Many a wretched Father plays the Thief with himself, and starves his own carcass, to leave wealth to his Babe. He lives on roots, that his prodigal Heir may feed on Pheasants: he keeps the Chimney corner, that his Heir may frequent Ordinaries: he drinks water, that his Heir may drink wine, and that to drunkenness. Though he be richer then Dives, he lives like an Alchemist. Miserable Fathers make wretched Sons: none often have more undone them, then they that have done most for them. They ⟨p. 82⟩make heritages, but God makes Heirs: the children of such Churls seldom roast what their Fathers took in hunting. 1Now what Thief can more spoil another, then such a man doth himself? he cannot find in his heart, to put a good morsel into his belly. He dares not eat an Egg, least he should loose a Chicken. A poor Beggar is in better estate then a rich Miser: he wants many things; but this wants all things. Corpus extenuate, ut lucr•m extendat: He wrinkles and contracts his body, that he may enlarge and replenish his purse: he pincheth his carcass, to stuff his Capcase. No marvel, if that he hear not the moans of the poor, when he is deaf to the complaints of his own belly.2 Whereas, he that laboureth, laboureth for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him. It is the voice not only of Gods spirit, that so it should be, nor of reason only, that so it must be, but even of nature, that so it is; unless in such unreasonable beasts as the Covetous; or rather (worse then beasts, for they serve the necessity of nature) unnatural wretches: Dressing, like Cooks, much good meat, and not vouchsafing to lick their own fingers. There is an evil, saith Solomon, under the Sun; and such an evil, that the Sun can scarce see a worse:3 A man, to whom God hath given riches, and that so abundantly, that he wanteth nothing of all that his soul can desire, yet God giveth him not the power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it. Thi• is vanity and an evil disease. A Disease it is, and fitly called the Dropsy.
Many a wretched Father playes the Thiefe with himselfe, and starues his owne carkasse, to leaue wealth to his Babe. Hee liues on rootes, that his prodigall Heire may feede on Pheasants: he keepes the Chimney corner, that his Heire may frequent Ordinaries: hee drinkes water, that his Heire may drinke wine, and that to drunkennesse. Though hee be richer then Diues, he liues like an Alchimist. Miserable Fathers make wretched Sonnes: none often haue more vndone them, then they that haue done most for them. They ⟨p. 82⟩make heritages, but God makes Heires: the children of such Churles seldome rost what their Fathers tooke in hunting. 1Now what Thiefe can more spoile another, then such a man doth himselfe? he cannot find in his heart, to put a good morsell into his belly. He dares not eate an Egge, least he should loose a Chicken. A poore Beggar is in better estate then a rich Miser: hee wants many things; but this wants all things. Corpus extenuat, vt lucr•m extendat: He wrinkles and contracts his bodie, that hee may enlarge and replenish his purse: hee pincheth his carkasse, to stuffe his Capcase. No maruell, if that he heare not the moanes of the poore, when he is deafe to the complaints of his owne belly.2 Whereas, he that laboureth, laboureth for himselfe, for his mouth craueth it of him. It is the voice not only of Gods spirit, that so it should be, nor of reason onely, that so it must be, but euen of nature, that so it is; vnlesse in such vnreasonable beasts as the Couetous; or rather (worse then beasts, for they serue the necessity of nature) vnnaturall wretches: Dressing, like Cookes, much good meat, and not vouchsafing to licke their owne fingers. There is an euill, saith Solomon, vnder the Sun; and such an euill, that the Sun can scarse see a worse:3 A man, to whom God hath giuen riches, and that so abundantly, that he wanteth nothing of all that his soule can desire, yet God giueth him not the power to eate thereof, but a stranger eateth it. Thi• is vanitie and an euill disease. A Disease it is, and fitly called the Dropsie.
- 1Prou. 12.
- 2Prou. 16.26.
- 3Eccles. 6.1.2.Eccl•s. 6.1.2.
