Answ. So do many thousands that are slaves to it themselves, and shall be damned for it. It is easier to talk against it, than to forsake it. And it is easy to hate covetousness in another, because it will cost you nothing for another to forsake his sin; and perhaps the more covetous he is, the more he standeth in your way, and hindereth you from that which you would have your selves. Of all the multitude of covetous Preachers that be in the world, is there any one that will not preach against covetousness? Read but the Lives of Cardinals, and Popes, and Popish Prelates, and you will see the most odious worldliness set forth without any kind of cloak or shame: How such a one laid his design at Court, and among the great ones for preferment? How studiously he prosecuted it, and conformed himself to the humours & interest of those, from whom ⟨p. 439⟩he did seek it? How they first got this Living, and then got that Prebendary, and then got that Deanery, and then got such a Bishopric, and then got a better (that is a richer) and then got to be Archbishops, and then to be Cardinals, &c. O happy progress, if they might never die! They blush not openly before Angels and men to own this worldly ambitious course, as their design and trade of life: And the Devil is grown so impudent, as if he were now the confessed Master of the world, as to set Divines themselves at work, to write the history of such cursed ambitious worldly lives, with open applause, and great commendations; yea to make Saints of them, that have a character far worse than Christ gave of him in Luke 16. that wanteth a drop of water to cool his tongue: He openly now saith, All this will I give thee; and they as impudently boast, All this I have gotten: but they forget or know not how much they have lost. A Juda• kiss is thought sufficient to prove him a true Christian and Pastor of the Church, though it be but the fruit of what will you give me? Instead of a scourge to whip out these buyers and sellers from Christs Temple, their merchandise is exposed without shame, and their signs set forth, and the trade of getting preferments openly professed, and it is enough to wipe off all the shame, to put some venerable titles upon this Den of thieves. But the Lord whom we wait for, will once more come and cleanse his Temple: But who may abide the day of his coming?
Answ. So do many thousands that are slaves to it themselves, and shall be damned for it. It is easier to talk against it, than to forsake it. And it is easie to hate covetousness in another, because it will cost you nothing for another to forsake his sin; and perhaps the more covetous he is, the more he standeth in your way, and hindereth you from that which you would have your selves. Of all the multitude of covetous Preachers that be in the world, is there any one that will not preach against covetousness? Read but the Lives of Cardinals, and Popes, and Popish Prelates, and you will see the most odious worldliness set forth without any kind of cloak or shame: How such a one laid his design at Court, and among the great ones for preferment? How studiously he prosecuted it, and conformed himself to the humours & interest of those, from whom ⟨p. 439⟩he did seek it? How they first got this Living, and then got that Prebendary, and then got that Denary, and then got such a Bishoprick, and then got a better (that is a richer) and then got to be Archbishops, and then to be Cardinals, &c. O happy progress, if they might never die! They blush not openly before Angels and men to own this worldly ambitious course, as their design and trade of life: And the Devil is grown so impudent, as if he were now the confessed Master of the world, as to set Divines themselves at work, to write the history of such cursed ambitious worldly lives, with open applause, and great commendations; yea to make Saints of them, that have a character far worse than Christ gave of him in Luke 16. that wanteth a drop of water to cool his tongue: He openly now saith, All this will I give thee; and they as impudently boast, All this I have gotten: but they forget or know not how much they have lost. A Juda• kiss is thought sufficient to prove him a true Christian and Pastor of the Church, though it be but the fruit of what will you give me? Instead of a scourge to whip out these buyers and sellers from Christs Temple, their merchandize is exposed without shame, and their signs set forth, and the trade of getting preferments openly professed, and it is enough to wipe off all the shame, to put some venerable titles upon this Den of thieves. But the Lord whom we wait for, will once more come and cleanse his Temple: But who may abide the day of his coming?
