A Christian Library, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THirdly, there are abundance of men that God doth not onelyonly withdraw his blessing from them, but sends his curse with the riches he bestowes.
As suppose a man growes never so rich by indirect meanes, as some care not how, but what and how much they get; for to get one scruple of gold, they will make no scruple of conscience; they care not to make many poor to make themselves rich: for they have consciences like a barn door, as loving money better than themselves: yea, they care not, so they may get silver, if they loose their souls. Now God not seldom suffers such to grow very rich, but together with their riches, they have the curse of God, whereby they become the worse, and not the better, for them.
There is an evill sickness, saies Solomon, that I have seen under the sun, to wit, riches reserved to the owners thereof for their hurt, Eccles. 5.13. To which accords that of the Prophet Malachy, If ye will not hear it, nor consider it in your heart, to give glory to my names saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not consider it in your hearts, Mal. ….2. Their riches are seeming benefits, very curses, even gifts given in wrath, as a King unto Isra…l. I give them a King in my wrath, saith the Lord, Hosea 13.11. And so of their Qu…iles, He gave them their desire, but be sent l…nnesse into their soules, Psal. 106.15. They did … and were well filled, yet turned obey not from their lusts; but the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, even the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with an exceeding great plague, Numb. 11.23. Psal. 78.29, 30, 31. And in another place, Let their table be a snare unto them, and their prosperity their ruine, Psal. 69.22. They had better have had no meat, then such sauce withall.
The covetous Cormorant, and unthankful wretch, deales with God, as a dog does with his master, who devoureth by and by whatever he can catch, and gopeth continually after more: and it were a marvel, that God should answer him with such abundance, and as it were, be still pouring water into that vessel which already runs over, considering his monstrous unthankfulness; were it not to rot the hoops and chines, that so the whole cask may break in pieces, were there not poyson mixt with it, I mean Gods secret curse, as I shall suddenly shew.
We well know, that a Ship may be so laden, as that her very freight may …e the cause of her sinking. Demonica having betrayed Ephesus (where all her friends and kindred were) to Brennus of Senona for the love of gain; was brought to a great heap of gold, and loaded so heavy therewith, that she dyed under the burthen. Tarpeia for the desire she had of all the gold bracelets which the Sabines wore about their left armes, when they went to besiege Room, sold the Fort or Castle of the City (wherein there was a great Garrison, of which her Father Tarpeius was Captain) to the Sabines; and asking for reward of her treason, Fatius the Sabines General, according to his promise, when she had opened them a gate in the night and let them in, commanded his whole Army to do as he did, who taking the bracelet which himself wore on his left arm, and his target, did hang them about her neck, and so all the rest, untill she being bowed down to the ground with the weight of them, was pressed to death under the burthen. And much after this manner does God deal with unmerciful misers, and all wicked and ungrateful men. As see the sad condition of a man, to whom God gives riches in wrath; it is so well worth your knowledge and observation, that David was very inquisitive with the Lord about it, Psal. 73.3. to 13. and likewise the Prophet Ieremy, chap. 12. Righteous art thou, O Lord, whe… I speak with thee, yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements, wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken r…, they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; thou art neer in their mouth, and far from their reines, ver. 1, 2, 3. Yea, it is admirable to consider, how the tabernacles of robbers do prosper, how secure they are that provoke God, and how abundantly God giveth into their hands, Job 12.6. They increase in riches, wax fat and sbine, Jerem. 5.28. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men; their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish, yea, there are no hands in their death, Psalm 73. and many the like places: But hear all, and ye will never envy their prosperity, neither will your teeth water after their dainties: as what is ever the conclusion? their felicity and happiness is no sooner mentioned, but it followes: And thou diddest set them in slippery places, thou castedst them down into destruction, they are brought into desolation, in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrours, Psalm 73.18. to the 21. verse. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter, Ierem. 12.3. They spend their dayes in wealth, and in a moment they go down into hell. Job 21.13. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God, Psal. 55.19. But no greater judgement, then thus to be free from judgements. Ephraim is joyned to Idols, let him alone, saith God, Hosea 4.17. And the like: I will not visit your daughters when they are harlots, nor your spouses when they are whores, ver. 14. and hereupon all they do is well.
But think it not an argument of Gods favour or dispensation, that thou and thousands more do prosper in their wickedness, that some eminent judgement is not executed speedily upon them, while they are contriving their deep and divelish plots: For though prosperous wickednesse is one of the devils strongest chaines, yet there cannot be a greater unhappiness, an heavier curse, than to prosper in ill designs and ungracious courses. Such a mans preservation is but a reservation, as it fared with Sodom and her sisters, which were preserved from the slaughter of the four Kings, that God might rain down hell from heaven upon them. And Sennacherib, who escaped the stroak of the destroying Angell, that he might fall by the sword of his own Sons, Isai. 37.37, 38.
Wicked men are not wise enough to cosinder, that usually God doth most afflict those whom he best affecteth; dealing with his children, as the good husband deales with his trees, those in the garden he is ever and anon medling with them, either lopping off the superfluous branches, or scraping off the moss, or paring of the root, or digging and dunging about them, so using all good meanes to make them fruitfull; whereas he lets them alone which grow in the hedge-row or forrest, till at the length he comes with his Axe and cuts them down for the fire. Fatted ware, you know, is but fitted for the shambles. God puts money indeed into these earthen boxes, that have onelyonly one chink to let in, but none to let out, with purpose to break them when they are full. What was Haman the better for all he had, when the King frowned upon him? or the happier for being lift up the ladder, when he was to come down again with a rope? And for ought thou knowest, this very night thou mayest loose both thy gold, thy life, and thy soul too. And therefore what ever thou makest choise of, let me rather beg with innocent Lazarus, then abound with unjust Ahab, or unmerciful Dives, so shall my turn be soon over, whilst theirs is to come and continue everlastingly.
But my purpose is not so much to shew you, what will be the end of unmerciful and ungrateful men, as how their riches proves a curse to them here. That they had better be without their wealth, than that God should give it them upon such termes as he does, I shall demonstrate in these▪ on particulars. I pray mind them.