Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 2 · Verse 3 (1 of 3)
VERSE 3. For through covetouſneſſe ſhall they with fained words make merchandiſe of you, whoſe judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation doth not ſlumber.
THe Apoſtle in this verſe makes a continuation of their ſinnes, and a declaration of their plagues. They extend the threed of their miſchiefe very long, till hell fire burne it off: and then they ſhall find that they have ſpun a faire threed. They broach Hereſies, corrupt multitudes, ſell ſoules, as Merchants doe their wares; coozen mens conſciences, colour foule natures with faire words, blaſ…heme the Goſpell, deny IESUS CHRIST; oh how conſtant and long-winded are they in their wickedneſſe! But there is a judgement, an unſleeping judgement; a damnation that wakes while they ſlumber, and ſhall at laſt take them napping. The roote of their noxious intentions is covetouſneſſe; that make them Merchants, they trafficke in the bargaine of ſoules; to buy them, not for CHRIST, but from Chriſt. Being once cunning merchants, they get ſmooth tongues, milking language: and like practitioners in that legall theeverie; embrace men in their armes, …nd laugh in their faces, while they picke their purſes.
Their heart, tongue, and hand are employed in this project; all have their di…tinct offices, and they accompliſh their duties. The heart dictates to the tongue, the tongue prepares the way for the hand. Their hearts covet, their tongues flatter, their hands trafficke. They covet your goods, they flatter your ſinnes, they ſell your ſoules. The roote is covetouſneſſe, the branches fained words, the fruite merchandiſe of men: and there followes the axe of Iudgement to hew them downe, and the fire of damnation to burne them.
In this deſcription of falſe teachers conſider generally:
Their
Prodition; Through covetouſneſſe, &c.
Perdition; Their judgement, &c.
In their prodition or trecherie againſt the Church, obſerve that the metaphor of merchandizing is uſed; wherein examine foure concurrences.
The
Traders, Falſe prophets.
Wares; You.
Ground of Trafficke, Covetouſneſſe.
Meanes of utterance, Fained words.
In theiir perdition or ruine, conſider:
The
Severity of it: Iudgement and damnation.
Vicinitie of it; Lingers not, ſlumbers not.
Firſt, let me ſpend a little time upon the generall ſimilitude (Merchandizing) here uſed by the Holy Ghoſt. The calling of a Merchant is of great antiquity, and neceſſary uſe: the ſtate of the world cannot well ſtand without it. Non omnis fert … nia tellus: our northerne parts have no wine for the Sacrament; Meſhek King of Moah was a Lord of ſheepe, Hiram had ſtore of timber, Ophir was famous for gold, Chittim for Ivorie, Baſan for Okes, Lebanon for Cedars: therefore there muſt be a path from Aegypt to Aſhur. Merchants are the feete of the world, whereby remote and diſtant countreyes meet together. Yet it is a dangerous profeſſion, not only for wracke of life and goods, but alſo for wracke of conſcience: which is not alwayes made in their ſhips abroad, but too commonly in their ſhops at home. There be the quickſands of nimble fraud, and the rockes of perjurie. Gaine is a buſy temptation, and they can neither uſe meaſures nor ballances, but the divel is at one end to doe ſome office. The queſt of wealth is dangerous: Per bella quaerere, flagitium: per maria, periculum: per falſitatem, opprobrium: per agriculturam, verò licitum: to ſeede it by warre is injurie, by falſhood ignominie, by ſea danger, by husbandry honeſt and ſafe.Mic. b. 10. Caſsian. I will not ſay with Chryſoſtome; Tu qui Chriſtianus es, fuge forum; ut nec f… cias, nec patiaris fraudem: Come not neere the market, for feare of deceiving, or being deceiued.
It is a lawfull calling, if it be lawfully uſed. No man is bound to ſtay at home: he may viſite forraine countreyes, if either authority or neceſſitie ſend him forth. A calling is a good warrant, and it cannot want danger to goe unſent. But two things are to be waighed; who muſt goe, and whither. Who; not a feeble and ungrounded Chriſtian. Religion hath in it all ſtatures, all ſtrengths; children and men. Let a child or a foole be turned looſe into the Apothecaries ſhop, that gallipot which lookes faireſt, ſhall ſooneſt have their fingers, though there be poyſon in it. He that is unſettled, endangers his owne infection, he had need be a reſolute Caleb, that goes to view the land of the Canaanites. Whither; not a place of enforced blindneſſe, and compulſion to idolatrie: but where holy profeſſion is free. Is there no tra…e allowed with Heretickes? Yes, but not with hereſies. We may converſe with men not with idolatries: civilly, not in religion: deale with them in the buſineſſe of commerce, not communicate with them in their ſuperſtitious ſervices. How hatefull is a Bimmonite, pretending an upright heart in a proſtrate body! Trade with their perſons, not with their vices: trafficke is allowed, not amitie; not friendſhip, b… peace.
All company with unbeleevers or misbeleevers is not condemned. We find a Lot in Sodome, Iſrael with the Egyptians, Abraham and Iſaac with their Ab… lechs; roſes among thornes, and pearles in mudde; and Ieſus Chriſt among Publicans and ſinners. So neither we be infected, nor the name of the LORD wronged; to converſe with them, that we may convert them, is a holy courſe. But ſtill we muſt be among them as ſtrangers: to paſſe through an infected place is one thing, to dwell in it another. The earth is the LORDS, and men are his: whereſoever GOD ſhall find the merchant, let him bee ſure to find GOD in every place.
Howſoever, it is a profeſſion not without great danger of iniquity, it is a hard thing to keepe ſin out of trading. A Merchant ſhall hardly keepe himſelfe from doing wrong? and the very name of it doth in the common dialect Malè audire, ſound unhappily: when to be a deceiver is ſaid in a phraſe to play the Merchant. Nor is the ſuſpition of it without all probable ground; for the world hath had tradeſ-men in a continuall jelouſie. I doe not derive merchants from ſo wicked a patrone as Mercurie; Expertos furandi homines, hac imbuit arte Mercurius; ſaies the verſe. But certainely our Saviour would have found another name for buyers and ſellers in the Temple, than Theeves; if to buy and ſell had beene of ſo cleare and innocent a conſequence. But our cuſtomers (ſay they) are either acquaintance or ſtrangers. If acquaintance, they come in love, and our affections keepes us from deceiving them. It ſtrangers, we loſe our trade in loſing our credite, if we deceive them. But alas, what doe men talke of acquaintance and love, where coveteouſneſſe admits of no friend but gaine? And for ſtrangers, they are ſoone forgotten; you thinke never to meete againe, till you meete in heaven, or meete in hell, deſire of profite in over-prizing, pride of wit in over-reaching; theſe are the principles of brokerie, that foule the faireſt merchandiſe.
Such a conceite in a Paſquil I have read, where bringing in the ſtates of the world, he appropriates cuſſenage to the merchant. He placeth together Charles the fift and the Pope reconciled. To them comes kneeling a Husbandman, ſaying, I feed you two. To them a Merchant; I coozen you three. To them a Lawyer; I rob you foure. To them a Phyſitian, I kill you five. To them a Divine; I abſolute you ſixe. But of all ſorts of merchants, two eſpecially would be whipt out of the State; Merchants of time and Temple. Such as fell time, which is Gods fee-ſimple: and ſuch as ſell Tythes, which is Chriſt inheritance. For us, let us only be mercants of Chriſt: the kingdome of heaven belongs to ſuch a Merchant, as will ſell all he hath to purchaſe it. Of all purchaſes, let us buy Ieſus.Ambr. Vilem ſe vult aeſtimari Chriſtus, ut ab omnibus ematur. Be thou never ſo poore, Chriſt will ſell himſelfe unto thy ſoule.
