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…

the Apostle commandeth these persons, who were guilty of the opposite sin of Idleness, to be marked with a note of shame.

the Apostle commandeth these persons, who were guilty of the opposit sin of Idleness, to be marked with a note of shame.

And although it be hard to make out covetousness in particulars, where there is no sin in the matter; yet generally where there is a person that excessively is so, there will be both a common account of him to be such in his dealing, by those who can discern, and many complaints of all, almost against him, and a hard disesteem of him: From the grounds that have been touched on, it is somewhat evident that such who generally are called, near, hard, rigid men, though they be not properly unhonest, are guilty of this sin of covetousness, and consequently of the breach of this Command: But however, when covetousness cometh to be scandalous, so as it may be made out, it falleth within the compass of the object of Church-discipline: and certainly seeing covetousness, even when there is no direct theft or oppression, is often so scandalous and offensive; It would seem there must have been in the Apostles time some way to make it out, and that then upon such certain evidence of the scandal, brethren have spoken one to another about it, in which admonition if they did not acquiesce, it proceeded further, and at last private Christians were to shun the familiar company of such for their shame, who thus walked disorderly, by pursuing and gathering ⟨p. 427⟩riches too eagerly, as well as of others, who fell into the contrary sin of negligence and idleness, 2 Thess. 3.14.

And although it be hard to make out covetousness in particulars, where there is no sin in the matter; yet generally where there is a person that excessively is so, there will be both a common account of him to be such in his dealing, by those who can discern, and many complaints of all, almost against him, and a hard disesteem of him: From the grounds that have been touched on, it is somewhat evident that such who generally are called, neer, hard, rigid men, though they be not properly unhonest, are guilty of this sin of covetousness, and consequently of the breach of this Command: But however, when covetousness cometh to be scandalous, so as it may be made out, it falleth within the compass of the object of Church-discipline: and certainly seeing covetousness, even when there is no direct theft or oppression, is often so scandalous and offensive; It would seem there must have been in the Apostles time some way to make it out, and that then upon such certain evidence of the scandal, brethren have spoken one to another about it, in which admonition if they did not acquiess, it proceeded further, and at last private Christians were to shun the familiar company of such for their shame, who thus walked disorderly, by pursuing and gathering