A09965:20
Four godly and learned treatises Entitled, I. A remedy against covetousness. II. An elegant…Foure godly and learned treatises Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant…
Four godly and learned treatises Entitled, I. A remedy against covetousness. II. An elegant and lively description of spiritual death and life. III. The doctrine of self-denial. IV. Upon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, John Preston, Doctor of Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty; master of Emanuel College, and sometime preacher of Lincolns Inn.Foure godly and learned treatises Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant and lively description of spirituall death and life. III. The doctrine of selfe-deniall. IV. Vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie; master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by Thomas for Michael Sparke, 1633
COLLOS. 3.5. And Covetousness which is Idolatry.COLLOS. 3.5. And Covetousnesse which is Idolatrie.
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.
COLLOS. 3.5. And Covetousness which is Idolatry.
COLLOS. 3.5. And Covetousnesse which is Idolatrie.
Covetousness which is Idolatry, that must be mortified as well as the other earthly members. Now this Covetousness is nothing else; but an inordinate and sinful desire of getting or keeping Wealth or Money. The inordinate lusting after Honours, that is styled Ambition; too much affecting of Beauty, is called Lustfulness; and Lust is an inordinate affection, which when it propoundeth Riches for its object, is called Covetousness, which is Idolatry. Now Idolatry consisteth in one of these three things: First, in worshipping the true GOD in a wrong manner, apprehending him as a Creature, giving that to him that agreeth not with him. Secondly, when ⟨p. 2⟩as we make the creature a God; that is, by conceiving it under the notion of a God: so did they which worshipped Jove, Mars, and those Heathens that worship the Creatures as Gods. Thirdly, when as we attribute that unto it, which belongeth unto GOD: as to trust in it, to delight in it, to put all our trust and confidence in it: when as we think, that it can perform that unto us which God only can, this thought is Idolatry. Now that Covetousness is Idolatry, is meant only in this sense when as we think that riches can do that for us which God only can; as that they can do us good or evil. Isaiah, 41 23. If they are Gods, saith God, let them do good or evil. God only doth good and evil, therefore he is distinguished from Idols because they cannot do it. Affections follow opinions, and practise follows affections. Therefore Heb. 11 6. He that will come to God must believe that he is, & that he is a rewarder of all those that seek him. None will worship God, unless they believe that God can comfort and relieve them in all their distresses; So no men will earnestly seek after wealth or riches till they have an opinion, that riches and wealth will yield them comfort, or be a strong tower of defence to free them from inconveniences; this makes them to trust in them, and this thought is Idolatry. There are two Points of Doctrine that arise from these words: The first, is this.