world and loose his own soul these are idolaters and as such they shall be punished their worm dyeth not in that lake into which they shall be cast and their fire is not quenched Were it not infinitely better for us now to receive the love of the truth that we may be saved from our iniquities and idols than expose our selves to the wrath to come Oh who knoweth the power of it what shall a man then give in exchange for his soul than a great ransome cannot deliver will he esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of strength Job 36. 18 19. these profit not in a day of wrath Oh how dreadful will it then be when the Son of man shall say Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire propared for the Devil and his angels For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Math. 25. 41-43 He saith not your heart was so given to your covetousness you so loved the world and the things thereof that you defrauded me and took away from me wrongfully what was mine you were not content with that portion of earthly things that was in your own possession but you coveted mine and took it away by violence and extortion and so exposed me to hunger thirst cold and nakedness no this was not directly laid to their charge though this is strongly supposed to be a more grievous iniquity but that for which they are sentenced to everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord it is that they did not cast their bread upon the waters they withheld more than was meet and now it tends to this great poverty they are now left destitute of his favour and for ever separated from him and doomed to the vengeance of eternal fire now when his poor servants that formerly injoyed their evil things are comforted those who formerly injoyed their good things are tormented and shall be so for ever For there will then be such a great gulf fixed that there is no passing from that state and condition to another Luk. 16. 25. at this our heart may tremble and be moved out of place who amongst us will give ear to this who will hearken and hear for the time to come such an one as thus shuts up the bowels of his compassion when opened may possibly by some men be look't upon as an hard man and as one that too much loves his money and this may be deemed as a venial or small offence in him and yet he may pass for an honest man though somewhat hard but were it wisely considered how such wil hereafter be proceeded against it would as viewed in Christ in whom there is now forgiveness and cleansing and power to deliver from the wrath to come be powerful to awaken us to quit our selves from this iniquity What hath been said in shewing that we may take heed and beware of covetousness and by what means we may do it may be of usefulness to us Vse 1. To shew unto us the preciousness of the blood of Christ in its vertue and in it's discovery for redeeming us 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. As that is it whereby forgiveness is procured peace made spirit received great and precious promises confirmed eternal life and redemption obtained so the discovery and application thereof is that whereby he doth wash us from our sins Rev. 1. 5 1 Joh. 1. 7. redeem us unto God from the Earth and from amongst men Rev. 5. 9. and 14. 4 5. purges from dead works as well as from those that are deadly to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. 2. It shews unto us the reason why we are not washed from this filthiness of covetousness namely because we come not unto and are not obedient to the blood of sprinkling 1 Pet. 1. 2. Eph. 5. 6. for were we obedient thereto it would save us and if we do not thus experiment it let us judge our selves and search and try our ways for certainly we have been wandring out of the way of understanding 1 Cor. 15. 2. 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Oh thou who art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned are these his doings do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly Mica 2. 2-7 3. Let it instruct and ingage us to give more earnest heed to the things which God hath testified of his Son in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will do and so let us receive and walk in the spirit minding the things of the spirit and we shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. this is our victory even our faith who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. it is onely through the spirit we may mortify the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. it is good for us to know that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Christ the word of faith in which he is now manifested to be the foundation and object of faith as formerly he was not that we may believe in Jesus Christ that we may be justifyed and cleansed also as justified sometimes signifies as Dan. 8. 14. by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2. 16. That we may therefore flee covetousness consider we and remember what God hath given us in Christ and the hope set before us to be possessed and injoyed when he shall appear in glory and wait through the spirit who glorifies Christ for the hope of Gods righteousness through faith so shall we meet with his Divine power for delivering us from every path of the destroyer Col. 3. 3-5 Gal. 5. 