1 The Tradeſ-men or Merchants are Falſe Teachers. 1 Pet. 1.19.Chriſt came into the world to buy ſoules, and he paied a deare price for them: not ſilver and gold, and ſuch corruptible things: but the deare bloud of his immaculate heart. All his Miniſters levell their courſes at the ſame end, to buy ſoules for Chriſt. The price they pay for them, is their labour, vigilancie, prayers. They breake their ſleepes, ſpend their ſpirits, conſume their bodies; ſuffer infamie, povertie, miſerie; and yet thinke all nothing ſo they may purchaſe one ſoule. No Vſurer was ſo gripple and pinching for moneys, as Paul was for ſoules. He had a banke in every place; in Macedonia, Antioch, Epheſus. 1 Cor. 16.8. I will tarry at Epheſus untill Pentecoſt. Why? Becauſe a a great dore and effectuall is opened unto me: there is a market of ſoules. I muſt to Ieruſalem: Why? to purchaſe ſoules.aPhil 1.8. After theſe, he takes God to witneſſe, he did greatly long in the bowels of Ieſus Chriſt. We have a Depoſitum with God, God a Depoſitum with us. Our Depoſitum with him is our owne ſoule.b2 Tim. 1.12.4, 8. I know he will keepe that I have committed to him. There is laid up for me a crowne of righteouſneſſe. His Depoſitum with us is the ſoules intruſted to our charge. If the depoſitary doe not returne what he may, he is the ſonne of death.cAct. 20.28. Take heed to the flocke whereof the HOLY GHOST hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God which he hath bought with his owne bloud. The whole verſe is a purchaſe, you ſhall ſee the good Miniſters part in it. The ſeller is God, the buyer CHRIST, the thing ſold and bought, the Church; the price payed, Blood; the great Steward of this purchaſe is the Holy Ghoſt: the overſeers, and lookers to it, are Miniſters and Paſtors. Some are two laſie, not Tendentes ſed tondentes: others too buſy, contr… tendentes: good Paſtors are ſuperintendentes, and good hearers attendentes.
God doth not impoſe on us a purchaſing price, that is for Chriſt: nor a converting power, that is for the holy Ghoſt: no more than one man can make another; creation is for himſelfe. Paul ſayes not Plus profui omnibus, I have profited more than all:1 Cor. 15. but Plus laboravi omnibus, I have laboured more than they all. God judgeth us not by the ſoules wee have converted, but by the paines we have taken. Hee will not call us to account for his owne worke, which is to convert ſoules. A great Patron who is now gone ſome whether, was wont to ſay when a Miniſter petitioned for a living. Can he make the drunkard ſober, the covetous man liberall, the malitious charitable, then he ſhall have it freely; els not. But if God ſhould give us no reward, unleſſe we converted you, woe were to us. We would have cured Babel, but ſhee would not be cured. We can ſo farre teſtifie; we would have ſaved you, but you will not. Aske your ſoules; Who hath beleeved our ſaying? Still we preach, and ſtill you continue the ſame. Nature is bountifull though men ſlight it. Flowers grow though no body gather them, rivers runne, ſprings fill welles though none drink of them, we doe good, though we be neglected. Indeed our preaching ſomething ſhortens the hornes of ſinne: though wee cannot diſſwade men from ſwearing, yet wee get them to forbeare it at the Church, in holy ſervices.
2 Cor. 6.20.7.23.Thus we deſire to buy you for Chriſt, theſe ſeeke to ſell you from Chriſt. The Goſpell ſpeakes ſtill of Chriſts buying; ye are bought with a price. To ſell that hee bought, is to croſſe the proceedings of Chriſt. Venditor hominis occidendus; it was Gods law.dDeut. 29.7. If any ſteale an Iſraelite, and ſell or make merchandiſe of him, that theefe ſhall die: though he ſold but his body: what ſhall become of them that ſell his ſoule and that not to man, but to Satan? God complaines by the Prophet verdunt populum meum; as the brethren ſold Ioſeph to the Iſhmaelites: little did thoſe m…rchants know what a treaſure they had bought. As Iudas ſold Chriſt to the Iewes for; o pieces; poorely did he value the peni-worth. Thus they ſell men to ſinne, little eſteeming the price that a ſoule coſt. The prodigall ſelling out his inheritance by parcels; now a part and then a part: a friend told him that he never knew the price of it; his progenitors paid deerely for it. His lands being gone, hee ſold his goods; being aſked what he would doe at the laſt; anſwered; I will ſell my ſelfe. When they have ſold you, they will ſell themſelves after you: as Iudas having betrayed his maſter, betrayed himſelfe. They ſhall pay dearely, for that they ſold baſely.eMat. 17.25. When hee had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be ſold, his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. His principall Iewels muſt be ſold for ſatisfaction. Haply the wicked would part with his wife and children without pitty, if he might ſo ſcape himſelfe: nay, himſelfe alſo muſt be ſold, that the Iuſtice of God may be ſatisfied.
2 The wares, you; your eſtates, your liberties, your lives, your ſoules. They ſet up a marke of holy things, and with their impoſtures fiill their purſes. As S… Magus ſo wrought upon the mad Samaritans, that by ſelling them to the Divell he ſtuffed his coffers with the treaſures of bloud. And marke his ſcholler ſo bewitch'd the noble women, that they ſold their huſbands to buy their ſorrowes; as Ire… writes. Of this branne are the Romiſh merchants, whom we may ſee in this Text as pointed out by the Apoſtles finger. Their maine doctrins are points of merchandiſe: wherein the Devill is beholding to them; for they are content to enrich hi… with ſoules, to enrich themſelves with moneys. They enlarge his dominion in hell, to extend their owne poſſeſſion on earth. What is their auricular confeſſion but a tricke of merchandiſe? A man muſt confeſſe all his ſinnes, or, have none of them pardoned: well, hee hath diſgorged all the crudities of his ſtomach, what then? Then muſt he make ſatisfaction according to their preſcription. You are content to buy out a pardon: yes, what muſt I pay for it? you ſhall give ſuch a ſumme of money to ſuch a Church; ſo much land to ſuch a Colledge: ſuch a penſion to that Fryerie. Here is a cunning trafficke, a market made to purpoſe: thus they encreaſe their revenues through all Europe. Their diſtinction betweene the fact and puniſhment, is a merchants doctrine: the fact may be remitted, the puniſhment retained, what then? O here creepes in Purgatory, a milder fire than that of hell, to eate out the penaltie hereafter; what profit's this? Yes the Pope is Lord of Purgatory, he keepes the keyes, which he will never turne without a round fee. Indulgent hee is to them that will pay, either for merits of others, or maſſes of their owne. This painted fire in his parlor, maintaines the materiall fire in his kitchen. Thus are the people ſold, for who would not emptie his purſe to eſcape that burning? Yea, if he be rich, and have any charitie, he will pay the fees for all his friends, and releaſe them out of priſon. Still the Prieſts laugh, how for maintaining a jeſt, they get money in good earneſt.
Their forbidding of marriage to many degrees of men, is a pretty trade of merchandiſe. When they on purpoſe forbid them, that they may diſpenſe with them. So ſtill the more prohibitions, the more diſpenſations; and the more diſpenſations, the more accumulations of treaſure. The truth is; Policie hath quite eaten up their religion; and to make themſelves great, they care not for making themſelves or any other man, good. Roma dat omnibus omnia dantibus. The foundation of the Popedome was layed in pride, the building ſet up with rapacitie, and now it is kept in reparation with tyrannie. The Pope is Pontifex Maximus; ſi non doctrinâ, tamen pecuniâ maximus. Paul ſaies, I have coveted no mans ſilver or gold: but with them, no Peny, no Paternoſter: they covet your gold more than your ſelves. Paul ſaies,Act. 20.33. we ſeeke … yours, but you: they ſeeke not you, but yours. They ſell mens eſtates to beggarie, their freedome to ſlaverie, their lives to trecherie, their ſoules to danger of perdition.
