heart takes no rest in the night as Eccles 2. 23. and 5. 12. Or rising early and over-working themselves not watching to sobriety thereby the body is so tired and unfitted that either they are asleep or though thier eyes are open yet the heart is asleep it seizes on them like an armed man Threfore the Apostle when he admonisheth the believers not to sleep as do others he adds but let us watch and be sober 1 Thes 5. 6. as implying that if we watch not in the light of the Lord against evil and for good and be not sober in our use of and exercise about things here below we shall be disposed to sleep as do others and deprive our souls of good For he that sleepeth in harvest when an opportunity is put into his hand for gathering for the winter for receiving and laying up knowledge and hearing for now and hereafter such an one is a son that causeth shame Pro. 10. 5. Or 2. if it have not such prevalency over them to the so unfitting the outward man yet while this iniquity is retained and served against the light and instructions of the grace of God it will deprive and bereave the soul of good and that either 1. Thorow their delight in and love to the things of this world the heart is so taken up with this as it's treasure that it is far removed from him and from his word so as it becomes unprofitable to them when any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understands it not considers it not or sets not his heart thereto then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Math. 13. 19. Yea this will so seize upon one when the heart follows it that though the outward man be waking enough yet a man may be so unfitted hereby that he hears nothing or immediately what is heard is let slip as I my self have often perceived and speak as one faulty in this thing so that if he were presently asked what hath been spoken he could not tell and should he go about to answer would cause shame to himself Mark 8. 17. 18. the cares of this world which are the fruit of covetousness do so overcharge the heart so greatly burden it that the man is made altogether unmeet for any thing that is good Luk. 21. 34-36 Or 2. Though men are diligent in hearing and attending at the posts of wisdoms doors yet this affection and lust followed leads to pervert what is right and so to turne our table into a snare as it was with them in Joh. 6. as before is said It so deprives of understanding as to move a man alwayes in hearing to be seeking meat for his lust and so to be wresting what he heares as that he may thorow his own wisdom which is enmity against God's word seek to strengthen himself and make provision for this lust of the flesh Thus it was here in this Luk. 12. While our Savior was admonishing his disciples in the hearing of the multitude of saving their lives and strengthening them against the fear of parting with them and so consequently of parting with every thing for his sake the man as overlooking the scope and end of our Saviors words and onely conceiving that he was a good man vents forth his covetous desire to him there was not the least thing in the instructions and admonitions given to encourage hereto yea they were altogether against covetousness and yet so bruitish will this lust make a man as to turn that which might have been for his welfare into a snare unto him Thus we might see in many things when a man hears the Gospel of Christ faithfully and without hidden things of Dishonesty preached in which is shewn to us the greatness and strength of God's love as manifested in Christ and his loathness that men should perish and how his grace hath abounded where sin abounded this covetousness being inclined to will now lead a man to strengthen himself in his evil way and secretly thus to reason Seeing he is so gracious and so cordial a lover of mankind I shall have peace though I walk after the imagination of mine own heart I may continue in this my sin and God will be merciful to me notwithstanding Hence the Apostle after he had bin shewing how God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us and the freeness and largness of his grace in this gift of grace that it exceeded the offence of the first man c. Rom. 5. He then to shew how that wisdom in us that covetousness in the root would pervert this adds what say we then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6. 1-3 so when a man with the instructions of the grace of God is admonishing of sloathfulness in business and shewing how unsutable it is to the grace of God and those commandments given us by the Lord Jesus and examples set before us for our imitation to be idle and that such as will not worke shall not eat now this covetousness perverting what is right will both lead a man as with respect to himself to be unsober in his exercise about the things here below and to work that he may lay up treasures for himself here on earth and suppose this to be godliness and a vertue because opposite to the former vice though indeed it is another extream of which we are warned Math. 6. 19. Eph. 4. 28. Or else it will lead him as with respect to others to be over quick-sighted and say others are idle and will not work and such should not eat the Apostle hath so commanded and pretendâ—â— this to be their duty to withhold from them when they are serving their covetousness hence the Apostle when he had warned of idleness and commanded with quietness to work and eat their own bread he adds But ye brethren be not weary of well doing as intimating that the flesh would be ready to pervert this and lead a man to withhold more than is meet 2 Thes 3. 10-13 And so when people are low and in straits and come to hear the tidings of the freeness of God's grace in Christ and what this will work in them that receive it with the heart how this will frame them to be giving all the day long to give to him that askes according to our ability c. Oh saith this covetousness this is a blessed doctrine indeed and these are the people we will cleave to and follow with while mean time their heart goeth after their covetousness and they professedly follow Christ for the loaves sake and are seeking meat for their lusts and never consider how this grace comes to save them and in bringing salvation moves and strengthens that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly c. 3. Or else it will cause a man to take offence at the light because of it's