5. And to ingage us to take heed and beware of covetousness let us briefly consider the motive here laid down by our Savior to seal home this caution For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth From whence we noted 3. That the consideration of this that a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth is also proper as viewed in the glorious Gospel to move us to receive this admonition viz. to take heed and beware of covetousness By the abundance of the things which he possesseth is here meant the things of this present world as appears in that it is said a man as a man possesseth them and by the parable which our Savior presently joyns unto this Caveat Luk. 12. 16-18 the things of the Earth which he possesseth here on Earth as distinguished from what is laid up in Heaven in the motions and teaching of his grace And by a man's life is
We shall first shew what it is not 1. It is not a serving God in those works of his providence he gives us to be exercised in here under the Sun and diligence therein though in so doing we may be serving our Covetous inclination Yet we are not forbidden to exercise our selves in any honest Trade Way or Imployment though in all our conversations to beware of this iniquity God appointed to man some exercise to be exercised in while he was in the state of innocency namely to dress and to keep the Garden Gen. 2. 15. And hath since given a travel to men to be exercised in Exod. 20. 9. Eccl. 3. 10. And warnes of idleness and slothfulness and shews the evil nature and fruit of it Yea and there are commandments given by the Lord Jesus to the believers that if any would not work neither should they cat c. Rom. 12. 11. 2 Thes 3. 10. Tit. 3. 14. Yea and the Apostles and their fellow-laborers did worke and so make themselves an ensample to the beleivers to follow them 1 Cor. 4. 11. 12. 2 Thess 3. 7-9 And not onely is such instruction and example given to the believers in general but to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus how that so labouring as the apostle had done they ought to support the weak c. Acts 20. 28-25 Yea our blessed Savior hath given us an example who was not onely the reputed Son of a Carpenter but a Carpenter also Mark 6. 3. Luk. 2. 51. 2. Nor is it a desiring of him those things that are needful for our chearful seeking after and glorifying him in order thereto we may desire such meat drink cloaths and such a prospering the work of our hands as may conduce to our hallowing of his name and to such an end he hath instructed us in that doctrine of right prayer to say Give us day by day our daily bread Phil. 4. 6. Though yet in such desire also Covetousness is to be watcht against in the light of the Lord and we to be submitted to God and his infinite wisdome and faithfulness who knows what is most conducible to such an end better than we do and therefore are we willed by the mercies of God to present our bodies to him to be ordered by him as he sees good and taught to pray Thy will be done c. Give us this day our daily bread Math. 6. 10 11. Phil. 4. 5 6 7. Pro. 30. 8 9. 3. Nor is it all coveting that we are admonished of or of all that which is so called we are instructed to Covet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12. 31. and 14. 39. There are also the lusts of the spirit effected by spirit in the Testimony of Jesus in the spirit of the believer and so the spirit lusteth against the flesh Gal. 5. 17. The new spirit and heart of the hearty believer from the discovery and beholding of the excellency and comliness of Christ his love and loveliness and having tasted of his graciousness as a new born babe desires the sincere milk of the word it earnestly desires more to know Christ win him and be found in him to be conformed to him and clothed on with the fruit of his righteousness it pants after and thirsteth for God even the living God and longs and lusts for him to see further his glory and power in the Sanctuary in his Son and in the assemblies of his hidden ones even as those that cannot be satisfied without wisdom they while walking in the spirit seek it as men seek silver this the one thing they desire and for which they have counted and do count all other things as loss and dung in comparison thereof and in persuing after it and to the promoting of it nothing they suffer moves them nor count they their lives dear to themselves that they may more know and be made partakers of Christ Oh that we were filled more with these lusts of the spirit and were more coveting those excellent things that durable riches and righteousness in Christ Psal 27. 4. and 42. 1 2. and 63. 1-8 Pro. 2. 2-6 and 8. 18. Gal. 5. 16 17. Phil. 3. 8-10 But the Covetousness here admonished of is An affection and lust of the flesh in which a man doth love this world and the things thereof and not content with Gods provision allowance and gift doth greedily desire after more of it that he may be rich in or toward himself 1. I say it is an affection and lust of the flesh as distinguished from and opposed to the lusts of the spirit as before and so to shew unto us whence it springs namely from the flesh the carnal minde or wisdom of the flesh which is sometimes called Covetousness and so opposed to Gods testimonies which is the wisdom from above to shew the nature of it and that it is the source and fountain of this corrupt affection and lust Psal 119. 