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William Gouge
William Gouge (November 1, 1575 – December 12, 1653) was an English Puritan preacher, scholar, and author whose 45-year ministry at St. Ann Blackfriars in London made him a leading voice in 17th-century Reformed theology. Born in Bow, Middlesex, to Thomas Gouge and Elizabeth Calton, he grew up in a devout family tied to the merchant class—his father a liveryman of the Wax Chandlers. Educated at Felsted School, Eton College (1590–1595), and King’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1598, M.A. 1602), Gouge excelled in classics and theology, mastering Hebrew and Greek. Ordained around 1607, he married Elizabeth Calton (possibly a cousin) in 1604, fathering 13 children, seven of whom survived infancy, despite losing her to childbirth complications in 1626. Gouge’s preaching career began in 1608 when he succeeded Stephen Egerton as rector of St. Ann Blackfriars, a Puritan stronghold near St. Paul’s Cathedral, where he served until his death. Known for his methodical, practical sermons—delivered twice on Sundays and once midweek—he drew diverse crowds with expositions of Scripture, notably a 15-year series on Hebrews published posthumously as A Learned and Very Useful Commentary on the Whole Epistle to the Hebrews (1655). His most famous work, Of Domestical Duties (1622), outlined Christian family roles, sparking debate for its strict views on wifely submission. A Westminster Assembly member from 1643, he helped draft the Westminster Confession, advocating Presbyterian governance over episcopacy.
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William Gouge preaches about covetousness in keeping wealth, highlighting two practices: hoarding excessively out of fear for the future, as seen in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, and neglecting to provide for the common good or the needs of the poor. He emphasizes the folly of laboring endlessly for riches without satisfaction, as described in Ecclesiastes 4:8, and the sinful nature of worrying about the future, which goes against Christ's teachings in Matthew 6:34. Gouge warns against selfish accumulation of wealth and urges for a mindset of generosity and care for others.
Of the Practice of Covetousness in Keeping Wealth
Covetousness in keeping wealth is practiced two ways: 1. When men hoard up all that they can, though they have enough for the present, yet fearing want for the future, treasure up whatsoever they can get. So did the rich fool in the Gospel. His ground bearing fruit plentifully, his mind was presently set upon enlarging his barns to lay up for many years to come, Luke xii. etc. &c. The wise man doth set out this covetous practice, 'There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches,' Eccles. iv. 8. These are they that take thought for the morrow; that is, cark and care for the future time, which Christ expressly forbiddeth, Mat. vi. 34. They think that whosoever want, they will not. 2. When men hoard up only for themselves, they care not what treasure for the future the commonwealth or the church hath against times of need and trial, nor do they care for the flock of the poor.
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William Gouge (November 1, 1575 – December 12, 1653) was an English Puritan preacher, scholar, and author whose 45-year ministry at St. Ann Blackfriars in London made him a leading voice in 17th-century Reformed theology. Born in Bow, Middlesex, to Thomas Gouge and Elizabeth Calton, he grew up in a devout family tied to the merchant class—his father a liveryman of the Wax Chandlers. Educated at Felsted School, Eton College (1590–1595), and King’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1598, M.A. 1602), Gouge excelled in classics and theology, mastering Hebrew and Greek. Ordained around 1607, he married Elizabeth Calton (possibly a cousin) in 1604, fathering 13 children, seven of whom survived infancy, despite losing her to childbirth complications in 1626. Gouge’s preaching career began in 1608 when he succeeded Stephen Egerton as rector of St. Ann Blackfriars, a Puritan stronghold near St. Paul’s Cathedral, where he served until his death. Known for his methodical, practical sermons—delivered twice on Sundays and once midweek—he drew diverse crowds with expositions of Scripture, notably a 15-year series on Hebrews published posthumously as A Learned and Very Useful Commentary on the Whole Epistle to the Hebrews (1655). His most famous work, Of Domestical Duties (1622), outlined Christian family roles, sparking debate for its strict views on wifely submission. A Westminster Assembly member from 1643, he helped draft the Westminster Confession, advocating Presbyterian governance over episcopacy.