Englands Unthankfulness Striving with Gods Goodness, Division 2 · Letter
Thus the second Division being ended, and yet much roome left: that each part may be severall; I take leave to fill up the sheet with the Copy of a Letter, … to a Factor in Forrayne parts: who ill discharged the trust, and confidence of his deserving Master.
Kind Sir,
WEre there no other ground of my writing, this were enough. I have a publique spirit, and love to doe good offices; though I should purchase ill will for my paines. But the lively resemblance of my selfe, which I once saw in you, your making choyce (as I supposed) of those true … ches, that being once had, can never be lost. And your offering to my view those liues of a rare Author (which did not a little pleasure me) propounde themselves to me, as a great ingagement. Besides my love too and hopes of you formerly were not greater, then is now my feare. And possible it is, I may prove another Pho…ion unto you, who when a friend of his would have cast himselfe away, suffered him not saying: I was made thy friend to this purpose. So you have my Apology; or if you shall further aske why I take this paines? … to Levit. 19. 17. Heb. 3. 13. and you have there both my answer and warrant.
You cannot think much, that Mr. N. should acquaint me (of all others) with what Monies you have long ought him; and how little conscience you make of paying thereof.
But that you should so use so good a Master; to whom also you were once bound by Oath (if you remember) moves wonder in me to astonishment.
To doe unto others, as you would have others doe unto you, is a point agreed upon by all, even infi…els that expect not another life; nor once dreame that they have immortall soules. And I need not aske any more, then that you would aske your owne conscience, whether you would be so dealt withall? But here what I shall speak to you from the mouth of God.
I …rant the case is common with …, who believe not that there is a God, a Heaven, a Hell, a day of judgement: not that every man shall be rewarded according to his deeds, be they good or evill. But that you should manifest your selfe to be such an one, makes me to cry out, O the depth!
Good sir bethinke your selfe, for there is not a more infallible Character of a wicked man, in all the Booke of God. The wicked bo…roweth, but payeth not againe, Psal. 37. 21. As for a good man, he breakes not his promise, though be be dampnified by the performance, Psal. 15. 4. You cannot be ignorant, that with what measure yee meet to others here, God will measure it to you againe he…eafter, Mat. 7. 2. …hat the Law of God, under the penalty of his curse, re…uireth …o restore whatsoever hath beene committed to you in trust, Levit. 6. 2. 3. N…ub. 5. 6. 7. 8. Nor that there is a flying Rowl, a winged curse for him that gets riches by robbery, and oppression: that shall not onelyonly pursue hi… … even enter into his house, and consume it with the timber thereof, and the … thereof, Zach. 5. 3, 4. of which I might heap up instances. As ö the …ultitude of examples of those, that have miserably perished for their false…ood, and perfidiousnesse, in betraying the trust that they have underta…en. And this you may boldly build upon; There is no fruit, but shame …nd death to be gathered from the forbidden Tree, whatsoever Satan may …me to promise.
Nor is it alwaies the lot of those, that care not how they get wealth, to …ecome rich, Eccle. 9. 11. For get men never so much, without Gods blessing; even all their getting of great wages, is but …utting money into a bag with holes, as the Prophet Haggai speakes, Hag. 16. much more, he that getteth riches, and …ot by right, Jer. 17. 11. Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vaine that build it. It is in vaine to rise early, and lye downe late, and eat the …read of carefulnesse, Psal. 127. 1. 2. 'Tis onelyonly the blessing of the Lord, that maketh rich, Prov. 10. 22. Yea, have not you …ound it so: I dare say, reckon from that very hour, wherein you first resolved to cozen (if ever you so resolved) and you will finde, that you never since prospered.
Or in case he that resolves to be evill, making no conscience how he comes by his riches, so he have them; have his hearts desire: his riches prove but the agravations of his sinne, and additions to judgement. For God doth not onelyonly with draw his blessing …om, but even se…d his curse with the riches he bestowes; so that it becomes their bane. He gives is them in wrath, and for their hurt: as he did a King, and Quailes to the Israelites; for which see Hos. 13. 11. Mal. 2. 2. Psal. 69. 22. Eccle. 5. 13 and 8. 11. 12. I pray turn to the places, for I cannot stand to amplify it.