They ſell you.] An evill Paſtor may ſell his flocke three wayes; by flatterie, by hereſie, by ſilence.
1 By flatterie; he that encourageth a man in his errors, ſells him for his owne gaine. Magnus laudator, magnus adulator. Theſe are they that ſew pillowes, where they ſhould quilt thornes: that proclaime peace in ſtead of warre; that skin ulcers with lenitives; and ſay omniabenè, when God ſees and ſaies, All is ſtarke nought. There is a faithfull zeale required in miniſters, but it hath many hindrances. Such are affection; when Parents (not unlike Zaledicus) put out one of their owne eyes, that they may not ſee their childrens faults. Corruption, when they are guilty of the ſame ſins. The people argue thus; ſuch a Preacher taxeth many ſinnes bitterly, but you never heard him find fault with uſurie; therefore certainely it is lawfull. Feare of great men; who like mules kicke when they ſhould ſucke. Baſhfulneſſe; which is in a woman a great vertue, in a Preacher a great vice. Now this boldneſſe muſt not be without meekneſſe.aGal. 6.1. If a man be fallen, reſtore him with the ſpirit of meekeneſſe. The originall implies; put him gently into joynt againe. Some are over-bold; that ſend much talke out of their mouthes, before diſcretion come …nto their heads. Nihil ignorantiâ verboſius. bEccl. 5.3.A fooles voice is knowne by multitude of words. Impudent ſpeakers are like the gaping oiſters; when you open them: either they ſtinke, or there is nothing in them. Qui dicit ſe neſcire quod ſcit, ingratus eſt: qui …icit ſe ſcire quod neſcit, temerarius eſt. He that profeſſeth ignorance, and hath know…edge, is culpable of ingratitude: he that profeſſeth knowledge, and is ignorant, is guiltie of a proud raſhneſſe. There is a difference betweene a dumbe dogge, and a …arking curre.
Many have too cowardly ſpirits, a Iohn Baptiſt were now a great miracle. To doe well, and heare ill, is the fate of greatneſſe: but to doe ill, and heare well, is the fault of greatneſſe. Envie followes upon Iuſtice; therefore often doing well is made to heare ill. But flatterie waits upon unrighteouſneſſe; therefore doing ill is made to heare well. Tell my people their ſinnes: there is no greater contradiction to that charge, then to conceale men from themſelves; or in a falſe glaſſe to ſhew them their owne faces. Hee that forbeares to tell the people their ſinnes, doth not forbeare to ſell their ſoules. I could ſay ſomething to them that controll the … freedome of Miniſters.Am. 7.13. Propheſie no more at Bethell. And indeed greatneſſe carries too ſtrict a hand over ſome; that they are faine to runne at their ſtirrops, and come in at the leaſt rebuke. They are muſſled for barking, and dare not queſt; but like ſilent ſetters, heare, and ſee, and keepe counſell. This is miſerable, when the Preacher muſt ſtoope at the Pulpit doore, to take meaſure of the peoples feete.
2 By Hereſie; broching ſchiſmes and factions, and erroneous opinions: as it were feeding the people with bones, or rather with poiſons, in ſtead of wholſome meate. The Apoſtle ſpeakes of ſuch, not with malice and contempt, but with ſorrow and teares:Phil. 3.18. I tell you of them weeping. They ſo fill their hearers heads with crotch… and ſcruples, that they runne about like frantickes, and cry downe all plaine-ſo… with their diviſions. Hee that diſſolves your union, and breakes your peace, do… what he can to ſell your ſoules.
3 By ſilence. The advocate that ought to plead, betrayes the cauſe by his voluntary ſilence. The watchman that doth not ring the alarme bell at the appro…ch of danger, betraies the Citie to the enemie. If the Miniſter hold his peace, when … ſees Satan in the …arket barganing for ſoules; he doth as it were make merchandiſe of them, and take money for them. I grant that as Demosthenes had a great ſee for his ſilence in a cauſe, ſo many have gotten preferments by rarity or rather nullity of Sermons. I envie not their purchaſe, nor deſire a partnerſhip in their merchandiſe. The Lord keepe mee from ſelling that by holding my peace, which hee bought by dying on the Croſſe. I will ſell any riches to buy a ſoule, I will never ſel a ſoule to buy riches.
1 They ſell you.] Perhaps they bought you firſt, may they not then ſell you? If they bought you deare, would you have them ſell you cheape? vendere j… poteſt, emerat ille prius. One might buy a benefice haply of ſome unſanctified Patron, (for no hallowed man will ſell hallowed things) and will that merchant live by the loſſe? But to buy is Simonie, to ſell is Sacriledge. Chriſtians are the Lords proprieties, ſanctified and ſet a part from the world, for himſelfe. Hee that ſells them, is guiltie in ſome proportion of Iudas his merchandiſe, when hee ſold CHRIST himſelfe.Mat. 26.13. Hee went to the chiefe Prieſts, and ſaid, what will you give me &c. Firſt, againſt the cuſtome of the market, he did not tarry in his ſhop or ſtall, til cuſtomers came to cheapen and buy: but he went to them, like a pedlar that had no ſtanding; he ſought chapmen, expoſing his wares; quite contrary to the reaſon of modeſtie, which obſerves that proffered ware ſtinkes. Thus doe theſe merchants, keepe no markets nor ware-houſes in publicke, but runne up and downe to get trading for ſoules.1 Pet. 5.8. Quaerunt emptores: as their maſter, that Seekes whom he may devoure. Many a curſed Patron and patterne of Atheiſme, holds a Benefice vacant in his hands, till hee hath ſounded many chapmen with a Who gives more? And then if Bala… Aſſe can but dung him ſilver enough, hee will ſell him all the ſoules of the Pariſh, yea, they are worſe than Iudas: he came to the Prieſts with a quantum dabitis, hee ſet no price on his commoditie, but left it to the buyer: not, thus much you ſhall give for him, or not have him; but give what what you thinke good, make your owne match. But theſe Patrons ſet a preciſe rate on their livings. Thus much you, ſhall give: it is worth a hundred pound a yeare, and I will have three yeares purchaſe for it; and yet ſay that I uſe you kindely: for ſuch and ſuch have taken …, ſeven, nine yeares purchaſe for their meere donations. Yea they are craftier merchants than Iudas: for it is probable that hee had neither ready money, nor good aſſurance: but theſe will be ſure of their moneys before hand, or, els a good pa…e. And let the beſt Preacher in the Land come at ſuch a ſeaſon; Si nihil attuleris, God be with you, Homer.
2 Thus are the poore ſoules that CHRIST died for, ſold into the hands of ignorance or impietie: for neither learned nor honeſt men will be the buyer of ſacred things. But when Iudas is the patron, Simon Magus muſt be the prieſt. Yea Iudas is overdone by theſe Merchants: he ſold CHRIST but once, and thought that once too much: theſe ſell him often, over and over againe. As one of them thanked God, that he had turned over three Incumbents in one benefice for his time; but he was a Popiſh one, as it is ſaid. Now the chapman that buyes this, purpoſeth to ſell it again and to make a commoditie of the ſheepes wooll, whatſoever become of themſelves. Like the Wolfe, who ſuckes the ewe, while ſhe is a little one, and devoures her when he is growne a great one. Nutritus per me, ſed tandem ſaeviet in me. But let this be ſpoken to the horror of their conſciences, that make merchandiſe of the Churches endowments. Such a patron ſhall find it hard enough to anſwer for his owne ſoule: but to have the bloud of ſo many ſoules required at his hands, it is a queſtion when hee comes to hell, whether Iudas himſelfe will change torments with him. It is horrible and would make any heart ſhudder and tremble to thinke, that poore people bought and ſold on earth, ſhould lie blended in torments with their Patrons and Prieſts; curſing the one for ſelling, the other for buying their ſoules.
