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2 The treasures of wickednes profit nothing: but righte∣ousnes deliuereth from death.
Although this sentence is general, yet considering the contentes of the former, it may bee saide that Solomon reprooueth those fa∣thers, which care not whither their children bee wise or no: but
are contented onely that they haue wherewith to susteine their bo∣dies: and to come thereby, they gather goodes togeather both by right and wrong, and reach their children to doe the same. This is that which Solomon saith, the treasures of wickednesse: and saith, * 1.1 that such treasures shall not profite. For first they are corrupti∣ble, and subiect to be lost. Secondly, they that owe them, most commonly, dare not bestowe them in well doing least they shoulde diminish them, which is a great misery. Thirdly, most commonly strangers do possesse them, & not their children. It is an euil disease, that the riches which are kept, turne to the hurt of their owners. Fourthly, when he hath gotten much, he cannot long enioy them: for a man passeth away as a shadow, he heapeth vp goods, & know∣eth not who shal gather them. O foole, this night wil they fetche a∣way thy soule from thee: then whose shal those thinges bee, which thou hast prouided? Fifthly after this life they goe to damnation * 1.2 as wee may see by the riche glutton in the 16. of Luke. It is therfore true that the treasures of wickednes shal not prosper, as saieth So∣lomon. Wherein he iustly condemneth couetousnes. Hee condem∣neth not riches, for they are the good creatures of God giuen for the vse of the faithful, and are instrumentes whereby charitie is ex∣ercised: and are ordeined of God, to the ende that wee shoulde bee enriched, not in hiding them and locking thē vp, but that we should abounde in good woorkes. After that he hath rebuked & condem∣ned the couetous with their couetousnes, he praiseth and commen∣deth hospitalitie and liberalitie, when he saith, but righteousnes de∣liuereth from death. Here he setteth righteousnes against the trea∣sures of wickednes, wherein hee sheweth that they which bee not dealers of almose and liberal towardes their needy neighbours, are vnrighteous, and deserue wel to bee punished, euen with death, as Solomon doeth wel declare, when hee setteth the deliuerance from death against not profiting. This is asmuch as if hee saide, so much it wanteth that the couetous doe receiue any profite of that which they heape togither by the hinderance of their neigh∣bours, that they shal dye eternally: but they that shal vse liberalitie and beneuolence taking heede from doing of wrong to their neigh∣bours, and giuing to euery man his owne, shalbee deliuered from death, and so shal liue foreuer. Heere Solomon taketh iustice for
hospitalitie, and liberalitie, for almes, and good deedes, for the workes of charitie and loue, as the Scripture taketh it in other pla∣ces. But it may here seeme that Solomon doth attribute power vn∣to our workes to saue vs, and so wee shoulde not obteine eternall life through grace, but by our merites. I answere, that of ourselues wee are altogether voide of righteousnesse: and if wee doe any workes, it is because that God fauoureth vs, and worketh the same in vs by his holy spirite: and then he alloweth our workes of his onely goodnesse, and not of their owne worthinesse: and because they are pleasant vnto him, he promiseth to reward them, and doth attribute vnto them that which belongeth vnto his onely grace & mercy. And this is because he doeth freely loue vs, buriyng all our faultes, for neuer more to remember them. And so albeit wee can deserue nothing by our works, yet are they not in vaine: for if they be done according to the word of God in vprightnesse of consci∣ence, they are witnesses that he loueth vs, and doe assure vs that we shall not perishe, but do fully certifie vs of eternal felicitie. Be∣sides this, let vs note that they which haue the goodes of this world, and care not to do good vnto others, do possesse the trea∣sures of iniquitie: though they labour not to drawe vnto them∣selues the riches of others, and that that they possesse be well gotten, or be attained by gift, or by succession of kindred.
Mat. 6. 19. Iam. 5. 10. Eccle. 6. 2 &. 5. 12. 13.
Psalm. 39. 7 Luke. 12. 20