A Christian Library, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
I Have much more to enlarge of the miseries of unmerciful and ingratefull Misers, but before I speak of them, I will give you the reasons and uses of these already dispatcht, wherein I will be as brief as may be.
You see that God may give men riches in wrath; and so as they shall be never the better for them, but the worse. Now that you may not think it any strange thing, observe the reasons why, and how justly they are so served.
The first Reason is, the unmerciful Misers monstrous unthankfulness, for those millions of mercies he hath received from God (of which I shall give you an account in the second part) this causes God either not at all to give him, or in giving him riches, to add this you have heard as a curse withall. He is unthankful for what he hath, therefore have he never so much, it shall not be worth thanks. He is cruel to the poor, therefore he shall be as cruel to himself. The poor shall have no comfort of what he hath, therefore himself shall have as little.
The covetous are cozen Germans to the nine leapers, thankless persons. They are so much for receiving, that they never mind what they have received. He deals with God, as a dog doth with his master, who as Austine observes, devoureth by and by whatever he can catch, and gapeth continually for more. Nor hath covetousness any thing so proper to it, as to be ingrateful. A greedy man is never but shamefully unthankful; for unless he have all, he hath nothing. He must have his will, or God shall not have a good look from him; yea, as the Mill, if it go empty, makes an unpleasant and odious noise, so the covetous man, if the Lord does not satisfie his desires in every thing, he will most wickedly murmur and blaspheme his providence; and if ever he sustaines losse, he will never forget it. He writes benefits received in water, but what he accounts injuries in marble. And for this his great ingratitude, God gives him riches, but withdraws his blessing. For as Iacob gave Ruben a blessing, but added, thou shalt not be excellent, Gen. 49.4. so God gives the worldling riches, but sayes, thou shalt not be satisfied. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver, Eccl. 5.10. Yea no man more unsatisfied; for let him have what his heart can wish, he is not yet pleased, like the Israelites, who murmurod asmuch when they had Mannah, as when they had none.
Secondly, the merciless Miser, never sued or sought to God for his riches; neither does he acknowledge them as sent of God, but ascribes the increase of his means to his wit and industry. Nay he dares not pray the Lords prayer, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, lest he call for a curse upon himself. Nay if he be (as probably he is) an Vsuerer, then in respect of other men, he hath no need to pray at all, for as one observes,
Each man to heaven his hands for blessing reares;
OnelyOnly the Vs'rer needs not say his prayers.
Blow the winde East or West, plenty or dearth,
Sickness or health, sit on the face of earth,
He cares not, time will bring his money in,
Each day augments his treasure, and his sin.
Or admit he ever calls upon God, his prayer is that some one may dye, that he may have his office, or break his day, that the beloved forfeiture may be obtained. His morning exercise being onelyonly to peruse his bonds, look over his baggs, and to worship them, as Marcus Cato worshipped his grounds, desiring them to bring forth in abundance, and to keep his Cattel safe.
And as touching hereafter, if he shall finde in his heart to pray, God will not hear him, Prov. 1. The sacrifice of the wicked, is an abomination to the Lord, Prov. 21.27. What hope hath the hypocrite saith Job, when he hath heaped up riches; will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Job 27.8, 9. When you shall stretch out your hands, saith God to such, I will hide mine eyes from you, and though you make many prayers, I will not hear, Isa. 1.15. God will turn him off to his gold and silver for help, as he did Iehoram to the Prophets of his Father, and the Prophets of his Mother, 2 Kings 3.13. And it is but just and equal, that those which we have made the comfort and stay of our peace, should be the relief and comfort of our extremity. If our prosperity hath made the world our God: how worthily shall our death-bed be choaked with such an exprobration?
If God do answer such an ones prayers, it is as Archelaus answered the request of a covetous Courtier, who being importuned by him for a cup of gold, wherein he drank; gave it unto Euripides that stood by, saying Thou art worthy to ask and be denied, but Euripides is worthy of gifts, although he ask not. And indeed good men many times receive gifts from God, that they never dreamt o…, nor durst presume to begg, which others extreamly strive after and go without. As it is feigned of Pan, that it was his good hap to finde out Ceres, as he was hunting, little thinking of it, which none of the other gods could do, though they did nothing else but seek her, and that most industriously.
Now, if he neither prayes to God for what he would have, nor gives him thanks for what he gives, nor desires a blessing upon what he receives, viz. that he may be content, and satisfied therewith, How should God bestow this great blessing of contentation upon him, and a true use of his riches?
Thirdly, he cares not for grace but for gold, therefore God gives him gold without grace. He longs not after righteousness, but riches, therefore he shall neither be satisfied nor blessed; whereas both are their portion that thirst after the former, Mat. 5.6. He desires riches without Gods blessing, he shall have it with a curse; he loves gold more then God, and desires it rather then his blessing upon it or grace, therefore he shall have it and want the other. Whereas if he did first seek the kingdom of heaven, all things else should be added thereunto, Mat. 6.33. But this worldlings appetite stands not towards the things of a better life; he findes no tast in heavens treasure; let him but glut himself on the filthy garbage of ill-gotten goods, he cares not for Manna. He sings the song of Curio, vincat utilitas, let gain prevail, he had rather be a sinner then a begger. The Apostle Saint Peter said, silver and gold have I none, Act. ….6. The devil says, all these are mine, Luk. 4.6. The Rich man, I have much goods laid up for many years, Luk. 12.19. Now ask the covetous muck worm, whether had you rather lack with those Saints, or abound with the devil and the rich man? his heart will answer, give me money, which will do any thing, all things, Eccles. 10.19.
Now if he prefers gold, before either God, grace, or glory, no marvail if God grant him his desires to his hurt, as he did a King and Quailes to the Israelites.