They ſell you.] You are private perſons perhaps, and this Text concernes not you. Yes, ſtrongly in another ſenſe. Beloved, we ſell not you, but you ſell us: the Paſtor doth not make merchandiſe of the flocke, but the flocke of the Paſtor. Our hand is againſt every man, and every mans hand is againſt us: our hand is againſt your ſins, and your hand is againſt our livings. There is no fraud or cuſſenage that leſſe troubleth your conſciences, than that wherby you robbe the Church: yea this Sacriledge is held an action of Iuſtice. While you had leaden Prieſts, you payed golden tythes and were than perſwaded, that blaſphemie and drunkenneſſe were tolerable ſins in reſpect of ſacriledge. But now thoſe that in your owne conſciences teach you the true way to bleſſedneſſe, you will be ſure to make exemplary ſubjects of povertie and miſerableneſſe. You were then glad to licke up the duſt that fell from their feete (no whit beautifull:) we are glad to picke up the crumes that fall from your ſuperfluous tables. It is the pride of this ſacrilegious citie, that the Miniſter be alwayes the pooreſt man in the pariſh.
I doe not thinke it a curſe upon us, (as it was upon Eli's houſe: to beg a Prieſts office for neceſſitie ſake;1 Sam. 2.26. that they might eate a piece of bread) for we have learned to want: and it is a… ſmall matter to faſt a day, that we may feaſt the whole yeare, in heaven for ever. But it is a curſe upon your ſelves, of your owne begetting: that you may periſh in your incorrigible ſins; while the poore Miniſter muſt not dare to reprove his rich benefactor: if he doe, he is ſure the next quarter to loſe his benevolence. Luthers obſervation is too true; ſo ſoone as the Goſpel revived, money grew dead. Miniſters ſhall not be both wealthy and faithfull: rich and not true, or true and not rich; both together were a miracle.
It is Satans policie, that they who maintaine the truth; ſhould not have to maintaine themſelves. I know that ſome Divines, tranſported with God knowes what, have refuſed the poſitive and unqueſtionable rites of the Church, to feed upon arbitrary contributions wherein they are more fooliſh than thoſe Fryers, that have made themſelves voluntary beggars. I know that they would retract it now, and ſhut the doore when the ſteed is ſtollen. Repenting too late that they have betrayed the LORDS Inheritance into the hands of impious tyrants: who laugh at the poore Miniſter, when hee comes to begge a ſtraw of his owne ſheafe. this fanaticall opinion is not quite dead, wee have had ſuch tranſportive furies amongſt us; who would perſwade all Preachers to live upon benevolences; in confidence of their owne merits, and popular approbation: for ſo they hope the biggeſt ſhare would fall to themſelves. But if we appeale, as Biſhop Grostead did from Pope Adrian private, to Pope Adrian publicke: or as another, from his paſſion as Clement, to his Holineſſe as Peter: ſo from them then out of their wittes, to them now come againe to themſelves: wee ſhall finde it concluded, that it is better for Chriſt to keepe his inheritance in his owne hands, than to ſtand at their curteſies: who had rather there were no Goſpel nor Preacher in the world, than that their Heire ſhould want a Parſonage.
That the Altar ſhould have maintenance for her ſervants; none but thoſe w… would give ſinne a paſport to offend, can deny. Let him that is taught in the w…rſ… communicate unto him that teacheth in all his goods. Gal. 6.6.To goe cloſe home to that place or, to bring that place cloſe home to your conſciences; would appeare harſh to the…e times. If any man does not communicate, God is not mocked: you ſee how it fall… and I feare it falls heavy on many amongſt us. Make him, not them: you heare … ny, one is your Paſtor; make Him partaker. Some will give little to their o…e Miniſter, but ſomewhat to another of their owne humour. He can tickle their hea… with crotchets, bring into ſuſpition the integrity of Church Goverment, diſcre… their poore Paſtor. I will tell you one marke of a Foxe though a Puritan, yet a P… ritan-foxe: ſuch a one as diſgraceth your owne miniſter, that he might get you … heed him, and feed him. If he were a Paul, he would never ſuffer the to doe Pe…r any wrong. If he were a good Teacher, he would never teach thee to injure thy owne Miniſter. Let him communicate. Paſtors have tythes, that they may have a fellow-feeling of the peoples loſſe, and fellow-comfort in their encreaſe. Th… the Prieſt ſo well as the merchant might pray to God in a ſtorme, and praiſe him i… a calme: both alike depending on Gods providence. I know they ſhould doe ſo howſoever, but we are men not Angels: the wiſdome of God thought it fit by a portion to encourage us.
I know that nothing is more enviouſly grudged, than the livings of our Clergy. The Gentry hath gotten neere upon three parts of the ſpirituall maintenance, and left the Church but one quarter: and yet they could eat her with ſalt for having ſo much. The Levites under the Law, beſides their Tythes, Offerings, Firſt-fruit…s, Sacrifices, Vowes; had 48. walled Cities, with large Sub-urbes for their Catt…l, large glebes to plant and ſowe in; when as their whole Land was not ſo bigge a… England. Now men thinke it arbitrary; at their choiſe whether they will give the Miniſter any thing or not. You ſhall have a civill libertine give a Commiſſary more for a licence to eate fleſh in lent; than to his Paſtor for feeding his ſoule all the yeare. But thou ſayeſt, I give him ſo much as the Law allowes: but the Law muſt needs leave ſomething to the libertie of thy conſcience, to be anſwered in a higher Court. Wilt thou performe no more duties to God or man, than humane Law can ex…rt from thee? If we ſhould preach to you no more Sabbath dayes in a yeare, than the Law doth exact at your hands; you would thinke we dealt injuriouſly with you. Who feedeth a flocke, 1 Cor. 9.7.and receives none of the milke? You partake Preachers goods, and ſhall not they partake your goods? You muſt not only give an eare, but an earering: not onelyonly put on their wedding Garment, but alſo give them garments to put on. You have read how villanouſly the Ammonites entreated Davids meſſengers cutting off their garments, &c. Wee are Meſſengers of the Sonne of David, but … Sonne of David ſend us not to ſuch Ammonites, 2 Sam. 10.4.as will do us no more good, tha… ſtripping us of all we have. Nehemiah complained, that in his time, the Levites fo… want of maintenance, were faine to leave the Temple, and follow the plough. Luther ſayes, this was the cauſe why the Clergie invented ſuch points of ſuperſtition, as were advantageous to them: Prayer for the dead, Indulgences, &c. This was not for the peoples ſoules, but for the Prieſts bodies: not for Piety, but for the belly. As Ahaſuerus ſaid of Haman; Eſt…. 7.8.will he force the Queene before my face? So may Chriſt ſay of theſe Sacrilegers; Will they force my Church before my face? If the buyers and ſellers in the Temple deſerved whipping; certainly the buiers and ſellers of the Temple deſerve hanging. Who knowes whether they therefore ſcape con… ction here, that they may have the greater damnation hereafter!
