He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
Ver. 27. He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own house.] Fires his own nest while he thinks to feather it; fingers that which will burn in his purse, will prove lucrum in arca, damnum in conscientia, a gain to his purse, but loss to his conscience. Add hereunto, that the covetous man's house is continually on a tumult of haste and hurry, "up, up, up," saith he; "to bed, to bed"; "quick at meat, quick at work," &c.; what with labour, and what with passion and contention, he and his household never live at heart's ease and rest. Thus it was in the houses of Laban and Nabal.
But he that hateth gifts shall live.] Viz., Gifts given to pervert or buy justice. The "fire of God shall devour the tabernacles" of such corrupt judges. Job 15:34
So for those that are bribed out of their religion, Stratagema nunc est Pontificium, ditare multos, ut pii esse desinant. b The Papists propose rewards to such as shall relinquish the Protestant religion and turn to them, as in Ansburgh, where, they say, there is a known price for it of ten florins a year; and in France, where the clergy have made contributions for the maintenance of renegade ministers. Thus they tempted Luther, but he would not be hired to go to hell; and thus they tempted that noble Marquis of Vicum, nephew to Pope Paul V, who left all for Christ and fled to Geneva, but he cried out, Let their money perish with them that prefer all the world's wealth before one day's communion with Jesus Christ and his despised people. c
a Augustine.
b Joh. Egnat. Gelli dial. v.
c Specul. Europ. " Germana illa bestia non curat aurum. "