322.

323.

324.

USURER.

Son. A RICH Usurer, that never gave alms in his Life, yet was as charitable to his neighbour as to himself, sat telling his fingers, as if casting up interest; or pensive, as studying how to compass some prodigal, beggar this widow, or undo that orphan; 'till growing drunk, he belch'd out old Bias's problem.

With what art thou not weary? with getting money. What is most delectable? to gain: And

told us,

it

concessum propter duritiem cordis, he look'd upon
as a noble exemption from the first sentence passed
upon mankind, for by it he eat his bread in sudore
vultus alieni.

325. That riches were equal to merit, and wealth alone afforded more pleasure than the possession of parents, children, and friends.

326.

327.

That gold and silver were his idols, which he wou'd ever hug, and hide closer than Rachel did her father's images.

Then he fell a railing against the 12 Car. II. chap. 13. 'till Mr. desired him to read the

parable in the 12th of St. Luke.

328. Father. There are a number of scarce discerned faculties and customs that make men rich; but the two most fortunate properties are, a little of the fool, and not too much of the honest; both which qualities are conspicuous enough in your Usurer.

329.

By women's longing covetousness seems to be the first sin mankind is guilty of; and to see how old misers hug their bags, coveting wealth most when they are just about to leave it, one would think it the last.

330. An insatiate desire to get and keep money, is a plague no Esculapius can cure.

331.

The more a man drinks of this world, the more it intoxicates.

332. The covetous will lye with Gehazi,1 steal with

3

Achan, betray with Judas, murder with Ahab,*

apostatize with Demas."

6

333. Agur's wish is a continual lecture of reproof to

him that covets more than a sufficiency.

334. He that has most has no more than he enjoys, besides the trouble of keeping it.

335.

Socrates passing thro' the markets, cry'd, how much is here I do not want.

336. Coveting what we need not, takes from us the true use and fruition of what we already have.

337.

"Tis wrong that men should call him blest,

Who lands, and store of gold has got;

He's only so who is possess'd

Of sense to use, what is his lot:

Whose noble soul, his fortune does excel

And talent is, to manage all things well."

338. Considering a miser's fears, his starting sleeps ; that whilst he has all the anxious and distracting cares, and vexations that attend the possession of an estate, he is so bewitch'd as to undergo all the inconveniencies of poverty, his condition is so very

wretched, that one of the greatest curses a man can wish him, is, that he may live long.

1. The prodigal robs his heir, the miser himself. After all, if riches be not taken from him, as it fared with Job,' in a short time he must, as Dives,2 be taken from his riches, and then the more he leaves, the less his heirs regret his loss. . According to the proverb, ill got, ill spent ; a covetous, scraping, time-selling father, has commonly a prodigal son, who squanders away the estate with as little conscience as it was rak'd and heap'd together.

Nil nimium cupito.

Desire no greater riches than such as you may get justly, use soberly, distribute chearfully, and leave contentedly.

He is rich enough that needs neither flatter, nor borrow, and truly rich that is satisfied; want lies in desire.

1 Job I.

But give me the character of the
Wiseman you mentioned.

2 Luke 16. 22.

345. Son. His countenance was full of mildness and courtesy, his eyes more smiling than his mouth, his discourse grave and sober, his words smooth and proper, distinctly uttered with such a due respect to time, place, and person, as did not only perswade, but ravish and transport his auditors, and produce in them a certain admiration, mixt with astonishment and surprise.

346. His religion was legible in the innocency of his life -exactness of his morals-integrity and truth of his words-and justice and honesty of his conversation.