A CAVEAT AGAINST Covetousness OCCASIONED By some scandalous and pernicious Fruit of it in one amongst us whose heart went after it Written for Admonition to others BY CHARLES PHELPES 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of Money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows Joh. 8. 7. He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her LONDON Printed in the Year 1668. TO THE READER In General And especially to such as have heard the Father and been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus and know that he is indeed the Christ the Savior of the World THe ensuing Treatise was at first intended onely for mine own private use and the helpfulness of such as by the providence of God are committed to me to bring up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and though I was urged by the perswasion of some to make it publique yet it prevailed not with me considering mine own great weakness and unmeetness and that another had intended if God preserved him and gave opportunity to have a blow at this root of all evil to wit Covetousness who was more abundantly sitted of God and prepared to every good word and work and faithful in the Lord But now I consented and was willing to do that which formerly I knew not how to think of The Reasons which swayed me at last hereto were 1. And principally because the Person before referred to who in the latter end of the Preface to his Treatise Entituled Fornication condemned signified his intention to discover the sinfulness of this Sin I mean my dearest Brother and most faithful Helper in the Lord Thomas Moor Junior was removed and taken from the earth and died in the Lord before he had accomplished or begun to accomplish what as to this particular was upon his heart His dayes are past his purposes broken off even the thoughts of his heart as Job 17. 11. he rests from his labours and his works follow him and shall be remembred and recompensed in the resurrection of the Just For the iniquity of our Covetousness God was wroth and smote us in taking away that merciful man that man of kindness and godliness from amongst us See and compare Isaiah 57. 1. with Verse 17. To him to live was Christ and to die gain and it is far better with him that he is departed and is with Christ than to have continued longer in the flesh nevertheless to have abidden in the flesh had been more needful for us that our rejoycing might have been more abundant in Christ Jesus and this mercy we might have enjoyed had our Conversation been as becometh the Gospel of Christ as Phil. 1. 21-27 He might have been restored to us again had our Conversation been without Covetousness See Heb. 13. 5. 19. Our wayes and our doings have procured this severe testimony of displeasure to our selves this is our wickedness because it is bitter it reacheth even to the very heart My bowels my bowels I am pained at my very heart my heart maketh a noise in me I cannot hold my peace because thou hast heard O my Soul in this stroke the sound of the Trumpet the Alarm of War Compare Jer. 4. 18-21 with Chapter 6. 13-15 Wo unto us that we have sinned that though we have sitten before God as his people and heard his words yea have been hearers made a trade of it and this his servant hath been unto us as a very lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice and could play well on an Instrument for we heard his words yet have not done them our heart hath not been estranged from its lust but hath gone after its Covetousness and therefore God hath begun to make us desolate and to know by his deprivation that a Prophet hath been amongst us Ezek. 33. 29-33 He is now taken from the evil and there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where he is and whither we are going He hath no more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun nor shall he return to perfect any thing left undone Now then that I might execute the Will of the Deceased though most unworthy I have done what I have done 2. Upon the former account and in concurrence with him that is now removed I have committed this to publick view because I judge that the evil herein warned of is not onely very hurtful and pernicious in it self and provoking to the eyes of Gods glory as I have endeavored to demonstrate but also as I fear very much enclined to and entertained not onely by such as have a form of godliness upon them and deny the power thereof but by such also as have known and believed the love that God hath manifested to us in sending his Son to be the Savior of the World Oh that their hearts were not too generally inclined to it yea that this spot which is not the spot of Gods children were not in its fruits so easily discernable upon them that it may be found without secret search so as that they teach the wicked ones their ways and strengthen the hands of evil doers I have a little observed of late and seen somewhat of it if I be not deceived Oh that I may be mistaken in it some grievous and sadning evidences of it in Gods pleasant plant not only in the great miscarriages of one which occasioned the considering this place of Scripture but in others also in some leading them in stead of taking wrong and suffering themselves to be defrauded to do wrong and defraud and that their brethren and others also and that before the unbelievers even in their view and presence causing them to open their mouthes wide against the Name of God and his Doctrine and stumbling and offending the weak 1 Cor. 6. 1-9 In others hindring them from such a promoting the things of Christ and endeavoring the good of their brethren in their word as their hearts have been set for and inclined unto because their expectations have not been answered in the conveniences and accommodations of the things of this present world In others in shutting up the bowels of their compassions when opened and not remembring to shew mercy but even adding sorrow to sorrow and increasing affliction to the afflicted Psal 109. 16. Job 6. 14-27 and 24. 21. In others intangling them so with the affairs of this life that they cannot wait upon the Lord with his people without distraction and so not please him who hath chosen them to be soldiers 2 Tim. 2. 3 4. I might add more and have spoken more particularly but that I love not on this subject to speak so openly Oh tell it
