An anatomical lecture of man, or, A map of the little world, delineated in essayes and characters by Samuell Person ...

Riches.

Riches are the Wings, yea the golden Wings upon which men soare to the Clouds; Riches are the earths treasure, which nature has hid in the bowels of the earth, and I wish it had been buried there yet; Riches are snares, golden fetters, which intangle mens mindes, and makes men slaves to it, living in Slavonia; Riches as Gold and Silver are Ʋtopia's rattles and baubles, they have been the wise Phylosophers contempt and scorn; men Idolize their glistering, glimmering brightnesse, when as the wise Ʋtopians say, a man may see a thousand times more lustre and brightnesse in the sun, or star; Riches are Golden baites, and hooks that catch men swimming in the Ocean of the World: Riches are coun∣ted the Al-heal, but they wound all with caret, grief and perplexities: Alas, if men should wallow always in Midas banquets it would be but lean chear, and they would desire to have their wishes revo∣ked:

Riches are cruel temptations, they are the Devils spels, wherewith he en∣chants poore mortals. Heavens grant that I may never be bewitch'd by them; Riches are not goods as they commonly are called; but they are the greatest mischiefes that can come to men, even the Heathen could say,

Effodiuntur opes irrittamenta malorum.

Riches is the cause of the strifes; Fight∣ing, Brawling, Scolding, Envying and what not? they are Pluto's treasure, for he is said to be lord of the earth's treasure; Riches are the fire-brands that are cast into the world, to burn in the flames of envy and making all men poore Sala∣manders, living in the fire of anger, con∣tention, discention; riches as silver, the out side of it glysters like Serpents stings, but it has a poisonous sting that inven∣oms men, and with its poyson swells them with pride; yea, at the end of a mans riches, there is such a sting, I mean such trouble and vexation of spirit, who can bear it?