Thou shalt not Covet, &c.

EXOD. XX. 17. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour’s House, thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife, &c.

I am in the next place to resolve a Question, How we may do to cure this Itch of Covetousness?

Resp. For Answer to this, I shall prescribe some Remedies and Antidotes against this Sin.

1. Faith. 1 John 5.4. This is the Victory over the World, even your Faith. The Root of Covetousness is, the Distrust of God’s Providence. Faith believes God will provide. God who feeds the Birds will feed his Children. He who cloaths the Lillies, will cloath his Lambs: And so Faith overcomes the World. Faith is the Cure of Care. Faith not only purifies the Heart, but satisfies the Heart. Faith makes God our Portion, and so in him we have enough. Psal. 16.5. The Lord is the Portion of mine Inheritance, the Lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly Heritage. Faith by a Divine Chymistry extracts its chief Comforts out of God. A little with God is sweet. Thus Faith is a Remedy against Covetousness. Faith overcomes not only the Fear of the World, but the Love of the World.

2. The Second Remedy is, Judicious Consideration.

(1.) What poor things these things below are, that we should covet them. 1. They are below the worth of the Soul, which carries in it an Idea and Resemblance of God. The World is but the Workmanship of God, the Soul is the Image of God. 2. You covet that which will not satisfie you. Eccles. 5.10. He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver. Solomon had put all the Creatures in a Limbeck, and stilled out the Quintessence, and behold, All was Vanity, Eccles. 2.11. Covetousness is a dry Dropsie; the more a Man hath, the more he thirsts. Quo plus sunt potae, plus sitiuntur aquae. 3. Worldly things cannot remove Trouble of mind. King Saul being perplexed in Conscience, all his Crown-Jewels could not administer Comfort to him, 1 Sam. 28.15. The things of the World will no more ease a troubled Spirit, than a Gold Cap will cure the Head-ach. 4. The things of the World, if you had more of them, cannot continue with you. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Isocr. The Creature hath a little Honey in its Mouth, but it hath Wings to fly away. Glass Mettal. These things either go from us, or we from them. What poor things are these to covet?

(2.) Second Consideration. The Frame and Contexture of the Body. God hath made the Face to look upwards towards Heaven. Os Homini sublime dedit, coelumque tueri
Iussit—
Ovid. Anatomists observe, that whereas other Creatures have but Four Muscles to their Eyes, Man hath a Fifth Muscle, by which he is able to look up to Heaven. And as for the Heart, it is made like a Glass Viol, narrow and contracted downwards, but wide and broad upwards. And as the Frame and Contexture of the Body teacheth us to look to things Above, so especially the Soul is planted in the Body, as a Divine Sparkle to ascend upwards. Can it be imagined that God gave us intellectual Immortal Souls, to covet only Earthly things? What wise Man would fish for Gudgeons with Golden Hooks? Did God give us Glorious Souls, only to fish for the World? Sure our Souls are made for an higher End; to aspire after the enjoyment of God in Glory.

(3.) Third Consideration. The Examples of those who have been Contemners and Despisers of the World. The Primitive Christians, as Clemens Alexandrinus observes, were sequestred from the World, and where wholly taken up in Converse with God; they lived in the World above the World. Like the Birds of Paradise,¹ who soar above in the Air, and seldom or never touch with their Feet upon Earth. Luther saith, That he was never tempted to this Sin of Covetousness. The Saints of old, tho they did live in the World, they did trade in Heaven. Phil. 3.20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Our Conversation is in Heaven. The Greek Word signifies, our Commerce, or Traffick, or Burghership is in Heaven. Enoch walked with God, Gen. 5.24. His Affections were sublimated, he did take a turn in Heaven every Day. The Righteous are compared to a Palm-Tree, Psal. 92.12. Philo observes, That whereas all other Trees have their Sap in their Root, the Sap of the Palm-tree is towards the Top. The Emblem of the Saints, whose Hearts are above in Heaven, where their Treasure is.