in the light of the glorious Gospel thou mayest see how little reason thou hast to acquit thy selfe yea that thou hast cause enough to say God be merciful to me a sinner 3. To such a boaster I might further say that God might withhold thee from thus sinning and not suffer thee to touch another as Gen. 20. 6. and so it might be not so much thy intigrity as effected by the grace of God received and retained in the midst of thine heart which wrought in thee an hatred and abhorrence of this iniquity thou clearest thy self of as a being forcibly restrained therefrom or prevented by God in his providences when thou hadst had inclination enough thereto in following thy covetousness Thou knowest it may be and art privy to the wickedness of thine heart in often lusting after some one forbidden of God for filthy lucres sake and so hast committed adultery in thy heart though thou hast not actually had such unclean fellowship with such an one it may be with thee in this case as it was with David in another he did purpose and was resolved to have avenged himself but God withheld him and kept him from shedding blood and avenging himself and this he thankfully acknowledges not by clearing himself as having no intention so to do but in confessing his rashness and so giving glory to God 1 Sam. 25. 26-34 Yea or I might say that thou hast been strongly inclined to uncleanness by thy love of money yet other lusts warring in thy members have kept thee from bringing forth this fruit of it As thou mayest â—â— together with being covetous greatly desireous of vain glory and loving the praise of men and afraid of shame or thou mayst have been kept back by fear of punishments and then little reason to boast herein Jam. 4. 1. 4. To such an one I shall onely further adde if this sin have not left the party thus pleading that though thou hast pursued this iniquity of covetousness and hast not been guilty of the filthiness of the flesh hitherto Yet be not high-minded but fear For in following thy covetous inclination thou mayst proceed from evil to evil and at last commit and provoke God to leave thee to the committing that which now thou mayst loath Judas was a thief some time before he indeavour'd to betray his Master And Hazael could say at one time is thy servant a dogg that he should do great thing as one greatly abominating it and thinking it would render him most vile and yet afterwards he did what formerly he seemed so much to loath 2. King 8. 13 14. 1 Sam. 28. 8 9. Thou mayst not yet have been tried with hunger and thirst and want and straits as another or been so strongly tempted to uncleanness in many respects and what these if ordered to thee would occasion while thou art inclined to thy covetousness thou knowest not and therefore though at present thou art not guilty Yea though through the grace of God thou art convinced of the evil and provoking nature of adultery c. yet it is a blessed thing to fear always and to be jealous of thy self that thou maist be tempted and overcome of the temptation when tempted as others have been Agur was an holy man and yet as one sensible of his readiness to halt when tried saith and prays Give me neither poverty nor riches c. lest on the one hand I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord as Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. or on the other lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain in walking in uncleanness or any evil lust for providing for himself Prov. 30. 7-9 Oh were we but alike sensible of our own vileness and readiness to halt when tried we should be more jealous of our selves and if this iniquity of covetousness be in our hands put it farre away and this leads to another use 4. Seeing this covetousness is so hurtful deceitful and provoking an evil Let us all be warned to take heed and beware of it that our hearts be not inclined hereto yea pray to him who is able to save us that he would incline our hearts to his testimonies and not to covetousness c. Psal 119. 36 37. This admonition is here by our Savior given generally to a great multitude and to his disciples it is proper to be given in and with the Gospel to all that hear the word and therefore meet to be received by all some admonitions may not properly be given to all because they are not capable of offending in such cases As not to trust in uncertain riches which is included in this iniquity or which this leads to is given to the rich in this world but to the poor it cannot so properly be given 1 Tim. 6. 17. so some may not need to be warned to take heed of actual adultery c. For they may be so weakned as that that sin may have left them or otherwise made incapable but now any person may be inclined to covetousness from the least to the greatest from the yongest who have the use of understanding to the oldest from the poorest to the richest and let none think that because of any attainements they may sleight this warning For the Holy Ghost gives it to all that are in Christ not onely to little children and young men but to Fathers also and so to the most experienced believers and who have been instruments of begetting others through the Gospel To them all is this admonition given love not the world nor the things in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not him 1 Joh. 2. 12-15 Oh let us not murmure here against but be thankful that we may through his grace receive it and take heed beware of it and that we may do so follows to be shewed in the next instruction viz. 2. That they that hear the word may take heed and beware of covetousness in the light and strength of God's grace So much is signified in this admonition given by our Savior for he looks not to reap where he hath not sown though wicked servants so charge him Math. 25 24-26 his yoke is easie and his burden light his commandments are not grievous Math. 11. 30. 1 Joh. 5 3. therefore he doth not onely warn of what is evil but he prevents men with the light and power of his grace in due time that men might arise from dead things The grace of God doth not simply teach men to deny ungodliness but that men might receive obey it's teachings it seasonably brings salvation to all men especially in this appearance of it in which it is more brightly manifested than formerly it brings some discovery of that great salvation wrought and compleated for us in Christ and therewith saving strength also to inable us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we may live soberly c. Tit.
