Covetousness

Contents

• Of the Nature of Covetousness
• Of the Practice of Covetousness in Getting Wealth
• Of the Practice of Covetousness in Keeping Wealth
• Of the Practice of Covetousness in Spending
• Of the Heinousness of Covetousness
• Of Remedies Against Covetousness
• Of Well-Using Abundance
• Of Examination of a Man's Self About Covetousness
• Of Rules to Find Out Covetousness
• Of Over-Rash Censuring Others of Covetousness
• Of Contentedness. What It Is. The Grounds of Contentedness.

Of the Practice of Covetousness in Keeping Wealth

1. When men hoard up all that they can, though they have enough for the present, yet fearing want for the future, treasure up whatsoever they can get. So did the rich fool in the Gospel. His ground bearing fruit plentifully, his mind was presently set upon enlarging his barns to lay up for many years to come, Luke xii. etc. &c. The wise man doth set out this covetous practice, 'There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches,' Eccles. iv. 8. These are they that take thought for the morrow; that is, cark and care for the future time, which Christ expressly forbiddeth, Mat. vi. 34. They think that whosoever want, they will not.

2. When men hoard up only for themselves, they care not what treasure for the future the commonwealth or the church hath against times of need and trial, nor do they care for the flock of the poor.