The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

So that we must observe hence, that the least motion after the least thing of our neighbours is sin; men will (it may be) yield that the coveting of a neighbours house, wife, servant is ⟨p. 102⟩naught for these be matters of some wait, but for a little corn, a little grass, an apple a point &c. These they say be trifles not to be stood upon; nay there is nothing so small, but it is some thing and being comprehended under the word any thing must not be coveted. Therefore God to meet with these objectors, as in the fourth commandment, so hear hath branched out so many particulars and at length comprehended all other things not named in a general term, that men might have no shift or evasion, but sith God forbids all coveting in trifles or weighty matters might confess that all is sin.

So that we must obserue hence, that the least motion after the least thing of our neighbours is sin; men will (it may be) yeelde that the coueting of a neighbours house, wife, seruant is ⟨p. 102⟩naught for these be matters of some wait, but for a little corne, a little grasse, an apple a point &c. These they say be trifles not to be stood vpō; nay there is nothing so smal, but it is some thing and being comprehended vnder the word any thing must not be coueted. Therefore God to meete with these obiectors, as in the fourth commandement, so heare hath brauncht out so many particulers and at length comprehended all other things not named in a generall terme, that men might haue no shift or euasion, but sith God forbiddes all coueting in trifles or weightie matters might confesse that all is sinne.

This confutes those that for weighty matters, of some moment, they will hold their hands at least; but for small things that they think a man shall not be much the worse for, they give liberty not to their hearts only but also to their hands, and then they say, Oh, this is nothing pray God we may never do worse indeed it were well that we should never do worse, but it is not well that one doth so ill, for if he do no worse but do this still, this brings him under the curse and will certainly bring him to greater matters; for if a spark be long unquenched it will bring a flame, and he that will disobey God for a little, will disobey him more for a great deal, and he that makes no bones of corrupting his conscience for a penny or half penny, he will be more audacious for a pound. And though the matter be small, in which one offends, yet it is not a small matter, nor a little thing to offend against God, it is a small thing, but it is some thing, and God will not allow it in any thing. He can spare it, but god will not spare it, so that thou shouldest take it with sin against his law. Therefore the use that we must make, is to pray God to give us such a contented heart, and so to like our one estate, as that we may covet nothing that belongs not to us. That we shall obtain if we get a firm and true faith in Gods providence, and his promises. For if one be persuaded firmly that God hath appointed him this house, this wife, this servant, then we shall be content, for we must needs yield that Gods ways be better then ours, that his decree is most just in it self and also best for us if we be his. Also one must have faith in