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
reproving and discovering quality and secretly to depart from it so as not so as not so to receive the love of the truth as to be saved thereby it will cause a man to hate reproof so that though such may sit before God's servants as his people and hear their words and shew much love Yea the Ministers of Christ in their speakings may be as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and they hear their words yet they do them not because their heart goeth after their covetousness Ezek. 33. 31. 32. This will lead to hate the light when it discovers their deeds to be evil and to hate those that are faithful reprovers as those before spoken of Son of man saith the Lord the children of they people are talking against thee by the walls and in the doores of the houses namely privately and secretly so as the prophet might not know it till God revealed it to him and yet they say Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lorde Ezek. 33. 30 31. Joh. 3. 19 20. So the Prophet Jeremy also signifies and bewailes To whom saith he shall I speak and give warning that they may hear behold their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hear not hear in hearing not endure sound doctrine behold the word of the Lord is a reproach to them they have no delight in it Whence was this For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness Jer. 6. 10-13 Yea so bruitish will this make a man when given to it as even openly to reject despise and seek to destroy the word of the Lord when it strikes against it and shews the evil nature and fruit of it Or that God will so proceed in his judgments as to strip them of the objects of this lust See what Jehoiakims wickedness was when he heard the roll read which Jeremy had received from the Lords mouth and saw others cut it and cast it into the fire yet he was not afraid Yea though some made intercession that he would not burn it yet he would not hear Whence proceeded this open wickedness surely from hence Thine eyes and thine heart saith God to him are not but for thy covetousness and therefore he could not endure to hear of the King of Babylons coming to destroy the nation Compare Jer. 36. 23. 29. with Chap. 22. 17. This also was the cause of their wise men's Priests and Prophets rejecting the word of the Lord Jer. 8. 9 10. Hence they are said to be such as fear God who hate covetousness Exod. 18. 21. And however certain it is that though men have received the word of the kingdom in some measure to purpose yet going out these thornes the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches and lust of other things entring in choak the word and it and so the man becomes unfruitful Math. 13. 22. Mark 4. 18 19. Luk. 8. 14. And this leads to the next 2. It bereaves and hinders the soul of good namely of doing good and so consequently of being further made partakers of it and injoying it For if we be wise we shall be wise for our selves and so 1. it hinders from doing good with this worlds good which he is putting into our hands that according to what we have we might do good to all men and especially to the houshold of faith and in doing which as moved and instructed by the grace of God we might in some measure adorn the doctrine of God our Savior and so either 1. it will shut up the bowels of our compassion when opened that we shall not be faithful as is required of stewards God's end in giving to us the things of this world is that we should according to our ability do good therewith in our life time Eccl. 3. 12. And hence I conceive they are called another mans Luk. 16. 13. Not onely because they pass from one to another and no man can be sure of them but as they received them from others for they brought nothing into the world with them so it is certain they shall carry nothing out with them But also because he is intrusting men with the things of this life as stewards who must give an account hereof to him he is putting them into their hands that according as he is instructing and moving them they should dispense to others and those that are rich might be rich in good workes ready to communicate to the needs of others even as it is with stewards that which is committed to them is not that they should lay it up for themselves onely but that according to the instruction of their Lords they might take their own portions and dispense thereof to others of their fellow-servants in the family so he is giving these things into our hands that we might herewith make to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness with this uncertain riches But now this Covetousness retained and served shuts up the bowels of our compassions when God is opening them on sight of our brothers need Thus it was with the rich man he had an opportunity to have made Lazarus his friend with this Mammon of unrighteousness but neglected it and this our Savior adds after he had been instructing to faithfulness in disposing what is committed to us and admonishing of covetousness as intimating this was the root of it Luk. 16. 9-25 This also was the cause of the great evil of the fool mention'd in the parable in this Luk. 12. when his ground brought forth plentifully he thus reasons with himself what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits had he observed the instructions of the grace of God he should not have been at a loss for this for the poor are always with us that we might do good to them and refresh their bowels in relieving their necessities this he never thought of but he said This will I do I will pull down my barn and build greater and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods c. This man God calls fool because he thought not of laying up his treasure better or in a better place even in heaven and this was the issue of his covetousness and hence it is immediatly joyned to the admonition we are speaking to Luk. 12. 15-20 And such a fool is every one that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God ver 21. 2. Or if it have not such dominion over us as quite to shut up the bowels of our compassion but we are dispensing to others yet still this covetousness consulted with and yeilded to will hinder and deprive us of good and that either 1. By causing us to do what we do niggardly and sparingly and so not as a matter of bounty but of covetousness 2 Cor. 9. 5 6. And to do what we do grudgingly as that which is a
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