PREFACE. THE subject of the following treatise, considered in all its aspects, is one which has an important bearing on the happiness and improvement both of Christian and Civil society. Impressed with a deep conviction of this truth, the author intended, sometime ago, to address his fellow-men on the subject; but other engagements prevented him from entering on the consideration of the several topics connected with it, till about the month of August last, when a Prize, to be given for the best Essay on the subject, was announced in some of our religious periodicals. Being then engaged in conducting his work "On the Mental Illumination of Mankind," &c., through the press, and in various other avocations, he could not find leisure to finish the Essay within the time prescribed in the advertisement. It was, however, sent sometime afterwards, and returned unopened, on the ground "that the carriage and porterage of it were not paid ;" and had it not been for a particular circumstance, the package might have been lost, as there was no intimation on its exterior as to whom it should be addressed and returned. These circumstances the author was disposed to consider as little short of an exemplification of Covetousness—the very evil which the Essays advertised for were intended to counteract. For, although a hundred Essays had been sent, the carriage of which was two shillings each, the whole sum thus expended would not have amounted to above £10-which could only be a trivial sum to the individuals who offered the Prize. And equity required, that those who had been at the expense of paper and quills, and who had devoted a certain portion of their time to the subject, in compliance with the request of those gentle 3 men, should have been freed from the expense of carriage, especially when no intimation of this circumstance was contained in the announcement. But we too frequently find, that it is much easier to laud a virtue than to practise it, and to denounce a vicious principle than to act in opposition to it. The Essay is now presented to the public by the Author, on his own responsibility, as he originally intended, in the hope that it may not be altogether inefficient, in counteracting the principle of Covetousness, and stimulating the Christian to those noble acts of Beneficence by which physical and moral evil may be prevented, religious society improved, and the world enlightened and regenerated. Having been composed in the course of four or five months, and in the midst of many interruptions and avocations, it is hoped, the critical reader will candidly overlook any slight inaccuracies it may contain. Should any pecuniary emolument be derived from the sale of this volume, the greater portion of it will be devoted to the purpose of social and religious improvement. GENERAL CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Remarks on the necessity of giving more particular attention to the duties of practical Christianity, &c. pp. 9-14. Plan of the Essay, 14. CHAPTER I. On the disposition or propensity designated by COVETOUSNESS and the VARIOUS MODES in which it has operated in the world, and in Christian society. General remarks-description of covetousness, 15, 16. SECTION 1. On the operations and effects of covetousness as displayed in the world at large, 17. Historical sketch of its operations and progress in ancient times, 18, 19. Modern examples-plunder of Mexico and Peru-Slave trade-Coloniza tion, Piracy, &c. 19-27. SECTION 2. On the effects of covetousness, and the manner in which it has displayed itself among those who acknowledge the authority of Christianity, and profess to submit to its dictates, 27. Benevolent dispositions of the first Christians, &c. 28, 29. Progress of Covetousness in the Christian Church-rapaciousness of the Popes and Bishops-sale of indulgences-vast quantity of wealth extorted from the people by the Romish church, on the continent and in England-practices of the Pope's Nephews-extracts from the writings of an Italian Catholic, &c. 29-39. Operations of covetousness in Protestant and Evangelical churches, 40. Miscellaneous remarks. 1. Practice of hoarding money and acquiring houses and lands, 41. Description of a miser, 44. Various examples of avarice, 45-48. 2. Gratifying a desire for ostentatious display, 49. 3. Providing portions for children, 52. 4. Covetousness in the mercantile transactions of mankind, 55. 5. In cases of bankruptcy, 58. 6. As it sometimes appears in the conduct of ministers of religion, 61-65. Miscellaneous examples, in people professing evangelical religion, 65. Covetousness of Great Britain, in a national point of view, 69. Various instances-Revenues derived from the support of idolatry in India-scenes of Juggernaut―description of his temple, &c.—Pilgrim hunters-General reflections, 69-78. CHAPTER II. On the absurdity and irrationality of Covetousness, 79. Proof of the irrationality of covetousness from the noble intellectual faculties with which man is endowed, 79-from the absolute want of utility, which characterizes avarice, 82-from its incapacity of affording rational enjoyment, 85-from the consideration of man's immortal destination, 88. CHAPTER III. On the inconsistency of Covetousness with the WORD of God, 93. The idolatry and atheism of covetousness particularly illustrated, 93. It forms an impassable barrier to the kingdom of heaven, 109-inconsistent with the idea of our being redeemed by the blood of Christ, 114inconsistent with love to God, 116-its malignity demonstrated from the numerous cautions and exhortations of Scripture, in relation to this propensity, 118. Selection of a variety of Scriptural declarations on this subject, 119. General remarks and reflections, 124, 125. CHAPTER IV. On the EVILS which flow from Covetousness, 126. The covetous man a thief and robber. He robs his Maker, 126-he robs the poor and distressed, 129—he robs his family and himself, 130— he robs society, 131. Covetousness leads to falsehood and injustice, 132— destroys natural feeling and tenderness of conscience, 135-leads to the indulgence of murderous wishes, and to murder itself, 136-prevents the administration of the law, and the ends of public justice, (illustrated with examples,) 139-143-transforms many of the ministers of religion into hunters after places and pensions, 144-leads to presumption and a virtual denial of Providence, 147-has produced all the public evils, wars, &c. which have prevailed in the world, 150-prevents the extension of the Christian church and the improvement of society, 154. What would be the consequences, were it universally to prevail, 156-it infallibly leads to misery in the life to come, 159. CHAPTER V On the PRINCIPLES by which Christians should be directed in the ap plication of their wealth, 162. Preliminary remarks-general observations connected with this topic -God the original source of wealth, 163. Riches a trust to be employed in his service, 164. Christians bound to such appropriation, from a consideration of the love of Christ, 166. A particular enquiry into the proportion of wealth which should be directly consecrated to the service of God, 168. General remarks and maxims on this point-considerations to direct us in this particular.-1. Proportion of wealth dedicated to God, |