A Christian Library, Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX.
I Might mention many great lets and impediments, as Ignorance, Infidelity, Pride, Intemperance, self-love, hard heartedness, and other the like, do much hinder mens bounty and liberality to the poor, as may partly appear by what I have already delivered; but nothing like Covetousness; yea name but Covetousnese, and that includes all the rest. Covetousness is the Grave of all good, it makes the heart barren of all good inclinations; and it is a bad ground where no flower will grow.
It cannot be denyed, but enough hath been said in this and the Poors Advocate, to perswade any rational man, not onelyonly that there is a necessity of this duty, but sufficient to enflame him with a desire of performing it, according to the utmost of his ability: But so it is, that the Covetous Miser is so far from being prevailed withall, that he will not come so near the same, as to give it the hearing.
Or suppose such an one should be so ingenuous as to hear it, there is no hope of prevailing with him: As what think you, when that rich man, Mark 10 17. &c. who ran after Christ, kneeled down to him, and was so inquisitive to know how he might attain eternal life; yea, who had from his youth squared his life according to Gods Law, insomuch that Christ loved him; Yet when he was admonished by our Saviour to sell all and give to the poor, and he should have Treasure in Heaven, he turned his back upon Christ, and went away very sorrowful, because he was marvellous rich. He had a good mind to Heaven in reversion; but for all that, he would not part with his Heaven, whereof he had present possession: Whence our Saviour so bewails the miserable condition and difficulty of such mens being saved, v. 17. to 26. And the Apostle the like, Eph. 5.5. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. For if he that had so good affections, made conscience of all his wayes, was so desirous to be saved, that Christ was taken with him; What hope of this Wretch that hath a blockish, seared, and senseless Conscience, that is past feeling, and never made scruple of any thing from his infancy? No, these solid Arguments, and strong inducements from Gods Word, wil be so far from prevailing with him, that it is rare if he do not slight and scorn what hath been spoken. The covetous man knows no other God then his belly, and desires no other Heaven then his Coffers full of Angels.
Thirdly and lastly, admit the best that can be expected, viz. that he shall not only lend a listening ear to all that hath been said, but that it does also convince, and almost perswade him to become liberal; As I dare appeal to their own consciences that have hitherto heard what hath been alledged out of God's Word, whether it hath not made their hearts burn within them; whether they have not been convinced, and with Agrippa, almost perswaded to become merciful, Acts 26.28. Whether with Pharoah, their spirits have not began to thaw a little, Go, do sacrifice to your God in this Land; yea in their judgements yeilded to all that hath been demanded them, and been ready to pray some Moses to pray for them: And yet harden and knit again, whereby all labour (like Moses Message, or the sweet words of Paul) it utterly lost. The covetous man, though he be convinced in his conscience, and doth resolve to be bountiful, yet no hope of his doing it; for his goodness is as a morning Cloud, and as a morning dew; it goeth away as the Lord once spake to Ephraim and Iudah, Hos 6.4.
Good thoughts to carnal & covetous hearts, are only as Passengers, not Inhabitants; they may make it a thorough-fare, but they can never settle or remain there: If at any time they melt with Pharoah, they suddenly knit again. Nor is there any heart made of flesh, that wil not at some time or other relent. Even Flint and Marble wil in some weather stand in drops. It is not onelyonly recorded of Pharoah, that he did thus melt, and of Agrippa, that he was almost perswaded to become good; but the holy Ghost further testifies, that Esau wept; Ahab put on Sackcloth, that Iudas repented, and restored; that Foelix trembled; that Pilate took Christs part, and washt his hands in witness that he was free from the blood of that just man; that Balaam wisht to dye the death of the righteous; that Herod delighted in Iohns Ministry: And yet we see that all came to nothing.