneft kind of Caution, as it fignifies the great Danger of this Sin of Covetoufrefs, fo likewife the great Care that Men ought to ufe to preferve them- felves from it ; for the greater the Danger is in any kind, fomuch the greater Care fhould be ufed for the avoiding of it. Men are not fo folicitoufly concerned to de- fend themfelves againft a flight Mifchief; but when a terrible one threatens us, we fhould be continually upon our guard againft it, and fummon all our Strength and Force to refit it. Thus much for theManner of the Caution. I proceed to the Second Thing to be confider'd in the Text, viz. The Matter of the Caution, or the Vice which our Saviour here warns his Hearers againft, and that is Covetoufnefr ; Take heed and beware ofCovetoufnefs. And in fpeaking of this, I (hall confiderthefe two Things. I, Wherein theNature ofthis Vice confifts. IL I fhall endeavour to thew the great Evil and Unreafonablenefs of it. I (hall be large in both. I. For. the Nature of this Viceof Covetoufnefr. The fhorteft Defcription that I cant give of it is this; That it is an inordinate Del/re and Love of Riches; but when this Defire and Love are inordinate is not. fo eafy to be,determined. And therefore that we may the better underftand what this SinofCovetoufnefr is, which our Saviour doth fo earneftly caution againft, it will be requifite to confider more particularly wherein the Vice and Fruit of it doth confift ; that whilft we are fpeaking againft Covetoufnefs, we may not under that General Word condemn any thing that is commendable or lawful. To the end then that we may the more clearly and diftinftly underftand wherein the Nature of this Vice doth confift, I (hall Firft, Endeavourto thew what is not condemned under this Naine of Covetouf- nefs, either in Scripture, or according to right Reafon: And Secondly, What is condemned by either of thefe as a plain Inftance or Branch of this Sin. Firfl, What Things are not condemned under, the Name of Covetoufnefr, either in Scripture, or according to right Reafon, which yet have foine appearance of it namely, thefe Three Things. r. Not a provident Care about the Things of this prefent Life. 2. Not a regular Indufiry and Diligence for the obtainingof them : Nor 3. EveryDegree of Love and Affection, to them. I mention thefe Three, be- caufe they may all feem to be condemned by Scripture, as Parts or Degrees of this Vice, but really are not. r. Not
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