Avarice, saith a grave Divine, is a sin in any man, Heresy in a Clergy-man. The Papists have an Order, that profess wilful poverty: but some of them profess it so long, till they sweep all the riches of the Land into their own Laps. The Purse is still the White they level at; as I have read them described: the Capuchins shooting from the Purse, the Franciscans aiming wide of it, the Jesuits hitting it pat in the midst. So with long, or (at least) tedious Prayers, as the Pharisees, they pray upon the poor, and devour their houses. Spiritual Physicians should abhor such covetous desires. Sunt qui scire volunt, 1ut scientiam suam ⟨p. 332⟩vendant, •t turpis quaestus est. They that get knowledge to sell it, make a wretched gaine. Non vitae docent, sed crumenae. Seneca affirms, that the Common-wealth hath no worse men,2 quam qui Philosophi•m, v•l ut •liquod artificium vaenale, didicerunt. Miserable men, that look to their own good, more then the Churches; serving God in their parts, themselves in their hearts; working, like those builders about the Ark, rather for present gain, then future safety. But as they desire rather nostra quam nos, so they preserve rather sua quàm see: winning, like Demas, the world, and loosing, like Judas, their souls. I have read in the Fable, of a Widow, that being thick-sighted, sent to a certain Physician to cure her: he promiseth it to her, and she to him a sum of money for satisfaction. The Physician comes, and applies Medicines, which being bound over her eyes, still as he departs, he carries away with him some of her best goods: so continuing her pains and his labour, till he had robbed the house of her best substance. At last he demanded of her, being now cured, his covenanted pay. She looking about her house, and missing her goods, told him that he had not cured her: for whereas be•ore she could see some furniture in her house, now she could perceive none: she was erst thick-sighted, but now poor-blind. You can apply it without help. Well, those spiritual Physicians are only good, that propound to themselves no gain, but to heal the broken, recover the lost, and bring home the wandering Lambs to the Sheep-folds of peace; jeoparding a joint to save a sick conscience; with Moses and Paul, not respecting the loss of themselves, whiles they may replenish the Kingdom of Christ.
Auarice, saith a graue Diuine, is a sinne in any man, Heresie in a Clergie-man. The Papists haue an Order, that professe wilfull pouertie: but some of them professe it so long, till they sweepe all the riches of the Land into their owne Lappes. The Purse is still the White they leuell at; as I haue read them described: the Capuchines shooting from the Purse, the Franciscanes ayming wide of it, the Iesuites hitting it patte in the midst. So with long, or (at least) tedious Prayers, as the Pharises, they pray vpon the poore, and deuoure their houses. Spirituall Phisitians should abhorre such couetous desires. Sunt qui scire volunt, 1vt scientiam suam ⟨p. 332⟩vendant, •t turpis quaestus est. They that get knowledge to sell it, make a wretched gaine. Non vitae docent, sed crumenae. Seneca affirmes, that the Common-wealth hath no worse men,2 quam qui Philosophi•m, v•l vt •liquod artificium vaenale, didicerunt. Miserable men, that looke to their owne good, more then the Churches; seruing God in their parts, themselues in their hearts; working, like those builders about the Arke, rather for present gaine, then future safetie. But as they desire rather nostra quam nos, so they preserue rather sua quàm se: winning, like Demas, the world, and loosing, like Iud•s, their soules. I haue read in the Fable, of a Widdow, that being thicke-sighted, sent to a certaine Phisitian to cure her: he promiseth it to her, and shee to him a summe of money for satisfaction. The Phisitian comes, and applies Medicines, which being bound ouer her eyes, still as he departs, he carries away with him some of her best goods: so continuing her paines and his labour, till hee had robbed the house of her best substance. At last he demanded of her, being now cured, his couenanted pay. Shee looking about her house, and missing her goods, told him that hee had not cured her: for whereas be•ore shee could see some furniture in her house, now shee could perceiue none: shee was erst thicke-sighted, but now poore-blinde. You can apply it without helpe. Well, those spirituall Phisitians are onely good, that propound to themselues no gaine, but to heale the broken, recouer the lost, and bring home the wandring Lambs to the Sheepe-folds of peace; ieoparding a ioynt to saue a sicke conscience; with Moses and Paul, not respecting the losse of themselues, whiles they may replenish the Kingdome of Christ.
- 1Bern in Cant.
- 2S•n lib. 19. Ep. 1•
