Covetousness Expounded.
Q. WHAT is covetousness?
A. An inordinate desire of riches.
A. An inordinate desire of riches.
Q. When is covetousness a mortal sin?
A. When either we desire to get unjustly what which is another man's of considerable value, or else refuse to give of that which is our own, to such as are in any extreme or great necessity.
A. When either we desire to get unjustly what which is another man's of considerable value, or else refuse to give of that which is our own, to such as are in any extreme or great necessity.
Q. How prove you the first part?
A. Out of 1 Tim. vi. 9. "They, who would become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition: for covetousness is the root of all evils."
A. Out of 1 Tim. vi. 9. "They, who would become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition: for covetousness is the root of all evils."
Q. How prove you the latter part?
A. Out of 1 John iii. 17. "He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in necessity, and shall shut up his bowels from him; how doth the charity of God abide in him?"
A. Out of 1 John iii. 17. "He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in necessity, and shall shut up his bowels from him; how doth the charity of God abide in him?"
Q. What other proof have you for alms?
A. Out of Luke xi. 41. "But yet that which remains, give alms, and behold all things are clean unto you." And out of Dan. iv. 24. "Redeem thy sins with alms and thy iniquity with the mercies of the poor."
A. Out of Luke xi. 41. "But yet that which remains, give alms, and behold all things are clean unto you." And out of Dan. iv. 24. "Redeem thy sins with alms and thy iniquity with the mercies of the poor."
Q. What are the daughters of covetousness?
A. Hardness of heart, unmercifulness to the poor unquiet solicitude, neglect of heavenly things, and confidence in things of this world.
A. Hardness of heart, unmercifulness to the poor unquiet solicitude, neglect of heavenly things, and confidence in things of this world.
Q. What else?
A. Usury, fraud, rapine, theft, &c.
A. Usury, fraud, rapine, theft, &c.
Q. What are the remedies of covetousness?
A. To consider "that it is a kind of idolatry," according to Col. iii. 5. And that "it is harder for a rich man to enter into heaven, that for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." Matt. xix. 24.
A. To consider "that it is a kind of idolatry," according to Col. iii. 5. And that "it is harder for a rich man to enter into heaven, that for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." Matt. xix. 24.
Q. What are the virtues opposite to covetousness?
A. Liberality, which makes a man give freely to the poor; and justice, which renders to a men that which is theirs. "It is a more blessed thing thing to give (saith our Lord) than to take." Acts xxvi. 35. And 2 Cor. ix. 6, St. Paul saith, "He that soweth sparingly, sparingly also shall he reap; but he that soweth in blessings, of blessings also shall he reap; for God loves the cheerful giver."
A. Liberality, which makes a man give freely to the poor; and justice, which renders to a men that which is theirs. "It is a more blessed thing thing to give (saith our Lord) than to take." Acts xxvi. 35. And 2 Cor. ix. 6, St. Paul saith, "He that soweth sparingly, sparingly also shall he reap; but he that soweth in blessings, of blessings also shall he reap; for God loves the cheerful giver."
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