Men would have fire kept in the Sanctuary, but allow no fewell: they would have the lampe burne without oyle. To take away the provant from the Armie, is … betray it to the enemie. In darkneſſe they did ſtraine it, now they reſtraine it. …he world thinkes we can live like Iohn Baptiſt, by miracle; who was in his dyet, …abite, carriage, indeed a miracle. Liceat dicere miraculum fuit, Pſal. 4.6.quamvis miraculum …cit. Offer to God, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: in ſtead of this Offerre, this common courſe is …ferre. He that will be a voluntary miniſter, muſt be content to be a neceſſary beg…r. So the mendicant Fryer told the woman of her three ſonnes fortunes: that …he ſhould be a theefe, another a homicide, the third a beggar. Which for a ſecond …mes he would teach her how to prevent, or, at leaſt ſo to qualefie their fates, that …ey might retaine their trades without danger. He that ſhall be a theefe, make him a …awyer: ſo he may ſteale by Law. He that ſhall be a homicide, make him a Phyſitian … he may be rewarded for killing. He that ſhall be a beggar, make him a Prieſt, a …yar, ſo he may beg by authoritie. God hath made their profeſſion honourable, …e world hath made their condition contemptible. Yet they bring ſaving truth in …eir mouthes, which the Lawyers cannot ſay. A Divine can ſay, this is true Divi…ie; a Phyſician can ſay, this is proper phyſicke: what Lawyer can ſay, this is …ue Law, and I will warrant it? yet we reward the latter, and diſgrace the former. …our ſtate be queſtioned, we goe to the Lawyer for counſell; thank and fee him. Be…g ſicke we ſend for the phyſitian, credite, thanke, and pay him. We ſend for the …rieſt, but neither reward, nor ſo much as thanke him, for we hold it his dutie. How …rely hath the miniſter the tenth of the others fee! yet we falſely ſay, that we pre…rre our ſoules, before our eſtates, or our bodyes.
Thus you ſell us; and what is the event; with the price which Sacriledge takes …r the Churches of Chriſt, is purchaſed a field of bloud. A field of bloud indeed, … bury their owne ſoules that thus merchandiſe, and many thouſand innocents that …re the chaffer of their curſed bargaines. The end of all theſe merchants alwayes …ath bene, and alwayes ſhall be fearfull. For Magus the father of them; he preſu…ing in a publicke theater at Rome to flie up into heaven, caught ſuch a fall that he …rake his legs, ſay ſome. That hee who attempted to flie, was not able to walke: …t qui pennas aſſumpſerat, plantas amiſerat. Nay, this bold adventure broke his necke,Ambr. Epiphan. …y others. Felix the Devils darling dyed vomiting of bloud. In a word, none …at ever rob'd Churches, and merchandiſe, holy things, to fill their owne purſes, …r, fulfill their owne humours; but they were overtaken with ſome horrible judge…ent. As the Eagle that tooke a piece of fleſh from the Altar, but a hot cole with…l that ſet her neſt on fire. And if the reſt doe ſo periſh, no good Chriſtian will la…ent. If they bee made like Oreb and Zeb, that ſay, Come let us take to our ſelves …he houſes of God in poſſeſsion, we ſhall not mourne: yea rather, our mouth ſhall be filled …ith laughter, and our tongue with joy. Pſal. 126.2.GOD of his infinite merciemercy forgive Eng…ands ingratitude in this kind: and grant that the burning Lampes in our Tem…les may bee ſupplied with ſufficient oyle, that the light of Iſrael goe not …ut.
3 Through coveteouſneſſe.] This is the ground or motiue of their trafficke. It is …rue of every ſchiſme, what was ſaid of Lucilla's faction, with a little inverſion. Anger bred it, pride foſter'd it, and coveteouſneſſe confirmed it. Here indeed, pride …halengeth the uppermoſt ſeate: it is a high and audacious conceite, which ſcornes …o goe in the common path, that begets it. Anger and impatience of contradiction …urſeth it: and what it cannot maintaine by reaſon, a feminine teſtyneſſe ſhall out wrangle. Coveteouſneſſe binds it up with the in diſſoluble knottes; while the ſweet…eſſe of private gaine (not unlike our Monopoliſts neglects all publike good. But as …t is the humilitie of the beſt judgements, to apply their ſtudies to the confirmation …f received truths: and the meekeneſſe of bleſt underſtandings, to diſaffect ſingu…aritys: and the charity of Chriſtian teachers, rather to be looſers of their owne, …han extorters of others, or, to preſſe and oppreſſe the unripe grapes unwilling to yield their juyce. So falſe hearted ſchiſmatickes, to doe themſelves profite, undoe they care not whom. Let their bodies famiſh, and their ſoules periſh, ſo their owne ſtate may flouriſh: building up their Iericho in the bloud of all their ſpirituall children.
This ſinne of coveteouſneſſe is iniquity in all men, blaſphemie in a Clergie man. As our doctrines are, Thus ſaith the Lord: ſo our lives ſhould be, (if not like God, for who can match the ſanctifie reſiding in that pure eſſence?) yet like men of God. The titles we beare, the office we ſuſtaine, the perſon we preſent, the neareneſſe … our calling to that abſolute Integrity; are remembrancers unto us that we be not covetous. We are men of God, and Oh thou man of God flee theſe things: the Apoſtle inſiſts there upon coveteouſneſſe. God is a God of knowledge, and of inco… ceiveable holineſſe: therefore the Vrim and Thummim, the light of knowledge … conſcience muſt be upon the breſts of his Aarons. The Miniſter is to the people, as the body is to the ſhadow: if the body ſtoope to the earth, the ſhadow will … be upright toward heaven. Our maſter is in heaven, not on earth: our doctrine is from heaven, not from earth: our directing Spirit is of heaven, not of ear… and ſhall our converſation croſſe all theſe, and be of earth, not in heaven?
There is no fault in a Miniſter like coveteouſneſſe; becauſe there is no ſin raigning in the world like worldlineſſe. We may ſpend our ſpirits, and preach our hea… out, to diſſwade mens affections from this world, if we embrace it our ſelves, they will never beleeve us. When a Preacher, as if he had loſt all his former time ſp… in learning, and were now to recover it by a prepoſterous imitation of the hungrie… mucke-eaters: gives over himſelfe to that as moſt precious, which he bids other … give over as moſt ſuperfluous. Men now hearing his Sermons will thinke his doctrine poſſible to be taught: but ſeeing his life, they will thinke it impoſſible to …e kept. What ſcholler is not ready to imitate his Maſters exerciſe? There is nothing farther from heaven, nothing more unlike our maker, than worldlineſſe. It … obſervable that thoſe creatures which are neareſt the earth, are moſt buſy in ho… ding: thoſe more remote are leſſe carefull. What an abundant proviſion makes the Ante, which is a creature houſed in the earth! The birds of the aire that flie next heaven,aMatth. 6.26. neither ſow nor reape nor carry into the barne. How unnaturall is it, th… they who by their vocation are next heaven, ſhould yet by their converſation be f… theſt off. How confidently doth the Apoſtle draw on their affections, upon …s knowne unguiltineſſe of this ſin?b2 Cor. 7.2. Receive us, we have wronged no man, we have … frauded no man, &c. Receive us in underſtanding, obedience, charity: Why? though we rebuke ſin, yet we have wronged no man in his reputation. Though we preach myſteries, have corrupted no man in his conſcience. Though we receive our own… dues, wee have defrauded no man in his ſtate and condition. Falſe teachers are otherwiſe minded;cTit. 1.11. ſubverting whole houſes, for filthy lucres ſake. As Phyſitians given ſicke men potions, that themſelves may live: ſo all their conceptions are others conſumptions. Their mouthes ſhall be ſtopped, ſaith the Apoſtle; if not with the ha…d of humane authoritie, yet with the fire of hell. They are ſuch as the Pſalmiſt deſcribes. Their tongues walke againſt heaven, therefore the people turne in unto them, and th… ſucke they no ſmall advantage. d2 Tim. 2.4.But he that warreth, intangleth not himſelfe with the …ffaires of this life. Clericus in oppido, piſcis in arido: what ſhould a Prieſt doe in the worlds market, or a merchant in the Lords pulpit.
