The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, Part 2 · Meditation 22
MED. XXII. Against Covetousness.
Heb. xiii. 7.
Let your conversation be be without covetousness.
COVETOUSNESS is the Root of all Malignity; and he that is a Slave to Riches, his Mind is always indigent; he is tugging continually at the Oar, and accumulates worldly Dross; but (as the Psalmist says) he knoweth not who shall gather it, Psal. 39. 6. And as he is impoverished in his Mind, so he is miserable in his Station; for Bounty and Goodness are Strangers to himself and others; and Charity with him is so frozen, that the Poor, instead of recompenceing him with their Prayers, are more ready to attend him with their Imprecations. Fix not thy Trust in uncertain Riches, but place thy Mind on what is certain. 'Tis certain, the Hour of Death will come, and then what will all thy Wealth avail thee? They cannot assist thee in a true Repentance, nor plead thy Cause in the Court of Heaven: They cannot procure thee an easie Passage hence, nor give thee Assurance of Eternal Happiness.
II. THEREFORE, lay aside this bitter Root, and graft new Plants of Liberality and Charity. Make haste, with speed, and undertake this Task, lest thou offend the Almighty, and endanger thy own Soul. The covetous Person must needs allow this Maxim, That he lives without God in the World. And our Saviour informs us, we cannot serve God and Mammon, Luk. 16. 13. For he that wholly sets his Heart upon transitory Treasure, must of necessity unfix it from God, and Eternal Glory; and is uncapable of performing that Duty which is required by the Almighty.
III. SEE with what eagerness the Covetous pursues Riches; and is greedy as a Lion after his Prey. All Opportunities of Gain are readily embraced: Prayer, and all Religious Duties, are laid aside, to accomplish and attend it. So prone is frail Mortality to this Sin, that he leaves nothing unattempted to answer his sordid Avarice: nay, it is often apparent, that Unlawfulness and Fraudulency is used by the Covetous to that degree, that many Families have suffered Destruction, though it were to the utter Ruine of the Souls and Bodies of the Misers themselves. And now, what can these Men expect for the Cruelties they transact, but to be excluded from Happiness, and to receive that Reward, of not inheriting the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 10.
IV. THEY which hoard up Terrestrial Treasures, resemble those that place their Fruits in low and moist places, not considering they are incident to Putrefaction. Oh, how infatuated are they then, which indulge themselves to that which is liable to Corruption? For, how can that which is Temporal, satisfie the Soul which is Eternal? The Animate Part comprehends all Corporal Things, by virtue of its Spiritual Nature, that it cannot be distended and filled by any Quantity. All things, the higher they soar towards Heaven, the less they cark and care to hoard up: This may be attested by the Fowls of the Air, which neither sow nor reap, Mat. 6. 26. So it is with that Immortal Part, the Soul, the more it is elevated to its Creator, the more it withdrawn from Temporal Riches.
V. LET Contentment be the Avaritious Man's Catholicon to purge out Covetousness. This will make him a Proficient in the Almighty's Court, and wholly to depend upon His Providence. Then he may contemplate, That God cloatheth the lillies of the field: And if so, much more will He cloath them which depend upon Him. Think on the Providence of thy Creator; and if thou reliest upon Him, thou may'st assure thy self, that none ever trusted in him, and was confounded. He is too guilty of Avarice, that chargeth the Almighty with not granting him his Heart's Desire; and he is too ungrateful, that expresses not his Thankfulness for those Mercies he daily, nay, hourly receives from him.
VI. CONSIDER this, now ye that take too much Pains for Riches, what an imprudent Choice ye use to apply your Diligence: Ye that add House to House, and Field to Field, a lesser Compass at last must entomb ye; why then do you perplex your selves so much, and appear such busie Graspers of the World; early you rise to gripe the World, and late go to rest, but can find no ease; your Mind is so fix'd on uncertain Riches, that you are perpetually loaded with Care and Sorrow. And why all this, poor Covetous Wretches! but to undoe others, and lose your Souls? Did you but wisely love your selves, you would pursue alone your own true Happiness: you would not become such wilful Fools; and preferr a short vexatious Vanity bfore an Eternal Joy and Felicity.