3. The Third Remedy. Covet Spiritual things more, and you will Covet earthly things less. Covet Grace. Grace is the best Blessing; it is the Seed of God, 1 John 3.9. The Angels Glory: covet Heaven. Heaven is the Region of Happiness, ’tis the most pleasant Climate. Did we covet Heaven more, we should covet Earth less. They that stand on the top of the Alps, the great Cities of Campania seem but as small Villages in their Eye. If we could have our Hearts more fixed upon the Jerusalem above, how would all Worldly things disappear, and be as nothing in our Eye. We read of an Angel coming down from Heaven, who did tread with his right Foot on the Sea, and with his left Foot on the Earth, Rev. 10.2. Had we but once been in Heaven, and viewed the Superlative Glory of it, how might we in an holy Scorn trample with one Foot upon the Earth, and with the other Foot upon the Sea. Oh covet after Heavenly things. There is the Tree of Life, the Mountains of Spices, the Rivers of Pleasure, the Honey-comb of God’s Love dropping, the Delights of Angels, the Flower of Joy fully ripe and blown. There is the pure Air to breath in; no Fogs nor Vapors of Sin arise to infect that Air, but the Sun of Righteousness enlightens that Horizon continually with its glorious Beams. O let your Thoughts and Delights be always taken up about the City of Pearl, the Paradise of God. Did we covet Heavenly things more, we should covet earthly things less. It is reported after Lazarus was raised from the Grave, he was never seen to smile or be delighted with the World after. Were our Hearts rais’d by the Power of the Holy Ghost up to Heaven, we should not be much taken with Earthly things.

4. The Fourth Remedy. Pray for an Heavenly Mind. Lord, let the Loadstone of thy Spirit draw my Heart upward. Lord, dig the Earth out of my Heart; teach me how to possess the World, and not love it; how to hold it in my hand, and not let it get into my Heart. So much for the Commandment in General, Thou shalt not cover.

(2.) I shall speak of it more Particularly: Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House, thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife, &c. Observe here the Holiness and Perfection of God’s Law. It forbids the Motus primo primi, the First Motions and Risings of Sin in the Heart, Thou shalt not covet. The Laws of Men take hold of the Actions, but the Law of God goes further, it forbids not only the Actions, but the Affections. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House. It is not said, Thou shalt not take away his House: But, Thou shalt not covet it. These Lustings and Desires after the Forbidden Fruit are sinful. Rom. 7.7. The Law hath said, Thou shalt not covet. Tho the Tree bears no bad Fruit, it may be faulty at the Root. Tho a Man doth not commit Gross Sin, yet who can say his Heart is pure? There may be a Faultiness at the Root, there may be sinful Covetings and Lustings in the Soul.

Vse. Let us be humbled for the Sin of our Nature, the Risings of Evil Thoughts, coveting that which we ought not. Our Nature is a Seed-Plot of Iniquity; it is like Charcoal, that is ever sparkling. The Sparkles of Pride, Envy, Covetousness, arise in the Mind. How should this humble us! If there be not sinful Actings, there are sinful Covetings. Let us pray for mortifying Grace, which may be like the Water of Jealousie, to make the Thigh of Sin to rot. But to come to the Words more nearly, Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House, nor thy Neighbours Wife, &c.

Quest. Why is the House put before the Wife? In Deuteronomy the Wife is put first, Deut. 5.21. Neither shalt thou desire thy Neighbours Wife, neither shalt thou covet thy Neighbours House. Here the House is put first.

Resp. In Deuteronomy the Wife is set down first in respect of her Value. She (if a good Wife) is of far greater Value and Estimate than the House. Prov. 31.10. Her Price is far above Rubies. She is the Furniture of the House, and this Furniture is more worth than the House. When Alexander had overcome King Darius in Battel, Darius seemed not to be much dismayed. But when he heard his Wife was taken Prisoner, now his Eyes like Spouts did gush forth Water, as valuing his Wife dearer than his Life. But yet in this place in Exodus, the House is put before the Wife: The Reason is, Because the House is first in Order. The House is erected before the Wife can live in it. The Nest is built before the Bird is in it. The Wife is first esteemed, but the House must be first provided.

