Riches are one thing, the perfection of riches is another; as in spiritual things there is the substance of them, and the perfection of them; so in temporals: The word signifies, the consummation of any thing,1 or the bringing it to its perfective end (Isa. 33.1.) When thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee: The Prophet doth nor mean it of making an end by way of cessation, as if hand, heart, or tongue, did cease dealing treacherously (for so wicked men will never make an end of wickedness, if they might have an eternity to act evil in, they would act it eternally) but he means it of making an end by way of consummation, as if he had said; When they are come to a full stature in treachery, and have completed their conspiracies against goodness, and good men, then they shall be dealt with in their kind, and as they best deserve. Now as a wicked man would complete his sin, and often reaches the very perfection of it, so he would complete his estate, and doth sometimes reach to the perfection of it. The wicked man would be perfectly rich, he is not satisfied to have a complete estate, or enough for meat, drink, and clothing, he must have a great estate, enough for pride, pomp, and glory; Manna pleases him not, he must have Quails, superfluities as well as necessaries: He thinks a little, too much in spirituals, but a great deal is not enough for him in temporals: His internal imperfections trouble him not, his aim is at perfection in externals. That is perfect only in a strict sense, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken ⟨p. 159⟩away; The wicked man would attain to such perfection, but he cannot; his own heart forbids the first, for how much soever he hath, he would have more added to it; he saith not it is enough, though it be too much; God forbids the latter, his portion shall be abated, or (in the words of the Text) He shall not prolong the perfection thereof.
Riches are one thing, the perfection of riches is another; as in spirituall things there is the substance of them, and the perfection of them; so in temporalls: The word signifies, the consummation of any thing,1 or the bringing it to its perfective end (Isa. 33.1.) When thou shalt make an end to deale treacherously, they shall deale treacherously with thee: The Prophet doth nor meane it of making an end by way of cessation, as if hand, heart, or tongue, did cease dealing treacherously (for so wicked men will never make an end of wickednesse, if they might have an eternity to act evill in, they would act it eternally) but he meanes it of making an end by way of consummation, as if he had sayd; When they are come to a full stature in treachery, and have compleated their conspiracies against goodnesse, and good men, then they shall be dealt with in their kind, and as they best deserve. Now as a wicked man would compleat his sin, and often reaches the very perfection of it, so he would compleat his estate, and doth sometimes reach to the perfection of it. The wicked man would be perfectly rich, he is not satisfied to have a compleat estate, or enough for meat, drink, and cloathing, he must have a great estate, enough for pride, pompe, and glory; Manna pleases him not, he must have Quailes, superfluities as well as necessaries: He thinkes a little, too much in spiritualls, but a great deale is not enough for him in temporals: His internall imperfections trouble him not, his aime is at perfection in externalls. That is perfect onely in a strict sense, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken ⟨p. 159⟩away; The wicked man would attaine to such perfection, but he cannot; his owne heart forbids the first, for how much soever he hath, he would have more added to it; he saith not it is enough, though it be too much; God forbids the latter, his portion shall be abated, or (in the words of the Text) He shall not prolong the perfection thereof.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] perfectio eorum a [Greek or Hebrew] perfecit, alii Minlam vincam, dictionem perinde ac si duae essent exponunt, qu•si [Greek or Hebrew] ex eo quod est illorum, i. e. res illorum non extendentur per terram. Merc.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 perfectio eorum a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 perfecit, alii Minlam vincam, dictionem perinde ac si duae essent exponunt, qu•si 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 ex eo quod est illorum, i. e. res illorum non extendentur per terram. Merc.
