A Christian Library, Chapter 1
CHAP. 1.
HAving felt the Cormorants pulse, I find into beat most violently after gain; He were a skillful Physician that could … greedy worm, which makes him so hungry: yea, … for you shal sooner hear of an hundred Malefactors conversion at th… Gallows, then of one Covetous Cormorant in his bed. OnelyOnly I will giv… you his and his Sons Effigies, and set them up as Sea-marks to mak… others beware; that both may do good service to the Church: For where… honest men profit the Commonwealth, by occasioning themselves to be in… tated ▪ these shall happily benefit the same, by causing themselves to b… evitated. As sometimes a Harlots face hath suggested chastness: an… good may be learnt, both by similitude and contrariety. At least the beautie of all Christian graces, are illustrated by the blackness of their opposi… vices.
The Covetous Miser is one that affects no imployment or Occupatio… for it self, but for gain▪ all his reaches are at riches: his summum bonum is commodity, and gold is the Goddess he adores in every thing. He plots studdies, contrives, breaks his peace, his sleep, his brains, to compass his desires: and though he venters his ears, his neck, his soul; he dares no deny his slave, his dog, his Devil Avarice: nor cares he how he gets, bu… what he gets. There is no evill that he will nor do, so goods may com… of it; you cannot name the Sin that he will not swallow in the sweet broth of commodity: like Dorio the Bawde in T…rrence, he is not ashame… of the basest actions that bring him in benefit; nor does he smell any difference, between gold got by oppression, and that which is honestly come by ▪
Avarice is the grave of all good, it …ats out the very heart of grace … by eating grace out of the heart. The damps of the earth do not more quench fire, then the love of earth stisles grace: neither trees not grass… grow above, where the golden Mines are below; If the love of mony be once curred into the heart, no fruits of goodness will appear in the life: yea there is an absolute contrariety, between the love of God, and the love of Mammon; as our Saviour shews, Luke 16.13,
This Machivillians heart is a very mint of fraud, that can readily c…yn falsehoods upon every occasion; yea, he is such a deep, that one may better roll the haires of his head, then either the springs, wards, or wickedness of his deceitful heart: and y…t so foolish withall, that he not onel… … his soul, to inrich his body, but to purchase a great estate▪ he will … both soul and body. Like Sylvester the second, who to get the Popedome, gave his soul to the Devill.
The poore …hea…s soul (if ever it be saved) costs no less a price than Christs precious blood: yet half a crown, yea six pence will make this Chu…e fell his. By which means he swels in his estate from a Toad to an… … …isease we call the Wolf; which is ever eating, yet keeps the body Lean. The Covetous Cormorant is like one of Pharaoh's lean and illfavoured kine: … though he devours much, yet he is never the less hungry, never the …ore fat. A moderate water makes the Mill go merrily, but too much …ill not suffer it to go at all.
The Covetous Miser is like the Indians, who though they have all the Gold among them, yet are the most beggerly people alive. He is like Tantalus, who stands up to the c…n in water, and hath all kinds of fruits hanging over his head, but is not suffered to taste the one, nor drink of the other. Or like an Asse that is laden with gold and dainty cates, but feeds upon thistles. He scarce wears a good garment, or eats a liberall meal, or takes a quiet sleep; but is ever tormenting himself to get that, for getting whereof he shall be tormented. As a proud man is ignorant in the midst of his knowledge, so is he poor and needy in the midst of his wealth. Yea, whereas the Poor Begger wants many things, the Rich Miser wants every thing.
His business will never give him leave to think of his conscience: All his Religion is the love of money. He goes to Church indeed, but it is not to serve God, but the State; which he uses not as a means to save his soul but his silver. To him all spirituall and eternall things seem incredible, because they are invisible. Nothing will sink into his head that he cannot see with his eyes, or feel with his fingers. And in case he cannot gain by being Religious, his care shall be not to lose by it: and that Religion will like him best that is best cheap, and that will cost him least. Any doctrine is welcome to him, but that which beats upon good works, only that he cannot indure. No, if another be at the charges to serve God, this Churle like Iudas, will cry out, Why is this waste? Nor shall any means ever convert him. No Physick is strong enough to purge out this Humour: Because, if ever he should repent, he must restore his ill gotten estate; which to him is as hard an injunction as that of God to Abraham; Gen. …2.2. Or, as that of our Saviour to the Young man, Luke 18.22. and …herefore what hope of his yielding? Covetousnesse is Idolatry, Eph, … …oll. 3.5. and Money is the covetous mans god: and will he part … No, And so long as he keeps the weapon (ill-got goods) … …nd will not pluck it out by restitution; how is it possible he should be … ed? He may with that Rich man, Luk. 10. have a good mind to Heav… reversion: yet for all that he will not hear of parting with him. He … …hereof he hath the present possession.
… then a Drunkard; yet had I rather be a Drunkard then a Covetous Mise… Matth. 21.31, 32.