they turn not at his reproofs he will still and further smite with his hand or order great testimonies of displeasure and that in laying afflictions upon men yea and upon nations for being given to and serving this iniquity and still it is more provoking in his peculiar people his pleasant plant that they should defile themselves herewith hence believers are admonished with such an one as is called a brother and is covetous not to eat and yet they might eat with a covetous one of this world 1 Cor. 5. 10 11. on such still his wrath comes in laying afflictions upon their loyns and even withdrawing or withholding his manifested nighness and the light of his countenance from them and so ordering still and further to them wrath with their sickness Eccl. 5. 17. and so he hides him and is wroth and this is a great aggravation of mens afflictions of theirs especially who know how satisfying and reviving the light of his countenance is Isa 57. 17. Psal 10. 1. Yea by continuing herein he may be provok't to order and send furious rebukes upon those nations on whom his name is called such as sword famine pestilence c. so the Prophet saith I am full of the fury of the Lord I am weary with holding it in I will poure it upon the children abroad c. and their houses shall be turned to others with their fields c. For I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land saith the Lord Why so for from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness Jer. 6. 11-13 c. and 8. 10-13 He would recompense their way upon their heads in those judgements As they had been keeping all for themselves so he would give it all into the hand of their enemies and as they had not served the Lord in the abundance of all things so now they should serve their enemies in the want of all things Deut. 28. 47 48. Yea for this and the direct fruits of it he permits and orders them to be oppressed by those that are over them Mica 2. 1-4 and 3. 1-4 Yea for this he may be provok't and will take away his Prophets righteous and merciful ones and turn the songs of the Temple into howlings send a famine even of hearing the words of the Lord and though men fast and pray not hear but cover himself with a cloud that their prayer should not pass through Isa 57. 1 17. with c. 58. 3 4. c. and 59. 1 2 3. Ezek. 33. 31-33 Amos. 8 3-12 Mica 2. 1 2-6 and therein write mens sin upon their punishment that as they have not dealt their bread to the hungry nor given drink to the thirsty so he will withhold the bread of life from them the fair Virgins yong men shall faint for thirst Am. 8. 11-13 Yea in following after this he may permit some to fall into such fruits of it as to be cut off untimely and be punished by the Judges and dye shameful deaths in the open sight of others for their admonition Josh 7. 21-25 and yet be so punished in this world as to have all their punishment here that they may not be condemned hereafter Yea his wrath may so come upon men for persisting herein against the light and admonitions of his grace as to give them up to a reprobate mind to do those things that are not convenient because they have been filled with all unrighteousness covetousness Rom. 1. 28 29. to worship the beast who opens his mouth in blasphemies against God Rev. 13. 8. to finish iniquity and so fall into desperation Act. 1. 18. And however the day of the Lord shall come on all them that dwell on the earth as a snare eitheir in particularly taking them away by death as it did upon this man who assured himself of much rest happiness and that he was laid in many years thou fool saith God this night shall thy soul be taken from thee Luk. 12. 20-21 or however generally when God shall send us Jesus again to destroy them that destroy the Earth then the inhabiters of the Earth shall be taken in the snare and they shall not escape Isa 24. 17 18. Luk. 21. 34 35. 1 Thes 5. 3. 3. And further and for ever the wrath of God shall come and cometh upon such as abide herein and are not washed in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God no covetous man who is an idolater â—ath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Eph. 5. 5. no such an one as such and unless his name be changed in Heaven shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6. 10. But they drink of the wrath of God which will be poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and of the Lamb Rev. 14. 6-11 they are now numbred with and reckon'd amongst Idolaters Adulterers effeminate c. yea covetousness is the root of these as is in part shewn and they shall have their portion with them in Hell fire where their worm dyeth not and their fire is not quenched Oh that we may not deceive our selves but know that now God abhorres the covetous Psal 10. 3. and will hereafter in flaming fire take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus now consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Having thus according to my weakness spoken to the instruction I shall adde somewhat by way of usefulness And so 1 From what hath been said in shewing the evil and deceitfull nature and bitter fruit of this iniquity I have in some measure been made sensible of my need of crying to God with the Prophet who after he had said O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shall perish and they that depart from me shall be written in the Earth where their hearts have been because they have forsaken the Lord the Fountaine of living waters adds Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed c. Jer. 17. 13 14. it may seem he was made sensible of his own miscarriage and that he needed Gods mercy in forgiving and cleansing him or otherwise he might have been reputed guilty of the like transgression which procures such wrath or as the Prophet David when he had been imprecating and prophesying that such should be ashamed which transgress without cause cryes out to God Remember O Lord thy tender mercies c. remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions but according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake Psal 25 3-7 as signifying that if God had markt iniquities against him he could not stand as justified before him so may I say also For thy names sake pardon mine iniquity of this nature
