A20559:579
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The use that we must make of this is, that though we have never done any man wrong in one penny, yet we must repent for the wrong of the heart and the secret desire of the soul, or else before God we are culpable of the breach of this commandment, and liable to the plague of God for it. Secondly, we must learn to restrain our desires and keep in the wandering lusts of our heart, for that which it is a sin to take before men, it is a sin to wish before God, therefore we must bind our minds to the good abearance, Now the way to expel this wicked and greedy covetousness of wealth is to consider these two things. First, the small or no good that riches can do unto them that have them. Secondly, to consider the certain hurt that the desire of them will bring. For the ground of covetousness is this, that men have a false and foolish imagination, that wealth will bring some happiness, and if they had riches in good store; then they should be in good safety and in an happy case, but that riches can make ones estate no whit the better, it is proved in the Psalm. 62. 10. 11. 12. If riches increase set not thine heart upon them. He would have one let his heart be never a whit set to his wealth, and deem himself no whit the better for the increase of them; what? is not one better; nor hath he not cause to be more glad when his purse is full of money then if he had never a farthing? no sure not one jot, and he gives three reasons.
The vse that we must make of this is, that though we haue neuer done any man wrong in one pennie, yet we must repent for the wrong of the heart and the secret desire of the soule, or els before God we are culpable of the breach of this commandement, and lyable to the plague of God for it. Secondly, wee must learne to restraine our desires and keepe in the wandring lusts of our heart, for that which it is a sin to take before men, it is a sinne to wish before God, therefore we must binde our minds to the good abearance, Now the way to expell this wicked and greedie couetousnes of wealth is to consider these two thinges. First, the small or noe good that riches can doe vnto them that haue them. Secondly, to consider the certaine hurt that the desire of them will bring. For the ground of couetousnesse is this, that men haue a false and foolish imagination, that wealth will bring some happinesse, and if they had riches in good store; then they should be in good safetie and in an happie case, but that riches can make ones estate no whitte the better, it is proued in the