A new form of meditations for every day in the year. Written originally in French by F. John Crasset. And put into English at the request of several persons of honour and quality, by a well-wisher to devotion.

XLVI. MED. Of Avarice.

IF you desire the goods of the Earth, You will lose the goods of Heaven.

The Avaricious man loses his faith. He has Sentiments contrary to the Gospel. He esteems those happy, whom JESUS calls miserable. And esteems those miserable, whom JESUS calls blessed. Faith combats his passion, and his passion com∣bats faith. He cannot preserve both the one and the other. If therefore he will preserve his faith, He must renounce his passion.

The Avaricious man loses his Hope; For who can hope for what he believes not. The covetous man contemns the eternal goods. He esteems only temporal ones. He does nothing for to gain Heaven. He labours only for the Earth. He never prays to God. He expects no good from him. He gives no Alms. He has an unsatiable desire. He is an Idolater of money. He sacrifices his thoughts to it.

He makes it his last end. He elevates it above God. He adores it as the beginning of his happiness. He places all his hopes on it.

The Avaricious man loses Charity. His heart is where his treasure is. No man can serve two Masters: Nor love God and Money. Avarice takes up the whole heart. It will endure no division thereof. One must commit great injustices, For to make great gains. He that has a mind to grow rich, Takes all that he can take. Nature contents her self with little, But Passion has no bounds. He steals without measure, Who desires without moderation. Lawful gains are slow. They follow the course of nature. Great profits, are great Robberies. Great fortunes ordinarily, are great injustices.

How can a covetous man be saved? He does not acknowledge his sin. He does no pennance for it. He never will make any restitution. That which is easily taken, Is with great difficulty restored. Stolen waters are sweeter, Than those whose use is permitted.

All passions contribute to theft. They all fight in defence of it.

O my God! let me not be tormented for earth∣ly goods. You know where my treasure is. Alas! shall we damn our selves for goods that we must leave? We brought nothing into this World, 'Tis certain we shall carry nothing out. Happy is he who contents himself with God, And who places all his confidence in him. Gold and Silver are the Gods of the Gentiles, But the God of Heaven is mine.

Do not labour to becom rich: but put a bound to thy industry. Prov. 23.

Trust not in iniquity, and covet not rapins: if riches a∣bound, lay not your heart to them. Psal. 61.

He that hastens to grow rich will not be innocent. Prov. 17.

Those that desire to becom rich, fall into the tempta∣tion, and into the snare of the Devil. 1 Tim. 6.

There is nothing more wicked than a covetous man: for his very soul is to be sold. Eccles. 10.

How hard shall those that have monies enter into the Kingdom of God? for it is an easier thing for a Camel to pass through the eye of a Needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Luk. 18.