36. For from this corrupt fountain this iniquity proceeds even from that wisdom which is not from above it descends not or comes not down from the Father of light but ascends out of our hearts and is earthly affecting and lusting after and leading us to love minde and savour earthly things sensual leading us to judge according to outward appearance and to look upon and mind seen things which are temporal and to live by sight or sense as opposed to the living by faith and Devilish as being that which we received from him and are therein like to him leading us to aspire after an equality with God and to have a selfe-sufficiency in our own hands and to that end to worship and serve Satan the god of this world who beautifies and commends the things thereof Jam. 3. 15. Thus our Savior saith From within out of the heart of men namely out of that corrupt understanding and judgment that is in him as of him received from and poisoned by Satan and strengthened by the principles and spirit of this world proceed evil thoughts of God and of our selves and of the things of this world as if blessedness did consist in them and in our possessing abundance of them and thence proceeds Covetousness Mark 7. 21 22. This carnal mind is enmity against God he saith not it hath enmity in it nor onely that it is an enemy to him for then there might possibly be a reconciling of it that notwithstanding but it is enmity it self made up and composed of nothing else so as it can never be reconciled it is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be it may be purged out and destroyed but can never be reformed Rom. 8. 7. It would perswade us there is no God Psal 14. 1. Or that he is not able or faithful to give unto us in his way what we stand in need of and that though he hath manifested his love to us in Christ and given him for a standing witness of it that we might when we
witness when such an one hath been swearing to his own hurt or vowing and promising such things as stand or prove in conclusion cross to their greedy design Thus Zedekiah and the people polluted God's name in that when they had made a vow and covenant to give libety to the servants they broke it and it may seem this was the cause of it because the keeping it consisted not with their profit Jer. 34. 8-16 Far from the least to the greatest every one was given to covetousness and indeed often times this leads to breach of covenant and promise even when the promise made hath tended to their more free and profitable seeking the kingdom of God yet now they cannot keep it they pretend because it will be of great hurt and prejudice to them they have bought a peice of ground or have a farm in their hands and they must needs go they have a necessity or a necessity lies upon them so to do and see it look after and improve it and therefore they desire and hope they shall be excused Luk. 14. 18. But shall he prosper that doth such things Yea more generally this leads to take his name in vain and recieve his grace in vain while though men call themselves of the holy city and cry the temple of the Lord are we yea and some of them may have been brought nigh to him by the blood of Jesus and served him in his temple yet they run with others to the same excess of riot in surfetting and drunkeness or in chambring and wantonness c. and have fellowship with men in their unfruitful workes of darkness Oh how do such cause the name of God and his doctrine to be blasphemed Pro. 30. 9. How doth it open the mouths of men not against this covetousness the root hereof but against the glorious Gospel as if it were a ministry of ungodliness how are the profane ones gladded to see that those who formerly had escaped the pollutions of the world thorow the knowledge of the Lord and Savior and were seperate from them that now they are turned with the dog to his vomit and that such can keep company with them and swear and drink yea and somtimes be drunk also this is a sport to them and they are strengthned in their wickedness and ready to say it is in vain to serve God and yet to this in times of temtation especially will covetousness lead one Eph. 5. 16-18 They that will be rich that have a design and resolution so to be fall into temptation and a snare into the fear of man in which they are intangled and fetter'd that they dare do nothing that may offend them Pro. 29. 25. and thence into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 1 Tim 6. 9. This will lead men into foolish lusts even into such as seem not to stand with their design such as drunkenness in which they spend that they love so dearly yet their having fellowship with men herein tending to their getting or keeping what they have by gaining and securing the favour of the world to them hence it ultimatly tends to their design 4. It leads to profane God's rest to count Jesus Christ who is the rest in whom God hath taken up his rest and well-pleasedness and the rest he hath prepared for our weary spirits and the refreshing Heb. 4. 3 4. Isa 28. 12. a common and profane thing and insufficient to satiate our souls and therefore leads to take up rest and seek satisfaction in that which is not bread and therefore will not satisfie thus the fool in the parable resolves I will say to my soul take thy rest c. Luk. 12. 