judge the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. inherit the earth Psal 37. 9-11 have power over the nations and rule them with a rod of iron Rev. 2. 26 27. and then compleatly bear the Image of the Heavenly in their bodies which shall be fashioned into the likeness of his glorious body In their spirits injoying the harvest of all blessing of which they have now but a first fruits In that dominion and rule that shall be given them when he shall make new heavens and a new earth 1 Cor. 15. 49. in being Christ's they are Abraham's seed and heires according to promise and so heyres of the world to come Rom. 4. 13. Heb. 2. 5. and shall injoy the heavenly Canaan which was given to Abraham and his seed by an everlasting covenant the which he hath not yet possessed God gave him none inheritance in it no not so much as to set his foot on yet he promised he would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him Act. 7 5. and faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it This everlasting covenant being confirmed by the blood of Jesus who is brought again from the dead and alive for evermore being the great shepherd of the sheep and Mediator of the new Testament that the called may recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 14. and 13. 20. and blessed is he that believeth for there shall be a performance of the things that are spoken Christ himself as raised from the dead being the foundation and ground of it and he as given to us in the Gospel and by faith received is that in which God makes with us and gives us assureance of the everlasting covenant Isa 55. 3. with Act. 13. â—4 Now this blessed hope which is declared to us in the word of the truth of the Gospel is very powerful as viewed in the Cross of Christ to deliver us from this present evil world we are saved by hope from our sins and so from loving and lusting after this World Hence frequently the Holy Ghost sets this before us to take off our hearts from the things here below and that we might be without carefulness and covetousness Thus our Savior in this Luk. 12. takes occasion from the miscarriages of this man who desired him to speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him to warn his disciples of taking thought for their life what they shall eat c. And to seal home that admonition saith Feare not little flock For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom therefore sell that you have and give almes c. Luk. 12. 22-32-35 so the Apostle saith When Christ our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Mortifie therefore your members that are upon the earth covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 4 5. He that hath his hope in Christ that when he shall appear we shall be like him c. purifieth himself as he is pure As Christ is pure in his work washing and cleansing from desires of being now manifested and from minding and affecting the things of the world so such an one purifieth himself daily and continually he goes on so to do 1 Joh. 3. 1-3 how forcible was this blessed hope with the holy men in former times to redeem them from the earth they saw the promises afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them kissed and closed with them as very desireable and lovely and as the effect and consequent thereof confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth c. Heb. 11. 13. 16. And by faith Moses preferred the reproach of Christ before the treasures of Egypt and refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter For he had respect to the recompence of reward Heb. 11 24-26 and if this had such efficacy on them when they saw the promises afar off would it not now rather crucifie us to the world and the World to us were we looking to those things not seen considering that the promise God made to the Fathers he hath fulfilled in that he hath raised Christ from the dead in whom all the promises of God are yea amen Act. 13. 32 33. 2 Cor. 1. 20. would it not make us willing to go forth unto him without the camp bearing his reproach For we have here no continuing City but have good reason to seek one to come Heb. 13. 13 14. Yea and especially now the grace of God doth instruct and move us to have our conversation without covetousness For the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet 4. 7. the time is short it remaineth that both they that have wives be as if they bad none as with respect to covetousness and carefulness in laying up for themselves and theirs here on earth and they that weep for any loss deprivation or disappointment in God's providences ordered to them as though they wept not and they that rejoyce for any gain advantage or increase as though they rejoyced not and they that buy that they may have some visible maintenance secured to them as though they possessed not c. For the fashion of this world passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29-32 Wherefore gird we up the loynes of our mind from wandring in our desires after the things on the earth or setting our hearts upon them be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry now the just shall live by faith 1 Pet. 1. 