This vice of coveteouſneſſe is an epidemicall diſeaſe, the grand Cair of miſch…fe, the metropolis of wickedneſſe, an univerſall plague that hath infected all cond… of people. Therefore albeit the point here doe centrally concerne the Church, … ſuch as have negotiation in eccleſiaſticall buſineſſe; yet circumſtantially it fetch… in all.eLuk. 12.15. One moved CHRIST to perſwade his brother to a diviſion of the Inheritance with him: and He ſaid unto them. After he had given him his errand, he … cted his ſpeech to the whole auditory, which is ſaid to be an innumerable multi… of people, treading one upon another. So Luk. 13.22. One ſaid unto him, Hee ſ… unto them; applying and amplifying his doctrine to them all.fMark. 13.37. What I ſay unto you, … ſay unto all. Some ſinnes are peculiar to ſome vocations, as to the Magiſtracie or miniſterie alone: other to ſome conditions as to the rich or poore alone: but this …eſtilence is incident to all.gIer. 6.13. From the leaſt to the greateſt, every one is given to covet…uſneſſe. But becauſe moſt men are like baſhfull gueſts, that will faſt for want of a …arver; that office falls to me here: to cut every one a morſell of this diſh; which …aply may be againſt his ſtomach, but let him well digeſt it, and his ſoule will bleſſe …e for it.
Now according to the rule of diſcreet and well diſpoſed charitie, let me begin … home, which is the heart of my Text. In the reproving of this ſinne among o…hers, God hath uſed to begin at his owne Sanctuarie. Let not us, that bid men …oke upward, caſt our owne eyes downeward. They will think that we abuſe them, …hen we call them from the world, as Eliſha did the Syrian Armie;h2 King. 6.19. This is not the …ay, nor is this the Citie: like Foxes diſſwading other beaſts from that bootie, which …re meane to make our owne. God and Mamon are two contrary Cures, we cannot …erve them both. Some have diſpenſations for cures diſtant many miles: but no Court of faculties can diſpenſe with this: for they are ſo remote one from the other, …hat heaven and hell ſcarce exceed them. Thou man of God flee this. We findiPſal. 17.14. Men …f the world, andkLuk. 12.30. Nations of this world; they ſeeke after theſe things: but this (Man …f God) oppoſeth thoſe: Paul ſaies not as at other times, O Timotheus; but O man …f God: it becomes not the men of God, to be men of the world.
Let me alſo reflect this point upon the Impropriators of Eccleſiaſticall rites, be…ore I leave the Church. Whether they be Popiſh, that ſteale away our portions, to …ive them to the Romiſh Emiſſaries: who ſucke their blouds, as they ſucke our …louds; and laugh at them, as they laugh at us. They fat the rich epicures of Rome, …nd grudge Lazarus their very crummes. Their conſcience ſerves them, that Gods Miniſters ſhould want maintenance, rather than their horſe-heeles ſhall want litter. …r whether they be Puritans, or any thing, or rather nothing, (to ſpeake moſt fa…ourably of them) men without God. How unpoſſible is it that they ſhould not pe…ſh with that covetouſneſſe, which hath beene the periſhing of many ſoules? They …ill have the Tenth of their neighbours eſtates, let their ſalvation goe whither it will. They will ſooner loſe their lives than their livings; as an Impropriator once …ebelliouſly and traiterouſly ſpoke, when mention was made of the Kings willing…eſſe in their reſtitution.
That which the bad ſervant ſpake to his good maſter wickedly;lMatth. 25.24. Thou reapeſt …here thou didſt not ſow: may be charged upon them juſtly; doe they not reape …here they never ſow? It is we that ſow ſpirituall things, and they that reape our …emporall things. They thruſt their ſickle into our harveſt: making that prophane, which God hath ſanctified to his Miniſters. Putting an Egyptian tricke upon the world; to take away our ſtraw of meanes, and exact our number of bricke, in preaching and hoſpitalitie. We are put to labour in our miniſterie, to the care of getting …read for our familie: while they look on us with ſcorne, laugh at us with contempt, …nd dominere over us with pride. Men diſſolutely proud, inordinately avarous, un…erviceably idle, are entred on the meanes of honeſt labourers. What if the Churchmen in thoſe former times were corrupt in opinion: muſt their maintenance be gi…en to thoſe that are ten thouſand times more corrupt in converſation? This were as Cominaus writes of the French King; who having a Gallant in his army that cow…rdly ran away; he tooke all his offices from him, and gave them to one that ran …en mile further than he. Meane time, that curſe which every eye ſees upon the …redeceſſors before them, will continue upon themſelves and their poſteritie …fter them; ſo long as the ſpoilers of IESUS CHRIST bee found with …hem.
For the common defrauders of our poore remaining dues; as they ſwarme like …ocuſts over all the Land; ſo their principall borough is this principall Citie. For men that moſt plainely and impudently defraude their Paſtors, of all places in England commend me to London. Honeſt, honeſt phariſies, you are too good to l…e heare; for you pay juſt tythes! You would bee ſuch an example of equitie, that ſome would quickly trounce you, and teach you to be ſuch a preſident. No… ig… cano: ſome would, and dare not, publickely render their legall dues according … to bond of their conſcience, for feare the Citie ſhould puniſh them. They h…e found out buſie Lawyers, to queſtion the tenure of tythes, by what right they a… due: and ſome are cunninger in this point, than in the fundamentall point of ſalvation. But who examines by what right Impropriators hold the Churches maintenance! Let that caſe bee diſputed in the Court of Conſcience: and if God de… mine on their ſide, we have done, much good do't them. Let God ſay what he will, Thou ſhalt pay me the Tenth; they have a tricke to withhold it: but the Devill ha… tricke beyond them. And howſoever they have wit to foole their innocent mother; they ſhall never beguile their Almighty Father; who hathmRev. 2.18. eyes … flame of fire. The booke whereby mans Law judgeth the Church, and the boo… whereby Gods Law judgeth them; have infinite difference. All this obſtinate … poſing the truth, is for covetouſneſſe and ambition. Paul proves Melchiſed… the better man, Hebr. 7.4.becauſe Abraham payed him tythes. Therefore by Saint Pauls argu…ent. Lawyers are farre better men than Miniſters; becauſe men are faine to pay them the tythes, due to the Miniſters. Simon Magus is now juſtified: Sacriledge hath f… a Chriſtian patronage. And men of God looke to your ſelves, the Ammon…tes … tooke away halfe your apparrell before, now they have a warrant to turne you … naked. Mend them O Lord, or end them: let them be converted, ornPſal. 129 6. confou… that hate Sion. Let them be as the graſſe upon the houſe tops, which withereth before it groweth up: whereof the mower filleth not his hand, nor hee that binde… ſheaves his boſome, neither doe they which goe by ſay. The bleſſing of the Lord … upon you.
For the Patrons of Church-donations, too many of them have ſo locked up our livings in this hutch of covetouſneſſe, that they cannot bee unſkrewed without golden key. They looke to the gifts of the hand, not to the gifts of the hea…. One would thinke that Iudas his halter ſhould make them afraid of Iudas his queſtion; what will yee give mee: what will you give me? Satan gave him a rope. Take heed, leſt while you aſke the ſame queſtion, God do not ſuffer you to receive the ſame anſwer. That ſinne made Iudas a theefe, and it makes you no better: a… what can a theefe looke for but a halter? We finde other merchants ſelling pearles, and purple, and ſcarlets ſilkes and but theſe ſell alſooRev. 18.13. the ſoules of men. Curſ… merchants that trafficke in the bloud of ſoules. Theſe bring into Gods Sanctuary, inſtead of Levites to devide the word Gibeonites not worthy to divide wood. …t ſeeing they are content to venture themſelves upon Gods vengeance, I leave the… to their Iudge.
