A Fathers Testament, Chapter 3
CAP. III.
Not in Riches.
RIches are as Nebuchadnezzars golde… Idol; (Dan. 3.) All people, nations, an… languages fall down, and worship this golde… Image; but all the honour the most de…vout Zelots give it cannot wring from it the least degree of happiness. For first, it is a meer Idol. 1. An Image hath only a name, and appearance of what it imageth; Thus these outward things are called, and to mop-eyed men seem to be riches, but are unrighteous Mammon, and at best (and with the best) not true Riches, Luk. 16.11. Their very being is no being, and when they are, they are not, Prov. 23.4. True riches are nothing else but plenty of such things as are useful to the person whom they enrich. But,
1. The principal part of man (to which the …ody is but a servant) hath no use of them, …r benefit by them; neither of the natural, meat, drink, &c.) or artificial, (gold, silver, &c.) Nay, 2. Even to the body, while it is in the short Pilgrimage of this life (where only they are current) they are …ather as a little spending money, than its …ortion, or inheritance. For look as many Cart-loads of Laconian money (that iron …yn) could not enrich a Traveler, who …as riding Post through that Region to his …tive Country, but were rather a burthen, … an a furtherance to his journey: so the …odies of men flying through this mortal life … immortality are rather laden, than enrich… by the abundance of these earthly things, … which they shall never have more need, or use after this momentary Pilgrimage.
2. Images are dead, helpless things; they have mouths, but cannot speak for us; eyes, but cannot provide for us; hands, but can do nothing for us; feet, but in our necessity cannot stir to help us, (Psal. 115.5, 6, 7.) Such are riches: meer Images; profit us nothing, Prov. 10.2. Are we in trouble? visited with sickness in body, with distress in spirit? &c. They cannot relieve us. Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death, Prov. 11.4. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord, Ezek. 7.19. Zeph. 1.18. Are our Friends in danger? They cannot redeem a brother, nor give a ransome for him, Psal. 49.6, 7. when we would serve our selves of them, they take them to their wings, and are gone, Prov. 23.4. would we sleep? They will not suffer us, (Eccles. 5.12.) and instead of helping, hurt us, Eccles. 5.13.
3. As Idols make their Worshippers like to themselves, even Idols, (Psal. 115.8.) thus men idolizing riches become like to their coyn, meer images of men: they have neither mouths to eat, nor hands to enjoy, o… take part of their labour, Eccles. 6.2. They have not so much reason or sense to design some end of all their pains, or to discourse with themselves, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? Eccles. 4.8.
2. Secondly, whatsoever defect (in general) excluded the creatures from challenging any part in mans happiness, the same (in particular) barrs out riches. 1. It is full of vanity and vexation, Eccles. 2.7, 8, 11. All his dayes (the worldly rich) eate…h in darkness, and hath much wrath, and sorrow with his sickness, Eccles. 5.17. 2. It satisfies not; nay the more it is loved, the less it satisfies. Mans eye is not satiate with riches, Eccles. 4.8. They shall not satisfie their souls, nor fill th…ir bowels, Ezek. 7.19. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver, &c. Eccles. 5.10. 3. They are not durable, they are of no continuance; Riches are not for ever, (Prov. 27.24.) They perish (Eccles. 5.14.) have Eagles wings, Prov. 23.4. 4. The more we enjoy, the less we love them. The soul that most dotes on them, goes utterly off from what it hath attained, and reacheth …fter that which it would have, and yet hath not, and so indeed cleaves to that which is …ot, Prov. 23.4. 5. They are far below us; They have no reason, sense, life, no being …ut what we give them in our opinion, and …ancy, no other end but to drudge for us.
6. They are not only (in respect of happiness) needless, so that never any was (even on earth) so blessed, as he that had least of them: (witness our most blessed Saviour) but in their abundance a burthen, which sinks the body, and soul under them; and dangerous; stopping the way to Heaven, and barring the entrance to our only happiness, Luk. 8.14, & 18.25.
I will shut up this Chapter with a story very true, and as pertinent. Some ten miles from Cambridge dwelt a man old, and poor, who hid his hoar head under a very mean Cottage, with no other companion of his age, than his (as aged) Wife: His means rose only from the flock of the Town (in which he lived, and) which he tended. Following his sheep, it chanced that he found a Portmante… full of treasure. And almost distracted with joy, he bears it home, and acquaints his Consort with this happy adventure. After deep consultation they concluded to digg an hole under their bed, and there in a grave to conceal it. But in the night being now become very wakeful, they were suddenly frighted with some noise (perhaps the scrabling of their Cat or Dog) rose up in great perturbation, searched every mousehole, and all the remainder of that night neither closed their eyes, nor put ou… their candel. Early in the morning they took further advice, and resolved that every night one of them (by turns) should watch their prisoner, lest happily he might break from them, and make an escape. This they practised so long, untill both of them (who before were well-near worn up with age) were now with care, fear, and want of sleep even consumed, and pined. After more mature deliberation, they thought expedient to hire some poor neighbours, (for now they mustered themselves not in so mean a rank) every night to guard their Palace, and centinel about them. Which when it was noised abroad in the Town, wrought divers strange surmises (though not any yet harped upon the right string, nor once dreamed what was the true cause of all this business;) some laughed, others pittied, fearing the old Couple would end their dayes in Bedlam. About a month after they had intelligence who was the Owner of this money, and heard of a competent reward offered to the finder, and restorer. And now being much more weary, than greedy, they readily take hold of the offer, rendred up their prisoner, purchast a Jayl delivery, hung up their cares, freed their hearts, rescued thei… macerated bodies, and distracted wits, and by parting with their money returned to their wonted peace, and quietness.
This Ancient Couple, and our own reason will assure us, that felicity seldome dwelleth with riches, never is patcht up with raggs of earth. Philosophers prove it, and Poets sing it. Thus in English,
Boetius. Libr. 2. Metr. 2.
If Mammon empty all his baggs, to store
The greedy mind, (as Seas heap sands on shore)
If earth with Heaven vie Angels for her lovers,
And every star with golden Pieces covers,
If Plenty, hills of wealth, and mountains heaps,
And what it largely gives, as safely keeps;
The dropsie soul still whines, still thirsts, and pants
For earth, and feels not what it has but wants.
When God the mouth, the throat, the skin hath cram'…
With gold, the heart still gapes, and gasps as clam'd.
Nor earth, nor seas, nor heaven can quench this drouth
As hell it ever yawns, ne're shuts the mouth.
What rein, what curb can bridle lustful fires?
And manage them in pace of just desires?
When all the gifts which from free Heaven came
Are but as oyl, and fuel to the flame.
He never can be full who feeds on ayre;
He never can be rich, who dreams he's poor, and bar…