19. though he never came at it nor will this satisfie and therefore it is a vain conversation here to be seeking it Yea and it leads to profane his holy-day that time he hath set apart for a solemn waiting upon him and thereto ceasing from our own works to signifie to us that it is he that doth sanctifie us and that in ceasing from our own works and by faith entring into his rest Exod. 31. 13. 17. I say it leads to profane it not onely by saying when will the sabbath be gone that we may set forth wheat as counting that a wearisome time as it was with them Amos. 8. 5. but more grosly either by over-working themselves and their servants in the six days that they are meet for no hallowing his day or imploying them in doing their ordinary servile work to the depriving them of waiting upon him and provoking Gods wrath Neh. 13. 15-22 Jer. 17. 21-27 Isa 58. 3. 7. 13. 2. And so also this is the root of unrighteousness or worldly lusts and contrary to our loving our neighbour as our selves as the grace of God doth instruct yea and as he is thereby working it in us and the righteousness of the law shall be fulfilled in them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit even the righteous affections and services thereof not by our own wisdom and strength in observing the law as a law of works and so looking on it as our duty but in ceasing from our own works and entring into God's rest and thorow the spirit waiting for the hope of righteousness by faith Rom. 8 4. Gal. 5 6. 16. 21 22. To this love of our neighbour covetousness is contrary Rom. 13. 9. And so it leads 1. To dishonor Parents whether natural or civil or those that by God's providence are set over us in that stead and not to give them that honor reverence or obedience which is due to them and to be given them in the Lord even in the acknowledgment and fear of him and for the Lords sake in reverence to his wisdom and faithfulness who hath set them in such a station of command and authority and us in the place of subjection This will lead us to withhold from natural parents that honor due to them in which is included a requiting them in providing for them and maintaining them when in straits and brought to poverty Thus the Pharisees who were covetous they honor'd not their parents yea and taught others to transgress the command of God and pretended godliness in thus transgressing God commanded saith our Savior saying honor thy Father and Mother c. But ye say whosoever shall say to his Father or Mother it is a gift by whatsoever thou maiest be profited or it is Corban a thing devoted and set apart for religious and pious uses possibly for the maintenance of such teachers or such Pharisaical Ministers he shall be free from the obligation of Gods law or is obliged to keep his former vow and so cannot honor his Father c. Math. 15. 3-6 Mark 7. 9-12 And this leads to rebel against authorities and rulers set over us and so to resist the ordinance of God that men may set their nest on high
accusation against men Luk. 3. 14. This idolatry of covetousness was that it may seem which caused Doeg to devise mischief like a razour and lye and bear false witness against the priests of the Lord which procured their being cut off Psal 52. 2-7 6. And the last commandment is that we have been shewing to be the root of all evil and an immediate fruit of loving the world effected by listening to and walking after the carnal mind and wisdom of the flesh as we have before seen Demon. 3. Though this iniquity deprives and bereaves the soul of good and is the root of all evil yet it is a well favour'd iniquity as Nah. 3. 4. and that which is in great request amongst men many of the evils it leads to and of which it is the root are shameful amongst men and such as they wil not seriously plead for or seek to justifie though they may walk in them and serve them until they have so long hardened their hearts against the instructions of wisdom and it's reproofs that they are become past feeling and so commit all manner of filthiness with greediness such as murder adultery drunkenness c. But now this affection and lust of the flesh this covetousness is in great repute amongst men and the labouring to be rich and laying up for our selves here on earth which is included in it is that for which men will commend us When thou doest well to thy self men will praise thee Psal 49. 18. This is that which is highly esteem'd amongst men as our Saviour may signifie in that expression Luk. 16. 14 15. though yet it is an abomination in the fight of God And though all lusts are called the lusts of the flesh both because they spring from the carnal mind or wisdom of the flesh and because they are contrary to the spirit and the lust thereof yet when the Apostle distinguishes and branches them forth he calls some the desires of the flesh as surfetting drunkeness adultery c. And some the desires of the mind and under this head of lusts this iniquity is contained Eph. 2. 3. And therefore is called the lust of the eye 1 Joh. 2. 16. Not onely nor so much of the outward eye though that also may conduce thereto and affect the heart but of the eye of the soul and so of the mind because this springs from that and is more suited to the wisdom and understanding of men as corrupted by the poyson of Satans temptation which leads them to think that riches are very excellent and will render us happy in the injoyment of them hence we are admonished to cease from our own wisdom that we may not labor to be rich as before Pro. 23. 