Nor shall he alone … the worse; for God hath threaned to bring plagues upon the Children, and childrens children of such an one; unto the fourth generation, Exod. 20. 5. and more particularly, that they shall be vagabonds, and beg their bread: so that none shall extend mercy, or favour unto them, Psal. 109. 7. to 17. God will make those Children beggers, for whose sakes the Father hath made many beggers.
Nor is this all, in any degree: For there is no end of plagues to the wicked man, Prov. 24. 20. Without paying, or restoring (so far as a man is able) there is no being saved: for as humility is the repentance of pride, abstinence of surfe it, almes of coveteousnesse, love of malice: so onelyonly restitution, is the repentance of injustice. And he that dyes before restitution, dyes in his sin…e; and he that dyes in his sinne, cannot …e saved. And indeed repentance, without restitution; is as if a Theese should take away your purse, aske you pardon, say hee's sorry for it; but keepes it still: in which case you would say, he did bu… mocke you.
Now what shall it profit a man, to gaine the whole world, if he gaine Hell with it; and loose both Heaven, and his owne soule? Mat 16. 26. What is it to flour…h for a time, and perish for ever?
A man would thinke, th… A…han paid deare enough for his goodly Bibilonish ga…ment, the two hundreth … of silver, and his we…ge of gold which he coveted, and tooke away: when Hee, his Sonnes, and Daughte… his Oxen, and Asses; his Sh…ep, and Ten…; and all that he had, were stoned with stones, and burnt with fire: if that was all he suffered, I…sh. 7. …8. to 26. But to be cast into Hell, to lye for ever in a bed of quenchless s…nes; is a far greater punishment. For the soule of all su…ferings, is the su…ferings of the soule; and in reas…, if Dives be torm…ed in endlesse …, for not giving his owne goods to them that needed, Luke 16. 21. 23. Mat, 25. 41. to 43. What shall become o… him, that takes away other mens? If that servant in the Gospel, was bound to an everlasting prison, th… onelyonly challeng…d his owne debt; for that he had not pitty on his fellow, as his M…ster had pitty on him: whether shall they be ca…t, that unjustly vex their Neighbours, quarrell for that which is none of theirs, and lay title to another mans propriety? If he sh… have judgement without mercy, that she…es not mercy, Jam. 2. 13. What shall become of subtraction, and Rapine, Psal. 109. 11. Oh the madnesse of men! that cannot be hired to hold their singer for one minu…e, …n the we…k flame of a farthing Candl…; knowing it so intollerable and yet for tri…les, will plunge themselves body and soule, into those endlesse and everlasting flames of h…ll fire.
If a K…g threatens a … to the Dungi…n, to the R…cke, to the wheele his bones tremble, a terrible p…lsie runs through all his joynts: But let God threaten the unsufferable tortures of burning Toph…th; wee stand unmoved, undaunted. Bu… he not deceived, God is not mocked, Gal. 6. 7. And it is a fearefull thing to fall into the … of the liv…ng God; who is a consuming fi…e, Heb. 12. 2….
True, He that maketh gaine, blesseth himselfe, as the Psalmist speakes, Psal. 10. 3. Yea, if he can, (I mean the cunning M…h. vilian, whom the De…il and coveteousnesse hath blinded) any way advantage himselfe, by anothers ruine; and doe it politickly: how will he h…gge himselfe, and applaud his owne wisdome! Hab. 1. 13. to the end. But by his leave, he mistakes the greatest solly, for the greatest wisdome: For while he cozens other men of their Estates; Sinne and Satan cozens him of his soule, see Ioh 20. 15. 1 Tim. 6. 8. 10. And woofull gaine it is, that comes with the soules losse. And how can we thinke those men to have reasonable soules, that esteem money above themselves! That prefer a little base peife; before God, and their owne salvation.
