The love of Riches, very dangerous. [ 1661]
A Tree when it is half cut through deceives the Elephant when he leans unto it;* 1.1 Mandrage if duly taken is good Physick; but if immoderately, it casts into a dead sleep, congeals the spirits, and deaddens the Natural faculty; And as* 1.2 one said of Parliaments in England, that they are very good purges to evacuate the ill humours of the body Politick, but very bad Diet-drink to live upon, weakning the vigorous spirits thereof, and making it liable to much inconvenience: Such is the immoderate love of Riches and the things of this life,* 1.3 they deceive all that lean unto them, there's no safety in living upon them, no rest in the acquiring of them; They cast their Favourites and all such as dote upon them into strange dreams, their reason and understanding be∣ing stupified, their devotion and goodnesse congealed, and in fine their bodies and Souls in great jeopardy to be everlastingly damned.