The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 73
Gods Justice Covetousnesse punished.
COvetousnesse is an inordinate desire of any thing, unto which evill the man that is subject unto, is the servant and slave of all other sinnes: For that the covetous person can never be satisfied, but is provoked and enflamed more andProv. 15. 27. more by how much the more he hath, like the man that hath the Dropsie, the more he drinketh, the more he thirsteth: So that although he have, yet he alwayes coveteth that which he wanteth, so that the miserable and wretched heart of the covetous man wandereth throughout all the things of this world, and is wearied, but never satisfied; drinketh, but his thirst is not quenched; he esteemeth not those things which he hath, unlesse he possesse in like manner those things which he hath not, and he hath no lesse trouble for things which he compasseth not, then he hath pleasure in the things which he possesseth; neither is his heart more satisfied with gold then the bodie with winde and ayre; This Viper hath divers heads with which it snatcheth at the trash of the world (to wit) fraud, unquietnesse, perju…ie, bribes, sacriledge, theft, usurie, rapine, and Symonie. This horse-leach hath two daughters that cry, Bring, Bring, H…ll and destruction are neverProv. 30. 15. Prov. 27. 20. Ecclus. 10. 9. &c. full, so the covetous person can never be satisfied. In a word, there is nothing worse then a covetous man, nor a more wicked thing then to love money, for such an one would even sell his soul to get wealth unto him:
The Covetous person is
An infidell
For he loveth not his brother, and he that loveth not his brother walketh in darknesse, and knoweth not God.1 Ioh. 1.
A D…ceiver
For he makes the Epha small, and the shekle great, he falsifiesAmos 8. 5. Prov. 21. 6. Matt. 24.the weights by deceit, and sels the refuse of Corn.
A Thiefe
For the goods that he possesseth are none of his, he is but a steward of them, and shall yeeld account.
A murtherer
For such are his wayes being greedie of gain, that he takethProv. 1. 19. Amos 8. away the life of the owner, and swalloweth the poore.
As a Camell
That all the day carries treasure for other, and at night is turned into the stable with a gald back.
As a slave,
For that he attendeth day and night upon his wealth, being alwayes in great suspition of his Treasure.
A discontented one,
In that he is vexed and grieved in minde, when he is to depart from any of his coin by payment.
An
Idolater, offending idolatrously
Against the second Commandement, for that he worshippethEphes. 5. 5. Exod. 20. Psal. idols, in reposing so much confidence in his money, making it his god.
Through Covetousnesse
The Angels which kept not their first place were cast into hell▪Iude 6. Gen. 3. Iosh. 7.
Adam, desiring to know good and evil, became miserable.
Achan took things excommunicated, he was with all his stoned.
An Amalekite said he had slain Saul in hope to be rewarded: David caused2 Sam. 1. him to be put to death for slaying Gods Anointed.
Ahab took Naboths vineyard: his posteritie were all destroyed.2 King. 9. Act. 5. Iud. v. 11. 2 Sam. 4, &c. Judg. 16. Col. 3. 5. 2 Tim. 4. Act. 19. Act. …4. 2 King. 5. Gen. …. Gen. 34. 1 Kin. 13. 33. 1 Sam. 8. Micah 3. Iohn 1…. Gen. 31. Gen. 13. & 14. Act. 16. 1 Sam. 25. Exod. 4. Ier. 6. 13. Matth. 21. Mat. 19. 1 Sam. 15. 1 K…. 12. Samuels sons took bribes. Act. 8. Mat. 1…. Souldiers. Ecc. 4. 8. & 6. 2. Ecclus. 6. 2. Pro. 27. 20. & 1. 19. Ier. 57. 17. Ecclus. 5. 12. Ephes. 5. 5. Luke 1…. 15.
Ananias kept back part of the money, &c. he was strucken suddenly dead.
Balaam went to Balak, by the deceit of his own wages he perished.
Baanah and Rechab
Slew Ishbosheth in hope to have been rewarded by David, he caused them both for their fact to be executed.
Delilah betrayed Samson into the hands of the Philistines.
