The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

REMEDIES against the sinne and temptation of Couetousnes.

¶ Cap. 22. (Book 22)

THE second enemy that we * 1.1 haue in this life, is the world, which is meant and vnder∣stoode by the concupiscence of our a 1.2 eyes; conformably to the authoritie of S. Iohn aforesaid, sithens the great varietie of thinges that are in this world; as riches, and other temporal commodities, doo ingender in vs a certaine curious desire to see them; of seeing, groweth a seeking and lon∣ging to haue them, weening they should be both profitable and plea∣sant to vs; and then hauing once ob∣teined

and gotten them, foloweth a couetousnes, which is a disordinate * 1.3 desire wherwith we loue, possesse, and enioye them; as also an insatiable ap∣petite to haue alwayes more thē that we haue alreadie. The which vice, for that it is a very daungerous one; yea, as the Apostle a 1.4 saith, The roote of al wic∣kednes is Couetousnes; It behoueth there∣fore, we be prouided of good wepons and sufficient remedies to resist the same, for feare of being ouercome withal. Wherefore the best and most conuenient for this purpose are these aduises folowing. * 1.5

FIRST, if thou be poore, and haue a disordinate loue to riches (which loue maketh thee more couetous, thē if thou haddest riches, and didst not loue them) refraine this hurtful de∣sire, and content thy selfe with thine estate; cōsidering that by thus doing, thou shalt haue more securitie, more rest, and more speedie meanes a great

deale to gaine vertue withal, then if in deed thou wert rich. a 1.6 This did the * 1.7 Philosophers of olde time by natural discourse only vnderstand right wel; and for that cause forsook such riches as they had, knowing thē to be a let and hinderance to the obteyning of wisdome, and al other vertues. Nowe if these men guided only by the light of nature made choise of pouertie, hauing means to be rich; why shoul∣dest not thou, being illuminated with a higher light, and more glittering brightnes of heauenly grace, wel wot * 1.8 the same truth, and make a vertue of necessitie, contenting thee with that pouertie that God of his great good prouidence hath geuen thee, as a very substancial and secure meane for thy * 1.9 saluation? Why doo not the exam∣ples of others their falles conuince thy foly, and their great and greeuous harmes make thee more heede∣ful? Remember how b 1.10 Giezi, the pro∣phet

Elizeus seruaunt being not con∣tented with his calling, but desirous to be riche, deserued with his riches, to haue a perpetual leprie laide vpon him. We reade likewise, how a 1.11 Anna∣nias * 1.12 and Zaphiras, through a coue∣tousnes they had to retaine some part of the goodes, which they had earst begon to renounce, were depriued of their corporal liues. Thou canst not * 1.13 be ignorant, into what a miserable blindnes this couetousnes brought that accursed b 1.14 Iudas, as the Scripture yeeldeth testimonie both of these and manye mo such like examples. Which if thou consider wel, thou shalt thereby discerne, howe muche more secure the poore mans estate is, being contented with his pouertie; then that of the riche man, being neuer satiated with al his plentie. Thou oughtest not therefore thus greedilye to longe for wealth and

worldlye substaunce which might cause thee to fal into so many daun∣gers, and perillous tentations.

SECONDLY, consider the perils * 1.15 and difficulties, as∣wel of the bodies, as soules, of the riche men, and suche as with so great anxietie doo seeke after worldlye wealth; Sith by this their longing desire after riches, they fal into the deuils snares (as S. a 1.16 Paule doth testifie) Thou seest besides, with how great care and b 1.17 pain they be got∣ten; with howe great feare they be kept; and with howe great feare they be kept; and with howe great grife and sorowe they be lost. And when al is done, these men can haue but meate and cloth; and this shalt not thou want, with halfe that care, if thou wilt c 1.18 principally seeke for the kingdome of God, and the heauenly riches of thy soul; like as Christ him selfe hath promised thee.

THIRDLY consider, howe by lo∣uing of pouertie, and willingly em∣bracing

it; thou art by that meanes * 1.19 more riche and noble, then al the rich gentlemen of this world be; for thus art thou an Imitatour of Christe, and like to him, who so highlye set by a 1.20 pouertie, and with so great rigoure, from his infancie to the houre of his death, obserued and practised it; as by discoursing ouer al his life, thou mai∣est right euidently see. What greater honour or degree desirest thou, then to be of the same estate and conditiō, that so high a Lord was of? yea, thou art withal moste riche; for thus is the kingdome of heauen. and the King and Lorde thereof, thine; and so by possessing of him, thou possessest al riches, and much more pretious trea∣sures, then may in this life be either atteined, imagined, or desired.

FOVRTHLY, an-other verye good * 1.21 remedie not to fal into the tentatiō of auarice, is; to shunne (as much as may be) the haunting of riche mens com∣pany,

pany, especially if they be couetous, least by their conuersation, thou be smitted with their infection. Take heede in like maner, not to see or deale with much money, riches, or any beautiful and pretious thinges of this world; the sight whereof doth commonly kindle our heartes to de∣sire and long for them, where other∣wise by not seeing them, thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 want this greedie desire of ha∣uing them. This was the holy Abbot * 1.22 S. Anthonies opinion, of whom we reade, that the diuel hauing laide in the way he was to passe by, a great cupp of siluer, and an other time a massie wedge of gold; yet would this holy man neuer take vp any thing, but fled forth-with fro them; least by looking theron, his fancy might haue been drawen to regard the welth and riches he had alreadie geuen ouer; and by that meanes his heart haue been defiled with loue of temporal

thinges, which he had earst purposed neuer to esteem and set by. Flye ther∣fore, as much as thou maiest, to touch, or deale with money, which is like to pitche, that according to holy writt) a 1.23 defileth such as touch it. It shal also * 1.24 helpe thee not a litle in this matter, to goe som-times and visite hospitals, & to conuerse with poore folks; weigh∣ing also, howe others that be poorer then thou art, beare patiently al their wantes and penurie.