This ſinne is not here confined: Covetouſneſſe in diverſe others, thought it do … make merchandiſe of mens ſoules, yet of their eſtates. Briberie in officers which is a Burning ſinne. Iob. 15.34. It is one of thoſe three, that are called mighty ſ… Am. 5.12 They ſell a man and his heritage; they are very theeves, Eſa. 1.23. Why Theeves? becauſe they Love gifts, and take bribes for the widow and fat… leſſe. They are theeves, not for taking purſes in the high way, but bribes in their chambers. Hoſ. 4.18. Their language is Give: and the theeves is but, D…. Now what is the difference betwixt, Give and Deliver; yet often (Give) walk… chaines of gold, while (Deliver) lies in chaines of iron. Evill men in the places … judicature make merchandiſe of the poore: while they ſpinne one cauſe through… three generations. Like Surgions that keepe the wound raw, to draw out of it … more money. That often the recoverie of a mans right by Law, is as deare as if … had bought it by purchaſe.2 Sam. 15.3. Corrupt lawyers are alſo merchants in this trade of … touſneſſe, and ſelling of men. p Abſaloms tong is in their heads; that ſayes to all … ents; Thy cauſe is good: ſo he ſtole away their hearts, and theſe ſteale their eſta…s. The buyer ſaies of a good commoditie with leſſe ſin, It is naught: than theſe ſpeake of a naughty cauſe, It is good. Let them meditate the objection of Ioaſh; qIudg. 6.31.Will yee plead for Baal? But they doe it out of a good mind, to fift out the truth: yes, as Iudas did, (according to the hereſie of the Cainites, as Saint Auguſtine relates it) that betrayed Chriſt out of a good and honeſt mind, fore-ſeeing the infinite good that his death ſhould bring to the world.
All oppreſſors are free of this company of Merchants; they alſo ſell men.rLuk. 12.20. Thou foole: God layes the imputation of follie upon him that hoorded but his owne abundance. Whereupon Auguſtine inferres: if he be a foole that layes up his owne goods, vos invenite illi nomen qui tollie aliena; find out a name for him that extorts other mens. What name? Eccl. 3.18. It is found; they are beaſts. What only Kine? Am. 4.1. No, they are not ſo kind beaſts: but Lions and Wolves, that live e… rapto, beaſts of prey. Beaſts they are and ſhould bee ſerved like beaſts; Nebuchadn…zzars deſtinie to be turned to graſſe. There is but a company of Merchants, a company of Mercers, &c. but theſe Merchants are not in themſelves a company, becauſe indeed they be of every company. There be perſonall ſins, and conditionall ſins, and locall ſins, and nationall ſins: but this covetouſneſſe is an univerſall ſinne.
We are troubled about many things, but neglect that one thing moſt neceſſary. Ociamur in quibus laborandum, laboramus in quibus ociandum. Other creatures are content with a little; Non ita mortales, quos urget habendi, Tantus amor; domibus dom…s, arvis additur arvum, monticulus monti, maribus mare, Iungere mundo conantur mundum, ſua dicere cuncta volentes. This ſin is like a talent of lead tyed to a mans heeles, that utterly diſable him to climbe up the ladder of bleſſedneſſe. Our Saviour hath deſcribed eight ſtaires; the covetous cannot get up one ſtep.
Firſt, Bleſſed are the poore in ſpirit: the covetous may have a poore ſpirit,Math. 5. cannot be poore in ſpirit. To be poore in purſe is his feare, to be poore in ſpirit is none of his deſire. Per mare pauperium fugiens, per ſaxa, per ignes. Through the ſea of deepe policie, the rockes of ſtony bowels, through the fire of luſt, the fire of hell, he ſeekes riches. Nothing humbles him to the ſenſe of his ſins, but the loſſe of his goods: and this ſo deſpaires him, that he will be at the charges of his owne halter. Bleſſed are they that mourne: alas, the trolling in of riches makes his heart too merry for that bleſſing. If Peter will weepe he muſt goe out of the Prieſt hall. It muſt be ſome premunire or confiſcation, or ſuch a loſſe that brings him to repentance. Bleſſed are the meeke. But Avidus lucri, impatiens damni. If hee loſe his money, he will trouble his owne heart, his owne houſe, the whole Citie, and out-ſweare a ruffian. If his ſervant but breake a glaſſe, it ſhall be deduced out of his wages. He had rather be damned, than damnified. Bleſſed are they that hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe. But his appetite ſtands not that way: let him glut himſelfe on the filthy garbage of ill gotten goods, he cares not for Manna. To lap in the foule puddles of Vſurie, he refuſeth the ſtreames of merciemercy that make glad the Citie of God. Bleſſed are the mercifull: but that ſtands not with his profeſſion. For the peny which comes out of his purſe, it is like a drop of bloud from his heart. His reward muſt be accordingly, to haveſIam. 2.13. judgement without merciemercy Bleſſed are the pure in heart. what puritie can you looke for in a ſtable? There is no miſchiefe ſo tetricall, but if it be covered with gold, they will ſwallow it.tPſal. 24 3. Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the LORD? who ſhall ſtand in his holy place? Hee that hath cleane hands, and a pure heart. Innocens manibus aſcendet, but mundus corde ſtabit. The covetous keepes his hands too guilty to aſcend, his heart to foule to ſtand there. Bleſſed are the peacemakers: hee loves peace ſo long as it waites upon profit: if otherwiſe, he hates it; and in ſtead of a making it, will make it nothing: he hath a Lawyer for the purpoſe. All his dues to pay, he out-wrangles: if a debter fall into his hands, the divell will as ſoone pardon a forfeit. The laſt ſtep is, Bleſſed are they that are perſecuted, for righteouſneſſe ſake; this he will never endure. If it ſhould come to that choice, that he muſt leave either Martha or Mary, Righteouſneſſe or riches; he loves God well but his money better. What, part with a certaintie for an uncertaintie? If hee can keepe both, well and good: if not, what ever betides, he will keepe his money. It would ſound terrible, to invert our Saviours termes upon him. Curſed his the covetous, for he is not poore in ſpirit, but proud in ſpirit; therefore his is the kingdome of hell. Curſed, for he never mournes for his ſinnes, therefore ſhall not bee comforted. Curſed, for not meeke, but froward in heart: therefore he ſhall not inherite the co… he ſo deſires. Curſed, for he longs not after righteouſneſſe, but after riches, therefore ſhall never be ſatisfied. Curſed; for being unmercifull, he never ſhall have merciemercy. Curſed, for he not makes peace, but breakes peace; therefore ſhall be called … Child of the Devill. for pureneſſe of heart, and patience of hurt for Chriſts ſa…e: he is a profeſſed enemie to them both: therefore muſt inherite the Curſe.
4 The meanes of their utterance; fained words. Hereſie was never found diſioyned from hypocriſie. As it is ſaid of the lyer and the theefe; ſhew me a lyer, and I will ſhew you a theefe: ſo ſhew mee a Schiſmaticke, and I will ſhew you an Hypocrit…e. Pacis verba ferunt, et caedibus omnia miſcent. Their ſpeaches are ſo ambiguous and equivocall,Itieron. that they ſeeme to hold both ours, and our adverſaries Tenents. Vt …li… haereticus, aliter catholicus audiat. With heretickes they are heretickes, with catholikes they are catholickes. The cup of poiſon had need bee annointed with honey, to allay the bitterneſſe. What they cannot performe by the evidence of truth, they ſeeke to attaine by the eloquence of art.1 Cor. 2.4. Saint Paul affirmes his preaching to …ee, not with entiſing words of mans wiſedome, but in demonſtration of the Spirit and of po…. They on the contrary, come not with the demonſtration of the Spirit, but with the impoſtures of oratory. Thus are all thoſe Italionated Emiſſaries qualified, whom the grand Cacus of the weſterne world ſends abroad; being firſt throughly inſtructed in the cunning liegerdumaine of their Divinitie. The fitteſt denomination and fundamentall principle, isu1 Tim. 6.5. that Gaine is godlineſſe. For their doctrine emptieth …t ſelfe from point to point into the Churches treaſure. They moſt uniuſtly exchange their lead for gold, which the French lawyers account no better than robberie. Hereupon their Paternoſter and Avemarie have bene worthily called, the two neapolitan… theeves.xLuk. 20.47. They devoure widowes houſes, and for a ſhew make long prayers. They are theeves in that Spirituall kind of ſacriledge, that doe foreign, with fained wor… coozen mens ſoules. Neither doth this art of diſſimulation limit and content it ſelfe with the bare narration of untruths, and ſuggeſtion of errors in the credulous adherents: but it extends to perjurie; and that we call aequivocation.
