Works of Dr. John Tillotson, Late Archbishop of Canterbury (Volume 5) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1820. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... SERMON XCIL THE EVIL AND UNREASONABLENESS OF COVETOUSNESS. . And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.-- Luke xii. 15, In my two last discourses on this subject, I have represented the evil and unreasonableness of the -vice of covetousness in four particulars. I proceed now to the fifth and last particular, whereby I told you the evil and unreasonableness of it would appear; vi?, That riches are so far from being the happiness of human life, that they usually contribute very much to our misery and sorrow; as will evidently appear, if we consider these four things: First, The labour and care which the covetous man is at in getting of a great estate, Secondly, The anxiety of keeping it, together with the fears of losing it. Thirdly, Thetroubleand vexation of having lost'it. Fourthly, The heavy and dreadful account which every man must give of a great estate. First, The labour and care which the covetous man hath in getting a great estate, He that will be rich must sweat for it, and refuse no pains and trouble; he must '- rise up early and lie down late, and eat the bread of carefulness." A slave that digs in the mines, or rows in the galleys, is not a greater drudge than some covetous worldlings are; only, with this difference, that the covetous man thinks that he labours and takes all these pains for himself; whereas the slave understands the matter more truly, and thinks that he does it for another. But besides the pains he takes, he is full of care and anxiety. How is he, through the greedy desire of having, racked between the hopes of getting and the fear of missing what he seeks? The apostle observes what tormenting cares accompany this vice: (1 Tim. vi. 10...