4. Now then the more appearance of wisdom there is in it the more highly will men esteem it for vain man would be and be accounted wise though he be born like a wild asses colt Job 11. 12. And also as this iniquity being a desire of the mind is therefore well accounted of amongst men so in serving of it and laboring to be rich especially if men find the life of their hands and that they lust after and labor for in any abundance together herewith they meet with other desires of the mind which the understanding of a man leads him to seek after and highly to prize in the injoyment these being usually concomitants of this iniquity As to say the wisdom of this world which is science falsly so called and onely seeming wisdom this also is a desire of the mind and that men thirst after now the covetous man being rich also seldom wants the repute of a wise man amongst men if he have but any considerable parts either natural or acquired his being rich gaines him the esteem of being wise when the wisdom of the poor is despised Eccl. 9. 16. And however he is wise in his own conceit Pro 28. 11. Yea and hereby he hath greater advantage also by accompanying himself with great ones and such as are in repute for wisdom whose crown in their riches Pro. 14. 24. and otherwise to seek after the satisfying this desire of the mind And so honor in this world and the praise of men is a desire of the mind and who like the covetous rich man is counted worthy of this men bless the covetous and every oâ—â— bows before them and the poor use intreaties to them while they answer roughly and are even servants to them Pro. 18. 23. and 22. 7. riches and honor usually go together And so the friendship of this world is a desire of the mind and that which men think adds much to their happiness and security and therefore they desire to have many joyned to them in some strict tye of affection and to say a confederacy with them and therefore to match into and be allied unto great families and personages that they may take deep root in the earth Now wealth maketh many friends and every one is a lover of him that hath it the poor is hated of his neighbor but many are the lovers of the rich Pro 14. 20. and 19. 4. and hence because there is such a meeting together of other desires of the mind in the object of this lust therefore it is so amiable in the eyes of men and men are so pursuing this iniquity with great greediness for in finding the object of this lust they shall have the friendship of this world praise of men and honor amongst men be accounted wise and well accomplisht persons and what not Yea and not onely is this lust so well thought of amongst men generally but the Saints of the world also are secretly pursueing and magnifying it because it will consist and stand together with an appearance of devotion godliness and righteousness and so more gross lusts which this leads to will not Men may seek to establish a righteousness to themselves which is also a desire of the mind and yet be given to covetousness yea and be esteemed religious by others while yet they are greatly polluted with this iniquity Hence our Savior saith of the Pharisees that they were covetous and therefore they derided him when he said no servant can serve two Masters God and Mammon as thinking this was a foolish assertion of our Savior and that both might stand together well enough Luk. 16 13 14. And yet they were the straitest Sect of the religion of the Jews Act. 26. 5. and were frequent in fasting and prayer exceeding herein it may seem Christ's disciples Luk. 5. 33. they kept the Sabbaths and were zealous in and for the observance of them and condemned our Savior as being one that did not keep them Joh. 9. 16. and frequented Synagogues and appeared righteous before men being like whited sepulchres that appear beautifull outwardly their covetousness did stand with this shew of righteousness so as they appeared righteous unto men though within they were full of hypocrisie and iniquity
great sin and the cause of all other sins for which the wrath of God abides on them and so of their covetousness and the argument whereby he thus convinceth them it is by glorifying Christ and taking of his things and shewing to them Job 16. 8-15 That is to say to the convincing them of their sinfulness he shews to men that Christ hath dyed for them and is risen again and hath received all fulness and compleatness into himself for them that they might run unto Jesus Christ with a relinquishing all other things Isa 55. 1-5 All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead namely from dead persons and things and particularly from all filthiness of the flesh and from this bitter root of covetousness of which the Apostle had been admonishing and Christ shall give thee light Eph. 5. 3-5-14 And to those that turn at his reproofs and receive the Testimony God hath given of his Son he is pouring forth his spirit to them and making known his words He is giving to them the Spirit of wisdom to make them wise to inlighten the eyes of their understanding and revelation to reveal Christ further to them that they may count what hath been fore gainful to them as loss for Christ Yea that they might still count all things as loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ that they may win him Phil. 3. 