A Body of Practical Divinity

(2) Covetousness is a dangerous Sin, it checks all that is good. It is an Enemy to Grace, it damps good Affections, as the Earth puts out the Fire. The Hedgehog in the Fable came to the Cony-burrows in stormy Weather, and desired Harbour; but when once he had gotten Entertainment, he set up his Prickles, and did never leave till he had thrust the poor Conies out of their Burroughs. So Covetousness by fair Pretences wins it self into the Heart, but as soon as you have let it in, it will never leave till it hath choked all good Beginnings, and thrust all Religion out of your Hearts. Covetousness hinders the Efficacy of the Word Preached. In the Parable the Thorns (which Christ expounded to be the Cares of this Life) choked the Good Seed, Matth. 13.7. Many Sermons lie dead, buried in Earthly Hearts. We preach to Men to get their Hearts in Heaven; but where Covetousness is predominant, it chains them to the Earth, and makes them like the Woman which Satan had bowed together, that she could not lift up her self, Luke 13.11. You may as well bid an Elephant fly in the Air, as a covetous Man live by Faith. We Preach to Men to give freely to Christ's Poor; but Covetousness makes them to be like him in the Gospel, who had a withered Hand, Mark 3.1. They have a withered Hand, and cannot stretch it out to the Poor. It is impossible to be Earthly-minded and charitable-minded. Thus Covetousness obstructs the Efficacy of the Word, and makes it prove Abortive. Such whose Hearts are rooted in the Earth, will be so far from profiting by the Word, that they will be ready rather to deride it. Luke 16.14. The Pharisees who were covetous derided him.

(2) Covetousness is a dangerous Sin, it checks all that is good. It is an Enemy to Grace, it damps good Affections, as the Earth puts out the Fire. The Hedgehog in the Fable came to the Cony-burroughs in stormy Weather, and desir'd Harbour; but when once he had gotten Entertainment, he set up his Prickles, and did never leave till he had thrust the poor Conies out of their Burroughs. So Covetousness by fair Pretences wins it self into the Heart, but as soon as you have let it in, it will never leave till it hath choked all good Beginnings, and thrust all Religion out of your Hearts. Covetousness hinders the Efficacy of the Word Preached. In the Parable the Thorns (which Christ expounded to be the Cares of this Life) choked the Good Seed,