The works of George Swinnock, M.A

Besides, I must tell thee that the Subjects house, as well as the Kings Throne, is preserved by righteousness; That speech of Nevessan the Lawyer, is contrary to Scripture, He that will not venture his body, shall never be valiant; and he that will not venture his soul, shall never be rich. Righteousness, not Robbery, is the way to Riches. He goeth the farthest way about, that endeavours to increase his strength by sucking others blood, or to get an estate by injustice. Nay, he takes a contrary course, for he pulls down on his head the Divine curse; which like an Hectic Fever, will cause an irrecoverable Consumption of all his comforts, both temporal and spiritual. Such treasures and owners are like the Canaanites to the Land; the Land will groan, till it spue them out. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, Prov. 10. 2. Observe Reader, 1. The Excellency of these Comforts in themselves; they are Treasures, that is, heaps of outward good thing; the word includeth a multitude; for one or two will not make a treasure; and a ⟨p. 29⟩multitude of precious things for an heap of sand or coals or dust, is not a treasure, but of silver or gold, or some excellent earthly things. It is here in the plural, Treasures, Noting the greatest confluence of worldly comforts. Note, 2. The impiety of the owners, they are treasures of wickedness. The Purchaser got them by sinful practices. They were brought into his house slyly at some back door; He was both the receiver and the thief. Treasures of wickedness, because gotten by wicked ways, and employed to wicked ends. There is an English Proverb, which too many English men have made good; That which is got over the Devils back, is usually spent under the Devils belly. When sin is the Parent that begets riches, it many times hath this recompense, that they are wholly at its service and command. 3. The vanity of those treasures, they profit nothing; Treasures of wickedness profit nothing. They are unable to cheer the mind, to cure the diseases of the body, muchless to heal the wounds of the soul, or to bribe the flames of Hell. Alas! they are so far from profiting, that they are infinitely prejudicial. Such Powder-Masters are blown up wi•h their own ware. These loads sink the bearers into the unquenchable lake.

Besides, I must tell thee that the Subjects house, as well as the Kings Throne, is preserved by righteousness; That speech of Nevessan the Lawyer, is contrary to Scripture, He that will not venture his body, shall never be valiant; and he that will not venture his soul, shall never be rich. Righteousness, not Robbery, is the way to Riches. He goeth the farthest way about, that endeavours to increase his strength by sucking others blood, or to get an estate by injustice. Nay, he takes a contrary course, for he pulls down on his head the Divine curse; which like an Hectick Feaver, will cause an irrecoverable Consumption of all his comforts, both temporal and spiritual. Such treasures and owners are like the Canaanites to the Land; the Land will groan, till it spue them out. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,