7-9 He is rendring his blood so precious before them in shewing the peace thereby made the victory thereby gotten the righteousness thereby compleated the eternal redemption thereby obtained the new Testament and everlasting covenant thereby sealed and confirmed that he is thereby still and further powerfully redeeming them from their vain conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Rev. 5. 9. with chap. 14. 3 4. He gives himself unto them and with himself all things to deliver them from this present evil world 1 Cor. 3. 21-23 Gal. 1. 4. and thus is he deading them to the things here below crucifying them to the world Rom. 6. 2 3. Gal. 6. 14. raising their affections to things above Col. 2. 9-12 with 3. 1 2. strengthning them to have their conversation in Heaven their minds hearts and affections there and they set to promote the things thereof even while they may according to the instructions of his grace be exercised as to the outward man in the work of their Callings and assuring them he will never forsake them in having their conversation without covetousness 2. He is also the great and onely Mediator between God and Men making intercession for transgressors that they might be saved from their sins and so from this iniquity of their covetousness and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4 5. otherwise men that have added rebellion unto their sin could have no opportunity for being washed without which they shall have no part with Christ but now through his daily presenting himself in the vertues of his sacrifice offered once for all patience and forbearance is exercised and space of repentance vouchsafed to rebellions ones that the Lord God may dwell amongst them and all this day of his patience he is vouchsafing means and stretching out his hand to them that are greedy of gain that they in hearing his words might turn at his reproof Psal 68. 18. Prov. 1. 19-23 24. Isa 65. 2. Rev. 2. 20 21. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away in his present mediation the sins of the world Joh. 1. 29. and is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 2. He is praying Father forgive them as Luk. 23. 34. Lord let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it Luc. 13. 7 8. and while he thus intercedes the Father hears him and it is an acceptable time 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. the long-suffering of the Lord is and is to be accounted salvation his end herein being that men might come to repentance and be saved Isa 53. 10-12 2 Pet. 3. 9. 15. Act. 14. 17. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And in an especial manner he is mediating for those that come God by him and is therefore able to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. without which he were not able he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance Heb. 9. 15. he is taking away and so covering their sins that God may be patient to them while they continue in them that they may have space vouchsafed to come to the fountain prepared and opened for washing and cleansing and that the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ may be given to them continually that through that knowledge they might flee from the pollutions of the world and in confessing their sins and turning to him he is forgiving them in Heaven and making them partakers of the forgiveness of their sins and so mediating the new Testament in his blood that they may be cared for to the end they may seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness he is their Advocate who is also the daily and standing propitiation for their sins to teach them what to pray for as they ought and how to pray to hear their prayers to grant their requests and fulfil the desires of their heart to manage their matters to wash and cleanse them in his blood to subdue their iniquities fight their battels supply their wants and perfect what concerns them He is a Sun and sheild and will give grace and glory and no good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly Joh. 2. 1 2. Psal 84. 11 12. 3. To this end that those that hear the word may be doers of it and so take heed and beware of covetousness he is setting before us the things to come at the appearing of Christ and in his kingdom and these are proposed to and set before men generally in the scriptures of truth and of great usefulness to those that believe the Testimony of Jesus and are looking to the end from the beginning to strengthen them to have their conversation without carefulness and covetousness As to say 1. He hath prepared a kingdom for them that receive his grace to purpose even to the saving of their souls He will raise them again that sleep in Jesus first and change the surviving believers and they together shall appear in glory when Christ who is our life shall appear in his glory they are now kings and priests unto God and shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. and 20. 4-6 the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high Dan. 7. 27. they shall sit with Christ in his throne Rev. 3. 21.
