A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Examples of Covetousnesse, and Avarice.
FOrbidden by God, Exod. 20. 17. Rom. 13. 9. Luke 12. 15. Ephes. 5. 3. Col. 3. 5. Heb. 13. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 3.
Complained of by God, Mic. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Jer. 6. 13. & 8. 10. & 22. 17. Ezek. 33. 31. Rom. 1. 29. Eccles. 6. 1, 2.
Prayed against, Psal. 119. 36. It's the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10.
Threatened, Hab. 2. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Ephes. 5. 5. Col. 3. 5, 6. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Isa. 57. 17. Jer. 51. 13. Amos 8. 4, &c. Psal. 10. 3. 1 Cor. 5. 11.
Covetous persons are deceivers, Amos 8. 5. Prov. 21. 6. Murtherers, Prov. 1. 19.
Can never be satisfied, Eccles. 4. 8. Prov. 27. 20. Eccles. 5. 10. Prov. 30. 15. & 21. 26.
Trouble their own house, Prov. 15. 27. And themselves, Eccles. 5. 12.
Are very fooles, Eccles. 5. 15, 16. & 4. 8. Psalme 39. 7.
Desire their own hurt, Eccles. 5. 13, 17. Prov. 11. 28. It comes from the heart. Mark. 7. 22.
Scriptural examples, Achan, Jos. 7. 20, &c. Gehazi, 2 King. 5. 20, &c. Ahab, 1 King. 21. 19▪ &c. Ananias, and Saphira, Act. 5. 1, &c. Balaam, Numb. 22. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Demas, 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demetrius, Act. 19. 24, 25. Felix, Act. 24. 26. Samuels sonne…, 1 Sam. 8. 3. Judas, Joh. 12. 6. Mat. 26. 15. Laban, Gen. 31. 41. the Master of the maide, Act. 16. 19. the Jewes, Jer. 6. 13. & 8. 10. the young man, Mat. 19. 22. the Pharisees, Luke 16. 14. Nabal, 1 Sam. 25. 11. the rich man, Luke 16. 21, &c. See some examples of the danger of covetousnesse in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History.
Julius Caesar was of such a covetous disposition, that making Warre in Spaine he picked quarrels with divers rich Cities that he might plunder them: He brake also into the Temples of the gods, and robbed them of their rich gifts which had been bestowed upon them. In his first Consulship he robbed the Capitol of three thousand pound weight of gold. In his own, and Pompey's name he took six thousand Talents from Ptolemy King of Egypt. Theat. vitae hum.
Tiberius Caesar was so overcome by covetousnesse, that when Cn. Lentulus, a worthy Senatour, had in his will declared him to be his heire; he sent, and killed him, that so he might have present possession of his goods. Also when Vonorais King of Parthia, being expelled out of his Kingdome, fled to him for refuge, he seeing that he had brought a mighty masse of treasure with him, killed him, that so he might enjoy his riches. Theat. vitae hum.
C. Caligula the Emperour having by profusenesse, and prodigality wasted the treasure of the Empire, fell afterwards to sordid covetousnesse, and rapine: whereupon he forced many rich men to make tbeir wills, and therein to declare him to be their heir, and presently after used to poison them, scoffing at them, and saying, that when men had once made their wills, it was fit they should die: Having by a tribute raised a mighty masse of money stripping himself naked, he rolled himself upon it, seeking thereby to satisfie his thirst after gold. He sold also the servants, and houshold-stuffe, Jewels, and ornaments of his sisters, taking the price of them to himself. Theat. vitae hum.
Nero that monster of men, when by his profusenesse, and Luxury, he had wasted the Imperial treasures, fell to such covetousnesse that he imposed new tributes on his subjects: Injuriously seized upon many rich mens estates, and often put the owners to death: Robbed many Temples, and took away the gold, and silver Images. Theat. vitae hum.
Sergius Galba, to satisfie his covetousnesse, imposed great fines upon divers Cities in Spaine, and France: Took away from the Image of Jupiter a crown of gold that weighed fifteen pound weight: and having a plentiful supper set before him, he sighed at the consideration of the cost. Theat. vitae hum.
Vespasian, though he be reckoned amongst the good Emperours: yet he was extreame covetous: Being blamed by his friends for sending such oppressive officers into the Romane Provinces: He answered, that he used them but as spunges to squeese them when they were full. He imposed a taxe upon every family according to the quantity of urine that was made in it, which his son Titus being offended at, and blaming him for it, as dishonourable to so great an Emperour: He answered him little for the present, but a while after when his Publicans had brought in the tribute, he called his son Titus, and bad him smell what ill savour that gold had: Titus smelling, told him that he found no ill savour in it: his father laughing told him that it was urine, and withal added, Dulcis odor lucri, ex re …ualibet: The smell of gaine is sweet out of any thing: Yea from the principle of covetousnesse he would publickly do such businesse, as a private man would be ashamed of.
Didius Julianus the Emperour was so extreamly covetous, that he made himself hateful to the people, and being forsaken of all men, was at last slaine in his Palace. Guido Bitur.
Constans Tertius the Emperour going to Rome, spoiled all places both holy, and prophane, carrying away more of the riches, & ornaments of the City, then all the Barbarous Nations that had formerly plundered it: He also grievously oppressed his Subjects, especially the inhabitants of Sicily, whereby many parents were forced to sell their own children, which made him so hateful to all, that his own souldiers rose up against him, and slew him. Fulgosus, Lib. 9. c. 4.
