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 Spending

1. By spending too sparingly and too niggardly in all things, as when men live under their degree and place, when they regard not decency in apparel or other like things, when they afford not necessaries to themselves or to those that are under their charge- these are pinch-pennies. Thus doth the wise man set out such a one, 'A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth: yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof,' Eccles. vi. 2.

2. By being too prodigal in some things, as in housekeeping, in apparel, in their pleasures on themselves, wives, and children, but are too strait-handed in all works of charity, and in contributions to church and state. Nabal was such a one. He made a feast in his house 'like the feast of a king,' but yet refused to refresh David's soldiers in their necessity with any part of his provision, 1 Sam. xxv. 11, 36. And such a one was Dives; he was 'clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day,' yet refused to feed Lazarus with the crumbs that fell from his table, Luke xvi. 19, etc. These may be counted pound-prodigal, and penny-covetous.