Thus they doe not onelyonly ſpeake vainely, but ſweare falſely; which is proper perjurie. Morally the end doth determine natures: and that which doth preciſely croſſe the good end, muſt needs bee moſt directly oppoſite to the vertuous nature. The ſcope and purpoſe of an oath is for confirmation, therefore none ſo directly croſſeth it as falſe ſwearing. Whether it teſtifies, falſely of things paſt or preſent, as in an oath aſſertory. Or, undertake things De jure vel de facto, poſſible without performance, as in an oath promiſſory. Which principles of perjurie being their do… maticall poſitions, wee have good cauſe to miſtruſt them, For by the benefit of this politicke invention, they can ſay what they will, ſweare what they will, agai… knowledge, againſt conſcience; provided that they reſerve in mind the contrary. Thinke of this you that have an itch of travelling beyond the Alpes upon you. Qu… Romae faciam? mentiri neſcio. With what ſecuritie can you converſe with them, that pervert the formall intent of wordes. As if ſpeach had bene ordained for conce… ment, and not for diſcoverie of our minds. What fruit or ſafety is in their ſocietie, that poiſon the remedy of contention; and cancel al ſeales of confirmation. But they that have broken their faith God, will keepe no faith with us. When they had l…ſt the ſincere truth of the Goſpell, they determined on this doctrine of the Devill Nulla fides cum haereticis ſervanda. They can faine wordes, and coine diſtinctions, but all is their old trade of merchandiſe, Rev. 18.
Here the deſcription of hypocrites; they are all words; ſmooth unctuous, and fained wordes. Chriſtians in the skin, divells at the coare. Like the Armenian Dragons, that have cold and ſquail'd bodies; yet caſt fire out of their mouthes. Such was that Diogenes Sinopenſis; in opinion a Stoicke, in converſation a Epicure, a foole in both. That Apoſtate Iulian ſo wrote of himſelfe; that he had an buſy tongue but a laſy hand. Their rhetoricke is prety and their logicke witty, but their practicke is naughty. They gape like ſea-fiſhes, ſo wide as if they would devoure the whole Ocean: rip them up, and ſearch their intralls, and you find no water in their bellies. Crueltie that is, aperta malitia is hurtfull: but hypocriſie, operta malitia is moſt pernicious. A Player and an hyppocrite are all one with the Greekes: hypocrites are the divells company of players. As men ſometimes play in the ſhapes of divells, ſo divells play in the ſhapes of men. As CHRIST to deceive the divell tooke man upon him: ſo diverſe to deceive man take the divell upon them. Satans beſt trading is by metamorphoſes and transformations. He once changed himſelfe from an Angell of light to a divell: ſo now he would change himſelfe from a divell to an Angell of light. What is true of every evill; Quantò interius, tantò deterius; holds ſtrongeſt in hypocriſie. Pagans allow us peace, heretickes peace, hypocrities no peace. The Churches perſecution by Tyrants was bitter, by heretickes more bitter, by hypocrites moſt bitter. There is ſcarce a houſe in the world, but it is haunted with this kind of ſpirits; familiars; viſible and carnall divells; familiar hypocrites. Feare, and the pit, and the ſnare are upon thee, O Inhabitant of the earth. Eſa. 24.17.Either the feare of Tyrannie, or, the deepe Pit of policie, or the Snare of hypocriſie, continually aſſault us. But as CHRIST ſaid to his Apoſtles; He that receiveth you, receiveth me: ſo he that deceiveth you, deceiveth me. Ananias lyed unto Peter, Peter tells him that he had lyed to the Holy Ghoſt. It is well obſerved that many mens religion is like the adverbe Quaſi: which denotes a picture not a nature, an appearance rather than an exiſtence; likeneſſe than a true being. As it were. So the locuſts are deſcribed, Rev. 9.7. As it were horſes prepared to the battell, and on their heads as it were the faces of men, &c. They were not horſes, but as it were horſes: had not Crownes, but as it were Crownes: not faces, but as it were faces of men: not haire, but as it were haire of Women: not teeth, but as it were teeth of Lions: not breſt-plates, but as it were breſt-plates of iron. Their whole deſcription runs upon Quaſi, as it were: they had not tailes, but as it were tayles of Scorpions: but in thoſe tailes were ſtings, not as it were ſtings, but ſtings indeed: the farewell of hypocrites is deadly. All their balmes are Quaſi, as it were balmes; but their ſtings are pernicious indeed. They draw neare to God with their lips, not with their hearts: ſo Gods bleſſings may ſhine upon their outward eſtates, but it ſhall never come neare their hearts. An hypocrite is like the Sicilian Aetna, flaming at the mouth, when it hath ſnow at the foote: their mouthes talke hotly, but their feete walke coldly. With the Iewes they cry thrice over for failing, Templum Domini; without once regarding Dominum Templi. One writes of the Onyx, that about the center it is of …n earthen colour; on the circumference, azure, or skie-colour. Hypocrites have a heavenly garbe in the out-ſide, but an earthly heart in the center. They think themſelves ſo holy, that they cannot chuſe but be ſaved: but Sicut ad juſtos pertinet confeſsio peccatorum, ita ad ſuperbos defenſio meritorum, Royard. Confuſion of ſins be…omes the juſt, and defenſe of merites the proud. Good men give God Fructum …aborum, the fruite of their labours: hypocrites thinke it enough to give Fru…tum labiorum, the fruit of their lips. Foure dayes in a weeke he will ſpend in hea…ing, not one houre in a monethmonth in doing good. The Latines doe not ſo much call …im Fallens as Falſus; more by the paſſive, than the active: he but thinkes to de…eive, he is ſure to be deceived. Yet me thinkes he ſhould not ſo flatter himſelfe, as …o thinke that he can be too cunning for the divell.
As Rebels make their proclamations in the name of the King: and Pyrates in…ending to rob Merchants, hang out the flags of other Nations; both to ſcandall them, and to conceale themſelves. So doth hypocrites weare Chriſtian colours, that they maybe the Devils coozeners. I would they were no worſe than the nightingale; vox et praeterea nihil; nothing but voice; but they have a ſweet voice, and a peſtilent hand. Rome broacheth all her poiſon under the name of Chriſt: but pull of her borowed liverie, and ſhe is a Church apoſtotaticall, not Apoſtolicall: not militant, malignant: not for God and for Gideon, but for Antichriſt and for Babilon. Their Praelati, Pilati: Speculatores, ſpiculatores. Bern. The hypocrite loades Chriſt with many ſinnes, therefore Chriſt loades him with many woes and curſes. It is not enough Dicere facienda, Matth. 23.but facere dicenda: Saul was not a Saint, becauſe hee did once prophecie: nor is every one a beleever that talkes of faith. An apparant wickedneſſe of life cannot be excuſed by pure language among wiſe men: that deceives the ignorant, and upon ſuch a ground the ſimple man thought Pontius Pilate a Saint, becauſe his name was put in the creed. Hypocrites refuſe our Miniſterie, our congregations, our ſocietie; they ſcorne to be with us: but herein they doe us a kindneſſe, for we are bleſt in being out of their companie.