for it is great hide away thy face from my sins which have sprung from this root and blot out all my transgressions create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 2. In that this iniquity is so exceeding sinful and provoking it may shew unto us that what is highly esteem'd among men is an abomination in the fight of God for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with him this will lead to account lesser sins to be great ones and those which are very dangerous to be but small ones if not vertues Men have generally an high esteem of the desires of the mind as before is shewn of the wisdom riches honors of this world and praise of men and establishing a righteousness to themselves c. As if these might be sought after commendably yea and they are in request amongst appearing zealous ones and oh that God's pleasant plant were not too much polluted with these and particularly with this covetousness and so bring forth fruit to themselves in setting their affections on things below and coveting greedily after more that they may lay up here on earth for themselves and theirs and so withholding from their poor bretheren and somtimes by their cruelty occasioning and hastening the death of some surely such is the deceitfulness of sin and especially of these desires of the mind which the judgment and wisdom of a man as it defiled leads him to seek after that it would perswade us that it is nothing to serve such an inclination Yea many that hate the fruit of this iniquity love the root and perswade themselves there is little or no hurt in it They think indeed drunkenness uncleanness c. are abominable as indeed they are but covetousness is but a little moat like the scribes and Pharisees those foolish and blind guids who said whosoever shall swear by the temple it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple he is a debter c. Math. 23. 16-19 lightly esteeming the greatest evils and pronouncing them guilty that committed the less so how many Pharisaical persons are there that are so appearingly holy that if others in following this root of iniquity have fallen into some of the gross lusts of the flesh as Adultery c. Oh how do they abominate those gross evils and can hardly come to see persons polluted herewith lest they should be defiled and yet as much given to covetousness as the former they can say with the Pharisee God we thank thee we are not as others adulterers c. and yet be guilty of this which is as and more dangerous Compare Luk. 18. 11. with 16. 14. they can severely condemn lesser sins as sometimes David did when Nathan used the Parable to him and yet be guilty of greater themselves and take no notice thereof 2 Sam. 12. 17. Oh the deceitfulness of man's heart 3. Seeing covetousness is such an evil and bitter thing let us examine our selves and search and try our hearts and wayes in the glass of the law of liberty He that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest therein let us scearch our selves If any should say God I thank thee I am not guilty of it for it is the root of all evil and I am not guilty of fornication or adultery or of such and such gross evils as others are and therefore need not this admonition To such an one I would say 1. That though it be as indeed it is the root of all evil yet it so appears not or brings not forth all it 's evil fruits in every one that is highly guilty of it The Pharisees were covetous and derided our Savior for saying no man can serve two masters and yet they might not commit open and gross idolatry nor are they taxed with it nor reproved for it though that also is the fruit of it under the law a man might have the leprosy and yet not have all the signes of it for they were divers Lev. 13. For though a mans heart goes after his covetousness yet he may not be strongly inclined to some of it's fruits nor be under the power of inticements to some evils as others may be and sin and Satan usually sets upon us where we are weakest 2. I may say to such an one as the Apostle James doth He that said do not commit adultery said also do not kill now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressour and so mayst be deeply guilty of this iniquity Jam. 2. 11. hast not thou who thus justifiest thy self despised the poor and in assemblies bid them stand there or disrespected them this is murder Jam. 2. 1-10 Hast not thou out of love to the things of this present world forborn to feed the hungry and cloath the naked when thou hadst it in the power of thine hand to do it and on sight of thy brothers needs hast had the bowels of thy compassion opened this the charge against those on Christs left hand and who shall go into everlasting fire Math. 25. 41. 46. hast thou not out of love to the things of this world consumed what thou hadst put into thine hand upon thy lusts in pampering thy self and faring deliciously every day and so received and injoy'd thy good things and thy poor brother mean time received his evil This the iniquity of the rich man in the Parable which our Savior speak after the affirming the Pharisees were covetous and his reproving them Luk. 16. hast thou not been angry with thy brother yea and with the light also when he hath been faithfully reproving and admonishing thee of this evil and counted them most thy friends who have hated thee not rebuk't thee and secretly hated the faithful reprovers and spake against him and He that hateth his brother is a manslayer 1 Joh. 3. 15-18 Ezek. 33. 30-32 hath not the end of thy labor been to inrich thy self and to lay up treasures here on earth and not to give to him that needeth and when thou hast found the life of thine hand hast thou not been secretly rejoycing therein and lifting up thy self above thy poor brethren yea and departing from the Lord and from the assemblies of God's people for fear of being taken and loosing all hast thou not when a special opportunity hath been put into thine hand for getting silver and a choice advantage at the same time given thee for getting wisdom thought there was a necessity to imbrace the former though with a neglect of the latter hast thou not in giving given sparingly and grudgingly and so as of covetousness and minded another and walkt by his example when he might give according to ability and though thou hadst much more in thine hand yet wouldest do but as he did as one afraid to exceed and as if thou hadst parted with thy life when thou gavest any thing in thus diligently searching