13. Heb. 10. 37. 38 2 Per. 3. 11-14 2. And that we may take heed and beware of covetousness consider the terror of the Lord against those that continue therein as declared in the Gospel The Lord will be terrible unto them such as such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God let no man deceive us with vain words for because of this the wrath of God cometh continually upon the children of disobedience to the glorious Gospel which comes to redeem and deliver from the earth and from having fellowship with men in this unfruitful work 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. Eph. 5. 5-7 Col. 3. 5 6. The day of the Lord will come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Luk. 21. 34 35. The Lord will be very terrible to such in that day of wrath in that day shall a man cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold which they made each one for himself to worship to the Moles and to the Batts to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the ragged rocks for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth Isa 2. 16. 21. Oh let us not by following lying vanities forsake our own mercies what will it profit a man to gain the whole
and there may be no recompensing of it by those to whom it is given but after many days they shall find it that do it for Christ's sake even now as is good and when evils are upon the earth Eccl. 11. 1 2. But however in the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. But alas covetousness had rather have some good security here than Gods word it thinkes he is unfaithful or unable and hence the end of his desire whose heart goes after it is to lay up treasures for themselves and theirs here that they may be rich towards themselves so as they may not need by a daily exercise of faith to go out of themselves to seek their daily bread of God Thus the Prophet declares the end of this evil covetousness Heb. 2. 9. We to him that coveteth an evil covetousness that he may set his nest on high that he may be delivered from the power of evil This is his end that he may set his nest on high either that they may be lifted up in station and condition above the common sort of men and have respect and reverence given unto them that men may bow the knee before them Isa 24. 21. And thus usually they are lifted up when riches increase even to the disdaining and despising those that have not what they have and hiding themselves from their own flesh as to doing them good and as persons ashamed to have any familiarity with them unless it may tend to the promoting their design and vexed and discontented if they have not such honour and reverence given to them as they look for Esther 3. 1-6 and 5. 9. 14. 2. Or also and rather by setting the nest on high may be meant a being advanced in order to their living and faring deliciously and injoying security and so they would set their nest on high to this further end that they might be delivered from the power of evil Jer. 22. 23. and 49. 16. Obad. 4. That they may be delivered from all evil and afflictions that is that they may be delivered in times of famine the rich mans wealth is his strong Tower He thinkes he shall be provided for whosoever wants He hath goods laid up for many yeares And so when God is ordering sicknesses and diseases he thinks to secure himself either by removing his habitation and changing the air which he may do that he may escape the infection and disease and if it be upon him yet he hath wherewith he may furnish himself with the best and most skilful Physicians and so may meet with recovery again Or if wars arise and God send the sword to the place where he lives he can remove his dwelling into another place or country or if he fall into the danger his riches will be a ransom for him his gift will make room for him Or if thorow following his covetousness he commit such an iniquity of shedding of blood Adultery c. as deserves to be punished by the Judges yet his greatness is such that he is above the lash of the Law or can easily by his bribes pervert judgment and blind the eyes of the wise that they shall not find him guilty To this end he coveteth greedily that he may be delivered from the power of evil Hence the admonition when God's judgments were threatned to be executed upon his people let not the rich man trust in his riches Jer. 9. 17-23 The rich mans wealth is his high Tower and a strong wall in his own conceit Pro. 18. 10 11. This is covetousness as to it 's principle nature and end 2. What is contained in the admonition Take heed and beware of Covetousness 1. This is contained or however supposed in order thereto see view and consider what it is and the evil and bitter nature and fruit of it that so we may further beware of it for how shall we beware of that we are ignorant of that the Soul be without knowledge it is not good safe or profitable hence as our Savior when he admonisheth his disciples to beware of false prophets in order thereto he gives them this rule to know them by by their fruits ye shall know them namely by the fruit of their lips their doctrines and by the fruit and effect of those doctrines in which they might perceive they tend to corrupt from the simplicity in Christ Math. 7. 15. 16. Implying they could not beware of them unless they knew them so may we say in this case we shall not flee from this dangerous evil unless in some measure we see and perceive what and of what nature it is like that Jer. 2. 19. Know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing c. And that we may see it so as to avoid it let us not lean to our own understanding Pro. 3. 5. Or consult with the principles and spirit of this world or the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie and will more transform us into this iniquity of which they are so guilty But that we may see and take heed of it let us take beed according to Gods word Psal 119. 