[♦]5. *But now if Cognatus, when he first entered into holy orders, had perceived how absurd a thing it is to grow rich by the gospel; if he had proposed to himself the example of some primitive father; if, instead of twenty years care to lay up treasures upon earth, he had distributed the income of every year in the most Christian acts of charity.
[♦] Number 4 omitted in text.
If instead of tempting his niece to be proud, and providing her with such ornaments as the apostle forbids, he had cloathed, comforted, and relieved numbers of widows and orphans, who were all to appear for him at the last day:
*If instead of the cares and anxieties of bad bonds, troublesome mortgages, and ill bargains, he had had the constant comfort of knowing, that his treasure was securely laid up, where neither moth corrupteth, nor thieves break thro’ and steal; could it with any reason be said, that he had mistaken the spirit and dignity of his order, or lessened any of that happiness, which is to be found in his sacred employment?
If instead of rejoicing in the happiness of a second living, he had thought it unbecoming the office of a clergyman to traffick for gain in holy things, as to open a shop.
*If he had thought it better to recommend some honest labour to his niece, than to support her in idleness by the labour of a curate; better that she should want fine cloaths, and a rich husband, than that cures of souls should be farmed out, and brother clergymen not suffered to live by those altars at which they serve. If this had been the spirit of Cognatus, could it with any reason be said, that these rules of religion, this strictness of piety, had robbed Cognatus of any real happiness? Could it be said, that a life thus governed by the spirit of the gospel, must be dull and melancholy, if compared to that of raising a fortune for a niece?
6. Look now at that condition of life which draws the envy of all.
*Negotius is a temperate, honest man. He served his time under a master of great trade; but has, by his own management, made it a more considerable business than ever it was before. For thirty years last past, he has been corresponding with all parts of Europe. The general good of trade seems to Negotius to be the general good of life; whatever he commends or condemns, either in church or state, is commended, or condemned, with regard to trade.
As money is continually pouring in upon him; so he often lets it go in various kinds of expence and generosity, and sometimes in ways of charity.
Negotius is always ready to join in any public contribution. If a purse is making at any place where he happens to be, whether it be to buy a plate for a horse-race, or to redeem a prisoner out of gaol, you are always sure of having something from him.