A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

1. Then we call that inordinateness, when men mistaking the right end for which, and the golden mediocrity according to which riches are to be employed; they do fail either in the excess, by transgressing the just bounds, or in the defect; or making use of wrong midesses for attaining the end: Hence the love of money, or of riches, being the root of all evil, becometh Idolatry, when riches are made the ultimate end, and pursued and made use of only to satisfy the lust of the eye; or when this love of money is made subservient to some other lust, as ⟨p. 397⟩to the pride of life, thus the love of money is inordinate as to its end, when it is for an end without and beyond that which is convenient for us. 2. We may be inordinate by our being too vehement in our desires after riches, so that we will be rich, as it is 1 Tim 6.9. we resolve it, and must be so by any means, as it were; which is most dangerous, and by being desirous of too much, keeping no proportionable measure, but being sometimes in the excess, spending our time in seeking more then is convenient, sometimes in the defect, trifling away much time in the lazy, careless, and negligent pursuit of what is convenient. 3. There may be inordinateness in the midesses made use of for attaining or retaining riches either by an unlawful way of conquest simply, or by that which is such in some respects; as by unlawful callings and such like: All which unlawful ways may be reduced to these three, rapina, furtum, and turpe lucrum, rapine, theft, and filthy lucre, of which more afterward.

1. Then we call that inordinateness, when men mistaking the right end for which, and the golden mediocrity according to which riches are to be employed; they do fail either in the excess, by transgressing the just bounds, or in the defect; or making use of wrong midesses for attaining the end: Hence the love of money, or of riches, being the root of all evil, becometh Idolatry, when riches are made the ultimate end, and pursued and made use of only to satisfie the lust of the eye; or when this love of money is made subservient to some other lust, as ⟨p. 397⟩to the pride of life, thus the love of money is inordinate as to its end, when it is for an end without and beyond that which is convenient for us. 2. We may be inordinate by our being too vehement in our desires after riches, so that we will be rich, as it is 1 Tim 6.9. we resolve it, and must be so by any means, as it were; which is most dangerous, and by being desirous of too much, keeping no proportionable measure, but being sometimes in the excess, spending our time in seeking more then is convenient, sometimes in the defect, trifling away much time in the lazy, careless, and negligent pursuit of what is convenient. 3. There may be inordinateness in the midesses made use of for attaining or retaining riches either by an unlawful way of conquest simply, or by that which is such in some respects; as by unlawful callings and such like: All which unlawful wayes may be reduced to these three, rapina, furtum, and turpe lucrum, rapine, theft, and filthy lucre, of which more afterward.