2. 11 12. and otherwise we cannot flee from what is reproved for we have no sufficiency of our selves as of our selves to think any thing that is good We shall therefore together shew that those that hear the word may take heed of this iniquity and by what means in general we say the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1. 16. the law opens no door of repentance but saith cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3. 10. But now Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Gal. 3. 13. and the declaration hereof is the great instrument God makes use of for delivering us from every path of the destroyer Psal 17. 4. and 119. 9. The Law of the Lord of or concerning him who is Lord of all is perfect compleat entire converting the soul both at first and so continually it is converting the soul whether men are converted by it or no Psal 19. 7. with this the Apostle was sent to open mens eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Act. 26. 17. 18-22 23. There are in this Gospel contained great and glorious arguments that we may be delivered from this present evil world and these are powerful to this end because Christ by his spirit is present therewith even to the end of the world and so with his servants in their faithful declaring it without hidden things of dishonesty so that while Paul plants and Apollo waters God sails not to give increase whether mâ—n receive it or no 1 Cor. 3. 5-7 and they that receive this testimony of Jesus with the heart and keep it in believing remembrance shall prove it to be the power of God hence the Apostle saith to the Corinthians who were some of them covetous ye are washed c. in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. 2 Pet. 2. 20. and 1. 1. 18 19. Now then to this end that we may take heed and beware of covetousness and to shew we may do so we shall a little particularly consider what is contained in this testimony of Jesus in each of the three branches for our helpfulness viz. in what he hath done and is become in what he is now doing and in what he will do hereafter 1. In this Testimony of Jesus in what he hath done and is become is shewed to us that Jesus Christ the Word who was with God and was God was made flesh for sinful mankind and laid hold of the seed of Abraham and Adam in that body which the Father prepared for him whereby his ear was opened and he fitted to do the will of God in being further abased for us and doing what was needful to our being brought back to God in order whereto he had the trespasses of the world even the guilt of all those trespasses which occasioned the first breath and enmity between God and mankind imputed to him For God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us 2. Cor. 5. 19-21 He bare our sins in his own body to and on the tree and God therefore went to law with him He was wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquites he by the grace of God tasted death for every man Heb. 2. 9. He was delivered for our offences and is raised again for our justification and such the vertuousness and preciousness of his personal abasement and sufferings in the vertues whereof he is taken from prison and judgement that he hath redeemed us in himself from the curse of the law purged away our sins from before the presence of God slain the enmity that was between God and us taken out of the way all that was contrary to us abolished our death and spoiled principalities and powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself and so hath made peace for us by the blood of his Cross Gal. 3. 13. Isa 53. 5 6. Eph. 2. 14-16 Col. 2. 14 15. 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. And hath recovered restored and brought back our loss into himself so that there is compleatness for us in him he hath not onely taken away and removed the guilt of our first sin and sinfulness from before the presence of God but having offered himself a spotless sacrifice to the Father throug the eternal Spirit hath obtained power to make reconciliation for the sins of the people which are condemnable according to the rule of the glorious Gospel Heb. 7. 27. and 2. 17. through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins Act. 13. 37 38. and he hath restored our nature in himself to perfect innocency integrity and righteousness and is filled with all the fulness of grace and truth Joh. 1. 14-17 and hath obtain'd eternal redemption for us Heb. 9. 12. and confirmed a new Testament of great and precious promises of all things that pertain to life and godliness and an everlasting covenant 2 Cor. 1. 20. Heb. 13. 20. So that he is become a rich and full fountain in which there is pardon peace righteousness spirit promises eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. Yea all things are delivered to him of the Father Math. 11. 27. all things are here ready a feast of fat things prepared for all people Isa 25. 6. All things that the Father hath is his Joh. 16. 15. and he in our nature and for us is glorifyed with the Fathers own self with the glory he had with him before the world was Joh. 17. 5. The Father hath so loved the Son because he laid down his life that he might take it up again that he hath given all things into his hand Joh. 3. 35 with chap. 10. 17 18. made him both Lord and Christ the last Adam the quickning spirit the Lord the fountaine of living waters wisedome righteousness sanctification and redemption he is beautiful and glorious excellent and comely for our escaping he is the foundation God hath laid in Zion the fountaine of forgiveness grace and spirit God hath given him glory that our faith and hope might be in God and this perfection is in him for every man and it was the work of the Apostles and is of those that so walk as they have them for an ensample to warn every man and teach every man in all wisdom that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus that they may shew all men where compleatness is prepared for them even durable riches and righteousness that they may not be at a loss or put upon it to seek bread rest peace and feeding in desolate places but may know assuredly by the light of this Testimony that he is the rest for the weary and he the refreshing 1 Cor. 15. 45. Isa 4. 2. Col. 1. 28 29. Isa 28. 12-16 Now then in this first great and fundamental branch
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