Al these remedies may in like ma∣ner serue to helpe the riche, albeit, in very deede, there be others, (as might be the considerations folowing) more fitt for their purpose, to make them * 1.25 with drawe their mindes frō so great∣lye fancying of worldly wealth.

FIRST consider, if thou be riche, how vncertain and b 1.26 deceitful are al ri∣ches, renowme, and temporal treasure; sith we see by dayly experiēce many, that were earst c 1.27 welthy & very riche, Iyenowe

plonged in the pit of extreme penu∣rie: yea, the greatest wealth in the world, both may be, and eftsons is, al lost in one day. And albeit it be not thus lost, yet must it, (maulger our heades) in th'ende be by death forsa∣ken; * 1.28 at what time that doubtful dis∣tribution is to be made; the bodye be geuen in praye to wormes; the goods to thanklesse heires, yea, many times to foes; the soule perhappes to the in∣fernal furies for them to torment in euerlasting paines.

SECONDLY consider, howe riches * 1.29 doo neuer satiate; yea, look how much thy wealth and substance multipli∣eth, and so muche doth the hunger and greedie desire, to haue more, in∣crease; euen like to a man that hath a 1.30 a dropsie; who, looke howe much more he drinketh, and so much more he swelleth, and is lesse satisfied then be∣fore. Moreouer, by thus seeking sati∣etie of that which wil neuer satiate,

thou losest the true satietie and con∣solation that God wolde both in this life, and in th'other geue thee, if thou soughtest for it, and therewith onely helde thy selfe contented.

THE THIRD and last Remedie, * 1.31 which (being a riche man) wil helpe thee much, not to be ouerwhelmed with auarice, is, to force thee (seeme it neuer so paineful and greeuous) al∣waies to be geuing good almes to the * 1.32 poore; assuring thy selfe, as most cer∣taine it is, that thou hast not anye so assured riches, as that which in this wise thou distributest to the needie; sith this can neither be a 1.33 robbed by thiefe, nor corrupted by time, as the other which is lefte behinde; yea, that which is more, this onely wil accom∣panie thee, when death doth robbe thee of the rest. See therefore thou take this secure way, to store vp tre∣sure in heauen; and encorage thy self to doo thus euery daye, with more

cheerful and franke heart then other; considering, that what thou bestow∣est vpon the poore and needie, Christ him-selfe receaueth it, as he a 1.34 affir∣meth; who with this b 1.35 condition hath geuen thee what thou hast, that thou shouldest hberally dispence the same to the poore; and taking for thy selfe what is meet and requisite, to dispose the surplusage amongst thy needie and distressed brethren.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The tenta∣tions of the second ene mie.
• a 1.2

  Ioh. 2. c Ber. Ser. 59 adsorore.
• * 1.3

  Couetise defined.
• a 1.4

  1 Tim. 6. b
• * 1.5

  Remedies for the poore man couetous.
• a 1.6

  Lact. ini tio cap. 1. li 1. diuin. Inst. Hier. lib. 3. in. 19. cap. Math.
• * 1.7

  The olde Philoso∣phers despi sed worldly wealth.
• * 1.8

  To make of Neces∣sitie a vertue.
• * 1.9

  Examples of others harmes happed through Couetise
• b 1.10

  4. Re. 5. f
• a 1.11

  Act. 5. 4.
• * 1.12

  Ananias and Zaphi∣ras.
• * 1.13

  Iudas.
• b 1.14

  Mat. 26. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Luc. 22. a Mar. 14. b.
• * 1.15

  Couetous men fal into the Diuels snares.
• a 1.16

  1 Tim. 6. b
• b 1.17

  Bern. sub 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11. lib. de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cler.
• c 1.18

  Mat. 6. d. Luc. 12. d. 1. Pe. 5. c Phil. 4. b
• * 1.19

  The con∣tented poore man more riche then the richest.
• a 1.20

  Ber. ser. 1. de vigil. Nat. ser. 4 Natiu. Amb. ca. 13 de instit. virg.
• * 1.21

  Couetous mens com∣panie to be auoided.
• * 1.22

  S. Antony tempted to auarice.
• a 1.23

  Eccl. 13. a
• * 1.24

  Money de∣fileth like pitche.
• * 1.25

  Ramedies for the rich couetous.
• b 1.26

  Bernard epist. 103.
• c 1.27

  Iob. 1. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seq.
• * 1.28

  Death.
• * 1.29

  The riche man like to him that hath a dropsie.
• a 1.30

  Isod. li. 2. de summo bono. ca. 41 Amb. li. de Nabutha. cap. 2
• * 1.31

  The. 3. Re∣medie a∣gainst Co∣uetousnes.
• * 1.32

  Almes geuing.
• a 1.33

  Mat. 6. b. Luc. 12 d 1. Tim. 6. d
• a 1.34

  Mat. 10 d 25. d. e. Mar. 9. f.
• b 1.35

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 ho. 6. et 7. va∣rior. arg. et cap 4. lih. de Na∣buth. D Thom. 22. q. 32. art. 5.