Cardinal Angelot was so basely covetous, that by a private way he used to go into the stable, and steale the oats from his horses: so that on a time the Master of his horse going into the stable in the dark, and finding him there, taking him for a thief, beat him soundly: he was also so hard towards his servants, that his Chamberlaine watching his opportunity, slew him. Pontanus, lib. de Prin.
A certain young man in Lacedaemon having bought an house and land at a very under rate: the Magistrates hearing of it, sent for him, and fined him, for that he being a yound man had shewed so much covetousnesse, seeking to inrich himself by the losse of another. AElian. Lib. 14.
Semiramis caused to be ingraven upon her sepulchre: What King soever shall want money, let him open this sepulchre, and he shall finde as much as he needs: Darius long after finding this inscription, brake open the sepulchre, but instead of money, he only found this inscription within: Except thou wert a wicked man, and basely covetous, thou wouldest never have broken open the sepulchres of the dead. Stobaeus.
Anno Christi 1066. Reginherus Bishop of Misnia being at Goslaria, after dinner went into his chamber where he had hid his treasures (being an extream covetous man) and shut himself in as if he would take a little sleep, but his servants thinking him long, first knocked at the doore, and afterwards brake it open, and found him dead with his neck broken, and his body of an ugly colour, lying in a miserable manner upon his money. Lamb. Scaffnaburgensis.
Caratacus, a Prince of the Britaines being taken prisoner, and carried to Rome, when he had throughly viewed the stately magnificence of that City: What mean you (saith he) when you have these and such like buildings of your own, to covet our small cottages? Camb. Brit. p. 957.
The Spaniards in the conquest of Peru, told Atabalipa the King thereof, that they were sent from an Emperour (unto whom the Pope had given all that land) to convert them to the Christian faith: Whereunto Atabalipa answered, That he would gladly be friends with the Emperour, because he was so great a Monarch, but in no case with the Pope, because he gave to another that which was none of his own. Pur. Pilgrims. Vol. 4. p. 1445.
Thira a Dane, wife to Godwin Earle of Kent, used to make Merchandise of Englands beateous Virgins, by selling them at a deare rate into Denmark, seeking thereby to satisfie her own covetousnesse, and the Danes lusts: which practice she continued till a just reward of Gods wrath fell upon her, by a thunderbolt from heaven whereby she was slaine. Speed.
Nigh unto the City of Lunenberg in Germany there flowed plentifully a salt spring, till such time as the rich men ingrossing all the profit to themselves, would not suffer the poor to make any profit thereof: whereupon (God being offended at their covetousnesse) dried up the spring, so that it ran not for a time; yet afterwards upon the re-admission of the poor to be sharers in it, it ran again as before. Mori…ons travels. ch. 1. part. 1. pag. 5.
In the yeere 1316. there hapening a great famine in Leyden, a poor women went to her own sister that was very rich to borrow a loaf of bread▪ to keep her and her children from starving: her sister denied that she had any in the house: she insisted that she had, whereupon her rich sister fell a swearing, and cursing, praying God that if she had any it might be turned into stone, which God miraculously effected to the confusion of this mercilesse and perjured woman: One of these loaves turned into stone is kept in an iron grate in Saint Pancratius Church in the same City of Leyden. Belg. Com. Wealth. p 70.
A begging Philosopher asking a groat of a certaine King: the King told him that it was too little for him to give; then give me a talent (quoth the other,) Nay (said the King,) that's too much for a beggar to receive. But God in giving spiritual mercies regards not what is fit for us to ask, or expect, but what stands with his greatnesse, and goodnesse to bestow.
Anno Christi 1570. at Rye in Sussex there was a strange example of Gods judgement upon a covetous gentleman, who living neere the sea had a Marsh wherein upon poles Fishermen used to drie their nets, for which he received of them yearly a sufficient sum of money: But at length being not content with it, he caused his servants to pluck up the poles, not suffering the Fishermen to come upon his ground any longer, except they would compound at a larger rate: But it came to passe the same night, that the sea breaking in, overwhelmed all his Marsh, which so continueth till this day, saith my Author. Hollin.
Anno Christi 914. there was a certain Bishop called Hanno, that dwelt between Mentz, and Cullen, who, in the time of a great famine, having store of corne, and graine, refused to help the poor who cried unto him for reliefe, desiring, and wishing rather that his corne might be eaten up with Mice and Rats: Whereupon God in Justice sent an Army of Rats and Mice to assault him: To avoide which he built a place in the middest of the river of Rhine (which to this day is called Rats Tower) wherein to secure himself: but all was in vaine; for the Rats and Mice swam through the river to him in great abundance, by whom he was devoured. Act. & Mon.
Q. Cecilius, a Senatour of Rome, though he lost much in the Civil Warre, yet when he died, he left four thousand one hundred and sixteen Bondmen: Three thousand six hundred yoke of Oxen: Two hundred fifty seven thousand head of other cattel, and almost nine millions of treasure, and yet was so basely covetous, that by his will he commanded onelyonly eleven Sesterties to be bestowed on his funeral. Plin. l. 33. c. 10.
Take heed and beware of covetousnesse: For a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,
Luke 12. 15.