A14996:13
A caveat for the covetousA caveat for the couetous
A caveat for the covetous. Or, A sermon preached at Pauls Cross, upon the fourth of December, out of Luke. 12. 15. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God, in BanburyA caveat for the couetous. Or, A sermon preached at Paules Crosse, vpon the fourth of December, out of Luke. 12. 15. By William Whatelie, preacher of the word of God, in Banbury
London: printed by T. Snodham for Thomas Man, 1609
M. WHATELIES SERMON, PREACHED AT PAULS CROSS.M. VVHATELIES SERMON, PREACHED AT PAVLES CROSSE.
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.
Luke 12.15. Take heed and beware of covetousness, for though a man have abundance, his life consists not in his riches.
Luke 12.15. Take heede and beware of couetousnesse, for though a man haue aboundance, his life consists not in his riches.
These are the words of our Saviour Christ, uttered upon occasion of a certain accident related immediately before. Two brethren were at variance, about their fathers lands. It seems that one would have had all to himself, and left very little or nothing to his brother. Hereupon the party that thought himself wronged, entreats our Saviour by good counsel, to compose the controversy betwixt them, and to bring his brother ⟨p. 2⟩to some more equal course of division. Our Lord that always regarded the the soul more than the state, perceiving covetousness to be the cause of this contention, refuseth to intermeddle with the parting of their lands, and falls to cure that disease of their souls which procured all this distemper. This he begins to do in the verse present, and prosecutes more at large in the sequel of the Chapter. These words divide themselves into two parts: The first, Christs exhortation, Take heed, and beware of covetousness. The second, the reason wherewith he backs his exhortation taken from the ineffectualness of wealth, the object of covetousness, for though a man have abundance, &c. that is, if any man should heap up all superfluities, he shall find no more safety, quiet, or contentment of life, from this his copheaped plenty of outward things. The point of doctrine which our Saviour Christ aims at, Doctrine. in the discussing of which I purpose to spend the time allotted, is so manifest, that no man can choose but see it, whosoever will be ruled by Christ, must beware of Covetousness. All true Christians, that do hang at Christs mouth for ⟨p. 3⟩direction, and show their hope of salvation by practise of obedience, must shun and avoid with all diligence this hateful sin of worldliness; one word of Christ should be sufficient to a Christian soul, but he was not so scant of words as once only to warn us of such a capital evil. The same spirit spake in his Apostles, that in himself and by their mouths he hath given us many like advertisements, whereof some one or two it shall suffice to have mentioned.