Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

5. The Avarous

5. The Auarous

Is a principal in this Bedlam. Soft: if it were granted, that the Covetous were mad, the world it self would run of a garget: for who is not bitten with this mad dog? It is the great Canon of the Devil, charged with chain-shot, that hath killed charity in almost all hearts. A poison of three sad ingredients; whereof, who hath not (to speak sparingly) tasted? Insatiability, rapacity, ¹tenacity. In concupiscendo, acquirendo, retinendo. Covetousness hath three properties, saith Ambrose, Concupiscere aliena, cupita inuadere, celare quod ruadit: To covet not her own, to get what she covets, and to keep what she gets. And yet, Oh Avarous, why art thou so mad after money? Non habentes inficit, habentes non refecit: It hurts them that it possesseth, and helps not them that possess it. The brood, that covetousness hatcheth, is an offspring intricated with cares terrestrial, infected with desires carnal, blinded with passions, subjected to affections, infirmed by tentations, informed by lusts, infolded in errors, in ambiguities difficult, obnoxious to suspicions. Is he not mad, that will foster in his bosom a dam, with such a damned litter?

Is a principall in this Bedlam. Soft: if it were granted, that the Couetous were madde, the world it selfe would runne of a garget: for who is not bitten with this madde dogge? It is the great Canon of the Deuil, charged with chaine-shot, that hath killed charity in almost all hearts. A poyson of three sad ingredients; whereof, who hath not (to speake sparingly) tasted? Insatiability, rapacity, ¹tenacity. In concupiscendo, acquirendo, retinendo. Couetousnesse hath three properties, saith Ambrose, Concupiscere aliena, cupita inuadere, celare quod ruadit: To couet not her own, to get what she couets, and to keepe what shee gets. And yet, Oh Auarous, why art thou so mad after money? Non habentes inficit, habentes non refecit: It hurts them that it possesseth, and helpes not them that possesse it. The brood, that couetousnesse hatcheth, is an ofspring intricated with cares terrestriall, infected with desires carnall, blinded with passions, subiected to affections, infirmed by tentations, informed by lusts, infolded in errors, in ambiguities difficult, obnoxious to suspicions. Is hee not madde, that will foster in his bosome a damme, with such a damned littour?