A caveat for the covetousA caveat for the couetous

Will he give him faith, that can bring a rich Jewell, or a purse of gold for it? or will he hear his prayers any whit sooner in his need, that is clad in cloth of gold, and hath thousands by the year, than if he went in mean apparel, & had not twice twenty pound, nay twenty pence yearly? or is there any commuting of penance in heaven? or can we by a great fine answer for a fault? Indeed if any of you be so blockish, as to believe the palpable deceits of popish Rome, some of these things are set to sale there, and there you may buy indulgences and pardons: ⟨p. 105⟩but we know well enough that Rome and heaven stand a good way a sunder, and they be not ruled by the same laws, neither will God stand to those bargains that the Pope makes for money. You have all yielded, now that for soul, money cannot bring any good to it. But what?¹ cannot it profit the body more? Ask experience. Will wealth buy health? will it purchase ease, or a good nights rest, or an hours sleep, or a good stomach, or any of these things that are less then these? Answer what you know by proof: will wealth buy these things? and what is the body the better for it then? But yet perhaps the name may be more beholding to it.² It will surely bring credit, and good estimation. Indeed here, if in any thing, the rich man magnifies himself above the poor, because he takes himself to be in better reputation. But here if in any thing he is most of all deceived. I confess it makes him think much better of himself, but neither God nor man do think the better. Yea, God and good men think the worse of him for this. If it come in by violence, oppression, robbery, and uniustice, you will yield that no man ⟨p. 106⟩hath the better liking of one for such wealth. But say that a man hath not waded through these filthy and stinking guzzels to get it, but have come unto it in the most cleanly manner, as some, but not the most do, it shall be plain, if any reason will rule us, that it cannot get a good name or credit. For say, what will you call credit? to have cap and courtesy, and a bended knee, and a few complements of behaviour acted unto your silken coat, or before your self it may be, or to be looked after and gazed upon by the deceived multitude, and to be followed by a great number of hangbyes that run after you, as Eagles after a dead carcass to feed upon you? Is this credit? is this estimation?