Nor are their any such fooles, as these crafty knaves: For as Aus…in speakes; If the Holy Ghost terme that ri…h chur…e in the Gospel a fool…, th…t onelyonly laid up-his owne Goods Luke 12. 18, 20. finde out a…me for him that takes away other mens?
These things considered, (viz.) the curse of God here, both upon the pa…y, and his posterity: and the eternall wrath of God hereafter; together with the folly and madnesse of preferring Earth; yea Hell, to Heaven; time to eternity, the body before the s…ule; yea, the out-ward estate, before either soule or body) exempt your selfe out of the number of those fooles, as little Zacheus did: what you owe, pay it; If you have wronged any man of ought, restore it; though you part with a great part of your Estate. Yea, admit you shall leave your selfe a begger, doe it: for (as you see) there is a necessity of it: Yea, there is wisdome, and gaine in it; for when all is done, how to be saved is the best plot: And better it is to cast your evill gotten Goods over-boord, then make shipwrack of Faith, and a good Conscience, read Job. 20. from vers. 5. The Merchant will cast even his …ullayne into the Sea, to save himselfe. And he that is troubled with an aking tooth, finds it the best way to pluck it quite out.
Here I might shew you, both from the Word, and a world of instances that restoring and giving rather then sinning, is the way to grow rich; I meane in pecu…ary riches, see Prov. 11. 24. and 28. 27. Mark. 10 29, 30. Mat. 6. 33. 2 Cor. 9. 6, 9, 10, 11. 2 Chron. 25. 9. and 27. 6. Deut. 7. 13. to 16. and 28. 1. to 14. 2 K…ng. 6. 25. to Chap. 7. vers. 17. Psal. 34. 9. 10. and 37. 26, 28. and 112. 3. and 37. 3, 4, 5. Luke 18. 29, 30. M…rk 4. 24. Hag. 1. 2. Chapters, Mal. 3. 10, 11 12.
But I feare least addition in this case, should bring forth substraction: Yea, if this weary you not, its well; for I may conjecture, that time, and the deceitfulness of riches have wrought in you a change, since we were first acquainted. Wherefore before I go any further, a question would be asked.
Doth coveteousnesse rayne in you? Are you yet bewitcht with the love of money? Is your heart rivited to the Earth? Are you already inslaved to this sin? doe you make Gold your God? and Commodity the ste… of your Conscience. For if so, all labour hitherto is lost; and all that can more be said, will be to no purpose: Yea, it is to no more end to admonish you, then to knock at a deaf mans doore, or a dead mans grave, and that for sundry reasons.
First, Because, as their is no colours so contrary, as white and black. No elements so disagreeing, as fire and water: so there is nothing so opposite to grace, and conversion; as coveteousnesse. And as nothing so alienates a mans love from his vertuous Spouse, as his inordinate affection, to a filthy strumpet: so nothing does so far separate, and diminish a mans love to God, and heavenly things: as our inordinate affection to the World, and earthly things. Yea, there is an absolute contrariety, and impossibility between the love of God, and the love of Money: Ye cannot serve God and Riches, Luke 16. 13. All those that doted upon Purchases, and Farmes, and Oxen; with o…e consent, made light of it, when they were bid to the Lords supper, Luke 14. 16. to 21. The G…derens, that so highly prised their Hogs: would not admit Christ within their borders, Luk. 8. 37. Iudas that was coveteous and loved money, could not love his Master; and therefore sold him. when Demas began to imbrace this present World: he soon forsooke Paul, and his soul saving Sermons, 2 Tim. 4. 10.
If a mans affections be downward, his hope and inheritance cannot be above. And they that expect no life after this, will make as much of this as they can.
Secondly, If a coveteous man doe repent, he must restore what he hath wrongfully gotten, which perhaps may amount to half, or it may be three parts of his Estate at a clap: which to him is as hard, and as harsh an injunction, as that of God to Abraham, Gen. 22. 2. Sacrifice thy Sonne, thine onelyonly Sonne Isaac. Or as that of our Saviours to the young man, Luke 18. 22. Sell all that ever thou hast, and distribute unto the poore: And is there any hope of his yielding No, Coveteousnesse is Idolatrie, Ephe. 5. 5. Col. 3. 5.
