Use 1 Admonition, not only to forbear all fraudulent and wrongful dealing, but with hatred to detest it, and with horror to fly far from it. That which is hurtful to our brother is hateful to God, and therefore can never be helpful to us. If he judge it unrighteous we shall find it unprofitable: if it be damnable in his sight, and therefore his soul doth hate it, it will at last be in our sense, and our soul shall rue it. It may bring money and wealth, and raise up mens state and family, but it will draw down judgements upon family, state, and wealth, and money, and make all to be execrable. For that which is spoken in another case, is also verified in this: Bring not abomination into thine house, lest thou be 1accursed like it, but utterly abhor it, and count it most abominable, for it is accursed. As the gold, and silver, and other costly matter, whereof the idols were made, and wherewith they were adorned, was execrable in respect of impiety; so is this trade of getting, and riches so gotten in regard of iniquity. And therefore both ⟨p. 4⟩are very offensive to the Lord: both are pestilent to mens families: both are perilous to their state: both are pernicious to their souls. For a cursed possession may make the person accursed, and bring the whole house to desolation. Which should persuade men not only to make stay of getting goods unjustly, but to make no stay of ridding their hands justly thereof. For as they sin grievously which indirectly receive that which is none of their own; so do they also that retain it, and restore it not to the right owner. And therefore in Micah it is set as a note of sinners, and such as are obstinately sinful, and which conceive of God as a patron of their sinfulness, that upon admonition given unto them from the Lord, would not reform their falsehood. Are yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and 2the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I justify the wicked balances, and the deceitful weights?
Vse 1 Admonition, not onely to forbeare all fraudulent and wrongfull dealing, but with hatred to detest it, and with horror to flie farre from it. That which is hurtfull to our brother is hatefull to God, and therefore can neuer bee helpefull to vs. If he iudge it vnrighteous we shall finde it vnprofitable: if it be damnable in his sight, and therefore his soule doth hate it, it will at last bee in our sense, and our soule shall rue it. It may bring monie and wealth, and raise vp mens state and familie, but it will draw downe iudgements vpon familie, state, and wealth, and monie, and make all to be execrable. For that which is spoken in another case, is also verified in this: Bring not abomination into thine house, lest thou bee 1accursed like it, but vtterly abhorre it, and count it most abominable, for it is accursed. As the gold, and siluer, and other costly matter, whereof the idols were made, and wherewith they were adorned, was execrable in respect of impietie; so is this trade of getting, and riches so gotten in regard of iniquitie. And therefore both ⟨p. 4⟩are very offensiue to the Lord: both are pestilent to mens families: both are perilous to their state: both are pernicious to their soules. For a cursed possession may make the person accursed, and bring the whole house to desolation. Which should perswade men not onely to make stay of getting goods vniustly, but to make no stay of ridding their hands iustly thereof. For as they sinne grieuouslie which indirectly receiue that which is none of their owne; so doe they also that retaine it, and restore it not to the right owner. And therefore in Micah it is set as a note of sinners, and such as are obstinately sinfull, and which conceiue of God as a patron of their sinfulnesse, that vpon admonition giuen vnto them from the Lord, would not reforme their falsehood. Are yet the treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked, and 2the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I iustifie the wicked ballances, and the deceitfull weights?
- 1Deut. 7. 26.
- 2Micah. 6. 10.
