A09450:130
The reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19.…The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19.…
The reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19. verse to the end of the said chapter. By William Perkins.The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19. verse to the ende of the said chapter. By William Perkins.
London: printed by T. Creede for Nicholas Ling, 1603
THE REFORmation of Covetousness.THE REFORmation of Couetousnesse.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, we must have our conversation in heaven. If Christ be our treasure, then our affection, joy, comfort, our heart, mind: and all the whole man living on earth, must be in heaven. If Christ be thy treasure, and his blood and passion, then all thy hart, hope, joy and comfort is there. Therefore we must send up our hearts to heaven: otherwise he is not our treasure. If we will use him as our treasure, let all our care and joy be in, and for heaven.
First, we must haue our conuersation in heauen. If Christ be our treasure, then our affection, ioy, comfort, our heart, minde: and all the whole man liuing on earth, must be in heauen. If Christ bee thy treasure, and his bloud and passion, then all thy hart, hope, ioy and comfort is there. Therfore we must send vp our hearts to heauen: otherwise he is not our treasure. If wee will vse him as our treasure, let all our care and ioy bee in, and for heauen.
Secondly, we must turn earthly goods into heavenly treasure. How? why he that giveth to the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: The Lord becomes a debtor to him, and borroweth of him for the poor. The poor is but the Lords bailiff and messenger, whom he sends to the rich, and he returns a reward of heavenly treasure for it. Mark there how by giving alms to the Lords poor, we turn earthly blessings into heavenly. Luke. 12. 43. expressing these words, saith: Sell all that you have, and give to the poor: make your selves purses which shall last for ever. When men do so, then they turn their temporal goods into heavenly treasure; and so men that have this worlds goods, may by the blessing of God, make⟨p. 42⟩ great increase of them.
Secondly, wee must turne earthly goods into heauenly treasure. How? why hee that giueth to the poore, lendeth vnto the Lord: The Lord becomes a debter to him, and boroweth of him for the poore. The poore is but the Lordes bayliffe and messenger, whom he sends to the rich, and hee returnes a rewarde of heauenly treasure for it. Marke there how by giuing almes to the Lordes poore, we turn earthly blessings into heauenly.