A09965:93
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.
Secondly, as we ought not to seek wealth more than is our due; so we ought not to seek it by unlawful means; not by usury, gaming, oppression, fraud, deceit, or any other unlawful means. I add this of gaming, because it is unlawful (though it be little considered:) for it is no means that God hath appointed or sanctified for to get money; because it is neither a gift nor a bargain. I dispute not now; whether playing for trifles, to put life into the game be lawful, but of gaming with an intent to get and gain money or wealth; this I say is an unlawful means, and such as have gotten money by these unlawful means, are bound to restitution.
Secondly, as we ought not to seeke wealth more than is our due; so we ought not to seeke it by unlawfull meanes; not by vsury, gaming, oppression, fraud, deceipt, or any other unlawfull meanes. I adde this of gaming, because it is unlawfull (though it be little considered:) for it is no meanes that God hath appointed or sanctified for to get money; because it is neither a gift nor a bargaine. I dispute not now; whether playing for trifles, to put life into the game be lawfull, but of gaming with an intent to get and gaine money or wealth; this I say is an unlawfull meanes, and such as have gotten money by these unlawfull meanes, are bound to restitution.
Thirdly, when the end of our seeking after money is wrong, then our affection is sinful, as if we seek it only for its self, that we may be rich; or to bestow it on our lusts. If we make this our end, to bestow it on our lust, and not on necessaries only, not contenting our selves with so much as shall serve our turns; if we seek it thus, we seek it in excess. He that desires, money for a journey, desires no more than will serve to defray the costs and expenses in his journey; so if a man desires money for any other end, he desires as much as will serve him for that purpose, and no more. So in other things: he that is sick, ⟨p. 34⟩desires as much Physic as will cure him, and no more: so we ought to desire as much as will serve our necessities, and no more. But if we desire it for ambition, pleasures, or any other by-respect, this desire is sinful and inordinate.