But, for a more full answer to the ques- tion, " What is it to covet ?" I shall shew you in six particulars, when a man may be said to be given to covetousness.
1. When his thoughts are wholly taken up about the world. As a good man's thoughts are still in heaven; he is thinking of Christ's love and eternal recompense, Ps. cxxxix. 18., " Wlien I awake, I am still with thee," that is divine contemplation, so a covetous man is still with the world ; his mind is wholly taken up about it; he can think of nothing but his shop or farm. The fancy is a mint-house, and most of the thoughts a covetous man mints are world- ly; lie is always plotting and projecting a- bout the things of this life ; like a virgin that hath all her thoughts running upon her suitor.
2. A man may be said to be given to co- vetousness when he takes more pains for the getting of earth, than for the getting of heaven. He will turn every stone, break his sleep, take many a weary step for the world ; but will take no pains for Christ or heaven. The Gauls, who were an ancient people of France, after they had tasted of the sweet wine of the Italian grape, they inquired after the country, and never rest- ed till they had arrived at it ; so a covetous
man having had a relish of the world, pur- sues after it, and never leaves till he hath got it ; but he neglects the things of eter- nity. He could be content if salvation would drop into his mouth as a rij)e {x^ drops into the mouth of the eater, Nahum iii. 12. But he is loath to put himself to too much sweat or trouble to obtain Christ or salvation. He hunts for the world, — he wisheth only for heaven.
3. A man may be said to be given to co- vetousness, when all his discourse is about the world; John iii. 31., "He that is of the earth, is earthly and speaketh of the earth." As it is a sign of godliness to be still sj)eaking of heaven, — to have the tongue turned to the language of Canaan, Eccl. X. 12., " The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious," — he speaks as if he had been already in heaven ; so, a sign of a man given to covetousness, he is speaking of se- cular things, his wares and drugs. A co- vetous man's breath, like a dying man's, smells strong of the earth. As they said to Peter, " thy speech bewrayeth thee," Mat. xxvi. 73. : so a covetous man's speech bewrayeth him ; he is like the fish in the gospel, whicli had a piece of money in the mouth. Mat. xvii. 27. Verba sunt specu- lum vicnlis. Bern. ' Words are the look- ing-glass of the heart,' — they shew what is within. Ex abundautia cordis.
4. A man is given to covetousness when he doth so set his heart upon worldly things, that for the love of them, he vnW part with heavenly ; for the " wedge of gold," he will part with the " pearl of great price." The young man in the gospel, when Christ said, " Sell all and come and follow me ;" abiit tristis, — " he went away sorrowful," Mat. xix. 21, 22., He would rather part with Christ than with all his earthly pos- sessions. Cardinal Bourbon said, he would forego his part in Paradise, if he might keep his cardinalship in Paris. AVhen it comes to a critical point, that men must either relinquish their estate or Christ, and they will rather part with Christ, and a good conscience, than with their estate, — it is a clear case they are possessed with the devil as covetousness.
5. A man is given to covetousness when he overloads himself with worldly business
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OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
He hath many irons in the fire ; he is in this sense a pluralist, he takes so much bu- siness upon him, that he cannot find time to serve God ; he hath scarce time to eat his meat, but no time to pray. When a man doth overcharge himself with the world, and as Martha, cumber himself about many things, that lie cannot have time for his soul, sure he is under the power of covetousness.
6. He is given to covetousness whose heart is so set upon the world, that, to get it, he cares not what unlawful indirect means he useth, — he will have the Avorld per fas et nefas^ — he will wrong and de- fraud, and raise his estate upon the ruins of another, Hos. xii. 7, 8., " The balances of deceit are in his hand, he loveth to op- press." And Ephraim said, " yet I am be- come rich." Pope Sylvester H. did sell his soul to the devil for a popedom.
Use. ' Take heed and beware of cove- tousness,' Luke xii. 15. It is a direct breach of this tenth commandment. Co- vetousness is a moral vice, it infects and pollutes the whole soul. The sin.