1. Then, Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House. How depraved is Man since the Fall! Man knows not how to keep within Bounds, but is coveting more than his own. Ahab one would think had enough; he was King, and one would suppose his Crown-Revenues should have contented him; but still he was coveting more; Naboth’s Vineyard was in his Eye, and stood near the Smoak of his Chimney, and he could not be quiet till he had it in Possession. Were there not so much Coveting, there would not be so much Bribing. One Man pulls away anothers House from him. It is only the Prisoner lives in such a Tenement as he may be sure none will go about to take from him.

2. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife. This Commandment is a Bridle to check the Inordinacy of Brutish Lusts. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife. It was the Devil that sowed another Man’s Ground, Matth. 13.25. But how is the Hedge of this Commandment trodden down in our Times! There be many who do more than covet their Neighbours Wives, they take them. Deut. 27.20. Cursed be he that lies with his Fathers Wife, and all the People shall say Amen. If it were to be proclaimed, Cursed be he that lies with his Neighbours Wife, and all that were guilty should say Amen, how many would curse themselves!

3. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Man-servant, nor his Maid-servant. Servants, when Faithful, are a Treasure. What a true and trusty Servant had Abraham, he was his Right-hand! How prudent and faithful was he in the matter he was entrusted with, in getting a Wife for his Masters Son! Gen. 24.9. And surely, it would have gone near to Abraham to have had any one enticed away his Servant from him. But this Sin of coveting Servants is common. If one hath a better Servant, others will be inveigling and laying Baits for him, and endeavour to draw him away from his Master. This is a Sin against the Tenth Commandment. To steal away anothers Servant by Enticement, is no better than Thievery.

4. Nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any thing that is thy Neighbours. Were there not coveting of Ox and Ass, there would not be so much stealing. First Men break the Tenth Commondment by coveting, and then they break the Eighth Commandment by stealing. It was an excellent Appeal that Samuel made to the People, 1 Sam. 12.3. Witness against me before the Lord, whose Ox have I taken, or whose Ass, or whom have I defrauded. And it was a brave Speech of St. Paul, Acts 20.33. I have coveted no Man’s Gold, or Silver, or Apparel.

Quest. But what means may we use to keep us from coveting that which is our Neighbours?

Ans. The best Remedy is Contentation. If we are content with our own, we shall not covet that which is anothers. St. Paul could say, I have coveted no Man’s Gold or Silver. Whence was this? It was from Contentment. Phil. 4.11. I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. Content saith, as Jacob, Gen. 33.11. I have enough: I have a Promise of Heaven, and have sufficient to bear my Charges thither, I have enough. And he who hath enough will not covet that which is anothers. Be content: And the best way to be contented is, (1.) Believe that Condition best which God carves out to you by his Providence. If God had seen it fit for us to have more, we should have had it; but his Wisdom sees this best for us. Perhaps we could not manage a great Estate, it is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling, and a full Estate without sinning. Great Estates may he Snares; a Boat may be overturned by having too great a Sail. The believing that Estate best God carves us, makes us content; and being contented, we will not covet that which is anothers. (2.) The way to be content with such things as we have, and not to covet anothers, is to consider the less Estate we have, the less Account we shall have to give at the last Day. Every Person is a Steward, and must be accountable to God. They who have great Estates, have the greater Reckoning. God will say, What good have you done with your Estates? Have you honoured me with your Substance? Where are the poor you have fed and cloathed? If you cannot give a good Account, it will be sad. This may make us contented with a less Portion: To consider, the less Estate, the less Account we have to give: The less Riches, the less Reckoning. This is the way to have Contentment, and no better Antidote against coveting that which is anothers, than being content with that which is our own.

So much for the Commandments.