And Gold is the coveteous mans God: and will he part with his God, a certainty for an uncertainty? No. A godly man, is content to be poore in outward things, because his purchase is all inward: but nothing except the assurance of heavenly things, can make us willing to part with earthly things. Neither can he contemne this life, that knowes not the other: and so long as he keepes the weapon (evill gotten goods) in his wound, and resolves not to plucke it … by restoring: how is it possible he should ever he cured? Whence it is that we shall sooner hear of an hundreth Malefactors contrition at the Gallows; then of one coveteous Mizers in his bed. To other sins, Satan tempts a man often: but coveteousnesse is a fine, and recovery upon the purchase. Then he is sure of him; as when a Jaylor hath lockt up his Prisoner safe in a Dungion, he may goe play.
Thirdly, Coveteous men, are blinde to all dangers; deafe to all good instructions: they are besotted with the love of money, as Birds are with their hauehave. Yet they resolve against their own conversion: The S…es and …harisees who were co… e…us: shut… …, stopt their eares, and … w… doed their hearts against all our Saviour did, or said. Yea, they … at his preaching. And of all sorts of sinners, that Christ preached unto: he was never scorned nor mockt but by them; when he preached against coveteousness, Luke 16. 14. And well may rich wordlings, scoffe at Christs poor Ministers: when they thinke themselves as much wiser, as they are richer. And commonly, the cunning Politi…ion is wiser then his Pastor; or indeed any of his plaine dealing Neighbours; by five hundreth, if not five thousand pounds.
These things considered, no wonder that our saviour expresly affirmeth, that it is easier for a Camel to goe through the eye of needle, then for a rich man (that is a coveteous rich man) to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, Luk. 18. 25. and the Apostle, That no coveteous man, can looke for any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ, and of God, Ephe. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10.
Secondly, Hence it is, that in all the Word of God, we read not of one that was coveteous, but Hypocrites: as Laban, and Naball, and Iudas, and the rich Foole, and the Pharisees. For though Zacheus (before he met with Christ) knew nothing but to scrape: yet so soone as Christ had changed his heart, all his minde was set upon restoring, and giving, Luke 12. 8. which also was a …, … his curing of him that was sicke of me deal Palsie, M…. 9. 2. to 7 And Christ did some miracles, which none of his Apostles were able to doe, Mat. 17. 16.
And indeed, it is a sinne so damnable, and inconsistent with grace: that of all sinnes, the children of God have cleared themselves from coveteousnesse, when they would approve their integrity before God and Men Thus did S…el, 1 Sam. 12. 3 and Ieremiah, Chap. 15. 10. and Paul, Acts 20. 33. and Ioh, Chap. 31. 24, 28. and Agar, Prov. 30. 8. and David, Psal 4 6, 7. and Solomon, 1 King. 3. 5, 9. and Zacheus, and in fine all that s…ue God, 1 Cor. 7. 30. 31, 32. Their expressions are very remakeable: but I may not stand so repeate them.
We find many acts of deception in the the Saints infirmity in those acts, But coveteousnesse, that idolatrous sinne we find not. Once Noah was drunk with wine, never drunk with the World. Lot was twice incestuous, never coveteous. Peter denyed his Master thrice: it was not the love of the World, but rather the feare of the World that brought him to it: for he had denyed the World, before he denyed his Master. Once David was overcome with the flesh, never with the World. Grace may stand with some transient acts of naughtinesse, but never with coveteousnesse: those were acts, avarice is an habite.
Coveteousnesse is …at idolatrie, which makesit out of measure sinfull, and more hamous then any other sinne, as appeares, Col. 3. 5. Ephe. 5. 5. Ioh. 31. 24, 28. Jer. 17. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 9. 10. Fornication is a soule sinne; but nothing to this: that pollutes the body, but covereousnesse defileth the soule: and the like of other sinnes. Yea, it is such a fordid, and damnable sinne; that it ought not once to be named among Christians, but with detestation, Ephe. 5. 3. Nor ought coveteous persons to be admitted into Christian society, 1 Cor. 5. 11.
