Serm. XXXVII. of Covetoufnef . 259 does not enjoy what he tears and rends from others ; fo that he is of that molt hateful kind of Beafts of Prey, that kill other Creatures, not to eat them, but that they may fee them lie dead by them. Lyons and Wolves kill out of hun- ger ; but the Covetous Man, like a Serpent or Scorpion, Ringsand bites others toDeath, not for his Need, but for his Pleafure and Recreation. Covetoufnefs is theParent of the moll monftrous Sins ; becaufe it fixeth a Man in a Refolution ofgetting an Eflate by any Means. If Falfenefs and Deceit, Violence, and Op- prefíìon will further this End ; the earnell Defireof the End temptsMen toufe any fort of Means whereby the Endmay be compaffed ; and tho a Man may have fome averfenefs from them at fish, yet that wears off by degrees, and the ftrong Defire of the End, reconciles a Man at laft to the love and liking of the Means, how wicked and unwarrantable foever. Covetoufnefs tempted Achan to (teal the accurfedThing, and Gèhazi to lye to the Prophet, and Ahab toop- prefs and murder Naboth. Nay, a fmall Sum tempted the covetous Mind of yedas to betray his Mafter, and his Saviour. And how do many Men every day l rain their Confciences to get an Ellate, and hazard their Souls for Mo- ney ; nay exchange their Souls, which are öf more Value than the whole World, fora very fmall Portion of it ? H. There are likewife many other Temptations which a covetous Man is ex- , pofed to in the keeping and fecering of an Eftate, when he hath got it. A cove- tous and worldly-minded Man, when it comes to the Trial, is in great Danger ofquitting his Religion, andmaking Shipwreck of Faith anda good Confcience. When his LRatecomes tobe in hazard, he is veryapt to falloff from the Truth ; 'cis anhundred to one but in thefe Circumftances, he will chafe rather to violate his Confcience, than to forfeit his Eftate. What the Devil falfly faid ofyob, is true of the Covetous Man, he does notferve Godfor nought. Upon thefe Terms it was; that Chrift and the Young Man parted ; he had great Poffefflons, and it troubled himto part with them. When Demos wasbrought to the Trial, and put to it, whether he would Rick to the Profellion of the Gofpel, or his Worldly Poffeffions, he quittedSt. Paul, and declared for the World, the zit of Drib. q.. to. Demas hath forfaken me, having lovedthis prefent World. So far had his covetous Humour befotted him, as to make him prefer his prefent Interefi in thefe Temporal Things, before thofe Eternal Rewards which the Gofpel offered. HI. There are likewife many Temptations which Men are expofed to in the enjoying and fpending of a great Eflate. It is hard to have a great Eftate, and not to be mafeer'd by the Love of it ; nor tohave our Cares and Thoughts, our Hearts and Affeftions fwallowed up by it, 'Tis no eafie thing for a Man that hath Riches, not to over-value them, and love them more than he ought ; not tobe puft up by them, and fo place his Trufe and Confidence in them, Prov. 18. It. The Rich Man's Wealth is hisftrong City, and as an high Wall in hisown Conceit. The Covetous Man fetteth up his Riches in the Place of God, and is apt tofall down before this Golden Calf, and worlbip it r To fay to the Gold, thou art my Hope, and to thefineGold, thou art my Confidence : To rejoyce, becaufe his Wealth is great, and becaufe his hand bath gotten much. Riches are a great Temptation to Irreligion andAtheifm. Upon this Account Agar wifely prays to God for a moderate Eftate, becaufeof the danger of both the Extreamsof Riches and Poverty ; becaufe ofthe great and violent Temptations which Men are expofed to in both thefe Conditions, Prov. 38. 9. Give me 'Jol- ther Poverty nor Riches, but feed me withfood convenient for me. Whynot Rich- es ? Le t I befull and deny thee, and fay, who isthe Lord? And much more do Riches tempt Men to Pride and Infolence towards others, Prov. 18. 23. The Poor ufethentreaties, but the Rich anfwereth roughly. Men's Spiritsare commonly blown up and bloated with their Fortunes, and their Pride, and Stomach, and Paffion, doufually increafe in proportion to their Wealth. L 1 2 And
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