Demas forsook Paul, and imbraced the worldly vanities.
Demetrius accused Paul for speaking against images his gain▪
Felix called Paul before him, in hope of money to have loosed him.
Gehazi took Naamans gifts; he had thereby his leprosie.
Herdmen of Abraham and Lot fell at great controversie.
Hamor and Sh…chem perswaded the Shechemites to be circumcised.
Ioel and Abiah Samuel's sons for gain judged.
Judges in Israel for rewards gave their judgement.
Iudas spake against Magdalens box bestowed of ointment.
Laban dealt ill with Iacob; and his sonnes spake against him.
Lot made choice of the land of Sodome, which proved hurtfull to him.
The master of the maide accused Paul casting out the spirit of South-saying.
Nabal denyed victuals to David, his heart dyed within him.
Pharaoh would not let the Israelites depart, as God commanded.
The Priests
Taught for hire, and for gaine they prophesied.
Suffered the people to buy and sell in the Temple of God.
Peter asked Christ what the Apostles should have for following him.
King Saul spared Agag, his sheep and oxen: for which God rejected him.
Shimei seeking his Runaway, was put to death by Salomon.
Sim▪ Magus would have bought the holy Ghost, a curse was pronounc'd on him
The young man departed sorrowing, being willed to sell his possession.
The Covetous person
Hath no end of his travell, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches, not thinking for whom he travelleth: He hath riches, and treasures, and honours, and yet no power to use them. His riches shall perish by evill travell, evill is reserved for him: the Lord is wroth with him, and will smite him, is angry, and turneth himself from him: He shall beget a son, and in his hand shall be nothing▪ And as the Apostle saith plainly, He shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven.
Use.
1. This should teach us to take heed of Covetousnesse: for that though a manLuke 12. 15. have abundance, yet his life standeth not in riches. Love not the Moon-shine, thatEccl. 6. 7, 8. thou contemne the Noon-shine, do not so live that the solace of this life, minister matter of eternall death.
2. Be content with the condition and estate that is happened unto thee: beingGen. 23. 13. & 14. …. 1 Tim. 6. 8. Gen. 33. 9. Matth. 6. 33. Gen. 28. 20. mindfull of that of the Apostle, Having food and raiment be therewith content: Seek the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, and all things else shall be ministred unto you▪ saith Christ.
3. Remember that Godlinesse is great gain, if a man be content with that he hath: if therefore it please God to give thee povertie, take it patiently, for theHeb. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 7. &c. Psal. …7. 16. poore are like unto Christ, who when he was rich became poore for our sakes: Learn then in all estates to be content; we brought nothing into the world, neither shall we carry any thing here-hence.2 Cor. 6. 10. Psal. 119. 36. Heb. 13. 5.
4. Let your conversation …e without covetousnesse, be content with those things that you have: for God hath said, I will not faile thee, nor forsake thee.
Chrysostome saith Homil. 51.
He is not poore that hath nothing, but he that desireth much:
He is not rich that hath much, but he that wanteth nothing.
For Contentation never wanteth, Phil. 4. 12.
There is no griefe in lacking, but where there is an immoderate desire in having.
If we will live after nature, we shall never be poore;
If we will live after our owne appetite, we shall never be rich.
Remember thou shalt meet with the Grave and Hell:
There is mould enough in the Grave: Fire enough in Hell.
Drinke of the waters of thine own well, and of the river that runnes out of thineProv. 5. 15. own Spring▪
Set not thine eye upon the thing which suddenly vanisheth away.Prov. 23. 5.
For riches make themselves wings, and fly away like an Eagle.
Pray with Salomon,
Give me, O Lord, neither povertie nor riches, only give me things necessary,Prov. 30. 8. lest being full, I should denie thee▪ and being fallen into povertie, should steale, and forsweare thee.
If thou with what God wils shalt pleased bee:
Be sure all things shall then be well with thee.
Reade Prov. 30. 15. Prov. 1. 11. Dan. 11. 39. Syr▪ 14. 9. Prov. 15. 16. Eccl. 5. 18, 19.