If ye ask like the Virgin,1 How can this be? I answer, even as Adam was warm without clothes; so God doth satisfy many men without riches. Though he was naked, yet he did not see his nakedness, so long as he was innocent: but, when he began to rebel, than he began to want clothes; so though a man be poor, yet he doth not see his poverty, so long as he is contented: but when he begins to covet, then he begins to want riches, and from that day the curse (in the first of Ag. 6.) takes hold upon him, Ye eat, but you have not enough; ye drink, but you are not satisfied; ye ⟨p. 229⟩clothe your selves, but you are not warm. Indeed the covetous man seemeth to draw the world to him with cords, his coffers are of load-stones, his hands like nets, his fingers like lime-twigs, here it comes, and there it comes; one would think that this man should be happy one day. When the churls barns were full, he bad his soul rest, thinking to gain rest by covetousness, that he might say, Riches gain rest as well as Godliness: but see what happened; that night when he began to take his rest, riches, and rest, and soul, and all, were taken from him. Did he not gain fair? would he have taken such pains if he had thought of such rest? Covetousness may gain riches, but it cannot gain rest: ye may think like this Churl to rest, when your barns, and shops, and coffers are full: but ye shall find it true which Isaiah saith,2 There is no rest to the ungodly. Therefore the Wise man to prevent any hope of rest, or honour, or profit, by sin, speaks as though he had tried,3 A man cannot be established by iniquity: therefore he cannot be quieted nor satisfied by the gain of deceit, or bribes, or lies, or usury, which is iniquity; therefore blessed is the man whom godliness doth make rich, For When the blessing of the Lord maketh rich (saith Solomon) he doth add no sorrow to it, ⟨p. 230⟩4but (saith he) the revenues of the wicked is trouble; as though his money were care. Wherefore let Patron, and Landlord, and Lawyer, and all say now, that Paul hath chosen the better riches, which thief, nor moth, nor canker can corrupt:
If ye aske like the Virgin,1 How can this be? I answere, euen as Adam was warme without cloathes; so God doth satisfie manie men without riches. Though he was naked, yet hee did not see his nakednesse, so long as he was innocent: but, when hee began to rebell, than hee began to want cloathes; so though a man bee poore, yet hee doth not see his pouertie, so long as he is contented: but when hee begins to couet, then he begins to want riches, and from that daye the curse (in the first of Agge. 6.) takes holde vpon him, Ye eate, but you haue not inough; yee drinke, but you are not satisfied; yee ⟨p. 229⟩cloath your selues, but you are not warme. Indeed the couetous man seemeth to drawe the world to him with cords, his coffers are of load-stones, his hands like nets, his fingers like lime-twigs, here it comes, and there it comes; one would think that this man shold be happie one day. When the churles barnes were full, hee bad his soule rest, thinking to gaine rest by couetousnes, that he might say, Riches gaine rest as well as Godlines: but see what happened; that night when hee began to take his rest, riches, and rest, and soule, and all, were taken from him. Did hee not gaine faire? would he haue taken such paines if hee had thought of such rest? Couetousnes may gaine riches, but it cannot gaine rest: ye may thinke like this Churle to rest, when your barnes, and shops, and coffers are full: but ye shall finde it true which Esay saith,2 There is no rest to the vngodlie. Therefore the Wise man to preuent any hope of rest, or honour, or profit, by sinne, speakes as though hee had tried,3 A man cannot bee established by iniquitie: therefore he cannot bee quieted nor satisfied by the gaine of deceipt, or bribes, or lies, or vsurie, which is iniquitie; therefore blessed is the man whom godlines doth make rich, For When the blessing of the Lorde maketh rich (saith Salomon) hee dooth adde no sorrow to it, ⟨p. 230⟩4but (saith hee) the reuenewes of the wicked is trouble; as though his mony were care. Wherfore let Patron, and Landlord, and Lawyer, and all say nowe, that Paule hath chosen the better riches, which thiefe, nor moath, nor canker can corrupt:
- 1Gen. 2. 25.
- 2Esa. 48. 22.
- 3Pro. 12. 3.
- 4Pro. 10. 22.