Thirdly, From hence it is; that the whole Bible, all the Serons men hear; yea, the checks of their owne consciences, and the motions of Gods spirit, judgements, mercies, and what else can be named, prove altogether ineffectuall. And that their is so small a part of the world, scarce one of an hundreth; that runs not a whoring after this Idoll: and is not in too great a degree coveteous. That from the least, even unto the greatest, every one is given unto coveteousnesse, and to deale salsly, ser. 6. 13. and 8. 10. (For I may speake it with seare and trembling) where shall we find a just Cato, Rom. 13. 7. Where can we meet with a sincere …ngle heatred▪ Nathaniel, in whose spirit there is no …, John 1. 49. where with a Iob, an upright, and just man, Joh 1. 1. Where with a Samuel, that can be acquited by himselfe in private, by others in publique, by God in both, 1 Sam. 12. 3. where with a Paul, that can say I have coveted no mans silver, nor gold, Acts 20. 33. and 24. 16. where with one that does unto all others, as he would have others doe unto him, as our saviour requires, Mat. 7. 12. Where is a Jonathan, 1 Sam. 23. 16. 17. or an Eliezer, Gen. 15. 2. to be heard of, that is not troubled at, but can rejoyce in their welfare by whom themselves are deprived of great honour, and Revenues. O that I could be acquainted with three such men.
And yet justice is the mistresse of all vertues; and the truest triall of a good man. For as the Touch-stone tryes Gold, so Gold tryes men: and there is little or no danger of that soule, which will not bite at a golden hook.
Ministers wonder that their Sermons take no better; That among so many Arrows, none should sit the marke: but God tells us the reason, Ezek. 33. They sit before thee, and hear thy words: but their heart goes after their coveteousnesse, vers. 31. O this golden Devil, this Diana hath a world of worshippers: For how to gaine, is every mans dreame from sun, to sun, so long as they have one foot out of the grave. Yea, it destroyes more soules, then all other sinnes put together, as the Apostles intimates, 1 Tim. 6. 10. But were men so wise, as they thinke themselves: Yea, did they but truly love themselves, and covet to be rich indeed, and not in conceit onelyonly: they would both know and believe, that better is a little with righteousnesse, then great Revenues without equity, Prov. 16. 8. And (to omit all that hath been formerly said) that ill gotten goods, lye upon the conscience, as raw meat upon a sick stomack; which will never let a man be well, untill he h…th cast it up againe by …estitution. That sinne armes a man against himselfe; and our pe…ce ever ends with our innocencie: That guilt occasions the conscience, many a secret wringe; and gives the heart many a sore lash. Or if Satan finds it advantagious, to lull us a sleep for a time: yet when death besiedgeth the body, he will not faile to beleag… the soule: and that then their will be more ease in a nest of Hornets, then under the sting of such a tormenting conscience. And certainly, did you know what a good conscience, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding is; you would thinke it more worth, then all the worlds wealth, multiplied as many times, as there bee sands on the sea shore▪ that any thing, that every thing were too small a price for it. That things themselves, are in the invisible world: in the world visible, but their shadowes onelyonly. And that whatsoever wicked men injoy, it is but as in a dreame: that their plenty is but like a drop of pleasure; before a river of sorrow, and displeasure: and whatsoever the godly feel, but as a drop of misery, before a river of mercy and glory. And lastly, That shallow honesty wil prove more profitable in the end, then the profound quicksands of craft and pollicy.
Wherefore let your conversation be without coveteousnesse, and be con ent with that you have (I mean remaining, after you have faithfully, and impartially given to every man his owne.) For God hath promised, never to leave or forsake you, if you will relye upon him, in the use of lawfull meanes only, Heb. 13. 5. And (with which I will conclude) bethinke your selfe now I beseech you, rather then when it will be too l…e; when the Draw-bridge is taken up, and when it will vex every veine of your heart; that you had no more care of your soule.