9. The commandment is a lamp and the Law light c. To discover to us and preserve us from what is evil Pro. 6. 23. 24. Such is the deceitfulness of our wisdom that it will colour over this iniquity as if it were our duty to follow it perswading us it is a wise and circumspect care and looking after the main and that we are worse than insidels if we lay not up for our selves treasures here on earth But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light c. This gives a faithful and impartial discovery of it in the cross of Christ and there shews the vileness of it and abominableness of inclining the heart thereto after the grace of God hath been bringing salvation to us that we might in his thus rouzing of us awake and stand up from this dead work and whoso looketh into this perfect law of liberty and continueth shall be preserved from it and be blessed in his deed Oh house of Jacob walk ye in the light of the Lord Isa 2. 5. Eph. 5. 12-14 Jam. 1. 23-25 2. There is further contained in this admonition an owning and confessing it's vileness as discovered and a departing from it and not coming near to it a withdrawing from it as from that which is very dangerous and pernitious so much is imported in the admonition And in that he gives it in two expressions he may hereby note the exceeding vileness of it how highly soever men esteem it to the end we might remove far from it Indeed as we have seen 't is needful hereto in the glass of the Gospel to behold and view it but this is not all For he that is an hearer of the word and not a doer hath this great advantage and price put into his hand he beholdeth himself lusts and wayes and not liking the discovery
Lord Christ's and the fulness thereof Psal 24. 1. with 1 Cor. 10. 21-26 All power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Math. 28. 18. Indeed this is not gloriously manifested now as it shall be hereafter but we by faith may know that God hath put all things under his feet Eph. 1. 21 22. All that the Father hath is his Joh. 16. 15. and he as thus furnished hath given us assurance in his promises that in seeking him we shall have of these things what he sees needful and good for us which promises are so ratified and sealed by his blood that there is no reason or room left for us while walking in the light of the Lord to call into question his faithfulness in performing see how the Holy Ghost sets this before us to preserve from covetousness and from the practise of those that exercise themselves thereto Our Savior when he warns his disciples of taking thought for their life or body he gives this instruction and promise to them seek ye first in and unto all things the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things namely what you shall eat what you shall drink and wherewith you shall be cloathed shall be added to you Math. 6. 24-34 so the Apostle saith Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have namely as you have prepared in Christ in whom all things are yours even the world life things present c. 1 Cor. 3. 21-23 and which you have assured to you in his promises and he is giving to you in his way For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper c. Heb. 13. 5 6. Psal 34 8-10 Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy to deliver their soul from death and to keeps them alive in famine Psal 33. 18 19. see also Psal 37. 3 4 19. and 84. 10 11. He hath not promised us meat for our lust or that he will give unto us such accommodations as our naturall spirit is desiring and craving that may be hurtful for us but what ever he sees we need to our seeking him he will not withhold Yea he may bring his people into many straits so that they may be in hunger and thirst in fastings in cold and nakedness for the trial of their faith and that they may learn to live the life they live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us But he will cause all things to work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to purpose Rom. 8. 28-32-37 39. Yea and he that gave his Son in due time to dye for us ungodly ones while without strength will in due time and seasonably be mindful of his covenant in giving meat to them that fear him till they have finished their course Psal 111. 4 5. Oh what powerful arguments are contain'd and what compleat incouragement is given to us in this word of the beginning of Christ to strengthen us to receive this admonition viz To take heed and beware of covetousness 2. That men may take heed and beware of covetousness while called to day is manifest in what Jesus Christ is now doing in his present work and office whereto the Father hath appointed him and that both in what he doth to us from Heaven in the name of the Father and in what he doth for us in Heaven with the Father in both which he is the Savior of all men especially of them that believe And so 1. Jesus Christ who hath made peace for us by his blood and is our peace in whom dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily is appointed and hereby fitted to be and is the great Apostle by whom God hath spoken to us in these last days and by whom he still speaketh in his Testimony by his Spirit to our spirits that we might know the things freely prepared for us and given us in himself that through the knowledge of it we might be redeemed from the Earth he is the great peace-preacher preventing every man in due time with some discoveries of his goodness and especially us amongst whom the Scriptures in the records thereof are preserved He is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and more advantage doth he give to us upon whom his name is called in opening our blind eyes in due time and turning us to God from Idols and so saving us from our sins For to this end hath God appointed him to be the light that he might save us for thus he saith I have given thee for a light of the Gentiles that by this means thou maâ—st be for salvation to the ends of the Earth Act. 13. 47. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly c. Tit. 2. 11 12. it brings salvation to all men in due season not finds it in men beforehand and it is saving not onely it hath such a tendency in it but also there is saving strength accompanying it to strengthen men to receive it in it's appearance and therewith to deny worldly lusts c. Otherwise how glorious soever the things be which Christ hath wrought and obtained into himself for us men cannot take heed and beware of any thing reproved For man is born like a wild Asses colt the way of peace they know not they have no wisdom in them they cannot know those things which belong to their peace for they are spiritually discerned nor can they see the iniquity of covetousness but may think it to be godliness every man by his knowledge is bruitish and thence they have no freedom of will to chuse life and refuse death no affection to or desire after things that are above But God hath put his spirit upon his Son and hath given him for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes c. Isa 42. 1-6 7. and 49. 6-9 and good and upright faithful to him that appointed him is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25. 8. so that when men are walking in the iniquity of their covetousness to the provoking God to wrath and to smite them c. he to recover them therefrom creates the fruits of his lips peace peace to him that is far off Isa 57. 17-19 he makes known his words to the worst of sinners and particularly to those that are greedy of gain and therewith reproving them Pro. 1. 19-23 upon whom doth not his light arise Job 25. 3. The Holy Spirit doth convince the world of sin because they believe not on Christ that is he doth both reprove and fault them and not onely so but convince them and evidence to them that this is their
the way wander out of the way of understanding and so miss the mark he giveth travel to gather and to heap up c. Eccl. 2. 26. 2. And as by man's life may be meant the preservation and continuance of it so it consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth this will not prolong his days upon the Earth Yea on the contrary as the Proverb saith He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days Prov. 28. 16. which of you saith our Savior by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature or age Math. 6. 27. Yea many times such shorten their lives and dye before their time Sometimes more directly as the fruit of their delighting in their abundance in seeking to add to what they have by their labors cares and breaking their rest and sleep and adventuring themselves into danger when an advantage is put into their hands for increasing to themselves and that they make sure their uncertain riches and by many fears occasioned to them they bring themselves to untimely ends and shorten their days such is the way of every one that is greedy of gains which taketh away the life of the owners thereof Prov. 1. 19. and however God is provoked when men harden their hearts against his grace and the reproofs of instruction sometimes to order and permit violent persons to take away their lives and they dye unlamented as it was with Jehâ—iakim Jer. 22. 17-19 or himself to take them away by sickness and wrath with sickness ordered to them Eccl. 5. 17. and their abundance will not remove his hand from off them though they have been trusting in their abundance and pleasing themselves that they can procure such means and Physicians as may recover them yet if he will not withdraw his hand the proud helpers must stâ—â—p 〈◊〉 him behold he taketh away who can hinder him who will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him what doest thou then neither their gold nor their silver shall be able to deliver them he is a God that respecteth not persons nor taketh reward Job 9. 12 13. Deut. 10. 17. Ezek. 7. 19. or he may take them away suddenly and deprive them of opportunity of seeking help any where as it was with this rich man Thou fool this night thy soul shall be taken away from thee he accepts not the persons of Princes nor regards the rich who have abundance in their possession more than the poor for they are all the work of his hands in a moment shall they dye and the people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away and the mighty shall be taken away without hand Job 34. 19 20. Oh that it might be then of this use to us to take heed and beware of covetousness seeing neither the comfort nor continuance of a mans life consisteth in possessing of an abundance and if it be not able to do that which is the least and that which every one proposeth to himself in desiring and laboring for it how then can it do what is greatest if a man's life consists not herein surely much less doth eternal life consist herein Oh then let us not labor for this meat that perisheth but for that which indureth to eternal life which the Son of of man will give unto us for him hath God the Father sealed Let us not seek what we shall eat or what we shall drink neither let us be of doubtful mind For all these things do the nations of the world seek after and our Father knoweth we have need of these things but let us rather seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to us And that we may have our conversation without covetousness and carefulness and cast our cares upon him oh let us feed upon the flesh of Christ as given for the life of the world this will strengthen thereto Remember and consider his infinite love in appointing him by his grace to taste death for every man and the preciousness of his blood in the vertue whereof he is raised and glorified this we shall find powerful to ingage and strengthen us to seek those things above to set our affections on things above not on things on the Earth and so to dispose our way that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever Amen FINIS