2 Riches dim our eyes as a cloud, that we cannot see far with them, and one may1 well say: Poverty hath slain a thousand, but riches hath slain ten thousand. They are very uncertain, they promise that which they cannot perform: neither can they afford a contented mind. A man will say, Oh, if I could get so many Furs, I should be very warm, and yet his heat cometh from his body, so many will say, if I had many farms, I should be well contented, when as a contented mind cometh from the Lord. Take •ivet and rub a Beggars cloak with it, it will make the cloak sweet; rub Velvet with it, and it will slain it. Likewise take riches, and give them to a poor man, and2 they will refresh him, give them to one already rich, and they will surcharge him. They are not the water of life always flowing, but they are as the brooks of Arabia which are3 most dry, when one should most need them for water. And they be as Spiders webs,4 which when they wax 'great, are swept away with a besom, and then either thou perishest from them, as did the rich man, or they perish from thee, as we may see in Jo•, ⟨p. 784⟩Art thou rich in money, thou art in danger of thieves? Art thou plentiful in household stuff, thou art in danger of fire? Hast thou much gold, the rust doth venom it and thee? Is thine apparel gorgeous, thou hast the Moth thine enemy? Hast thou much cattle, thou fearest rottenness, in merchandise Pirates fear thee, in husbandry blasting hindereth thee? Thus the Lord of Hosts hath set an host of enemies against all worldly things whatsoever. When the ice is frozen, one may walk on it for a time, but when the Sun cometh, it melteth, and such things perish sooner than they grow, In momento ardet, quod diu crescebat lignum. The Temple was destroyed in forty and six hours, that was so long in building.
2 Riches dimme our eyes as a cloude, that we cannot see farre with them, and one may1 well say: Pouertie hath slaine a thousand, but riches hath slaine tenne thousand. They are very vncertaine, they promise that which they cānot performe: neither can they affoord a contented minde. A man will say, Oh, if I could get so many Furres, I should bee verie warme, and yet his heate commeth from his body, so many will say, if I had many farmes, I should bee well contented, when as a contented minde commeth from the Lorde. Take •iuet and rubbe a Beggers cloake with it, it will make the cloake sweete; rubbe Veluet with it, and it will slaine it. Likewise take riches, and giue them to a poore man, and2 they will refresh him, giue them to one alreadie rich, and they will surcharge him. They are not the water of life alwayes flowing, but they are as the brookes of Arabia which are3 most drie, when one should most neede them for water. And they be as Spiders webbes,4 which when they waxe 'great, are swept away with a beesome, and then eyther thou perish•st from them, as did the rich man, or they perish from thee, as wee may see in Io•, ⟨p. 784⟩Art thou rich in money, thou art in daunger of theeues? Art thou plentifull in houshold stuffe, thou art in daunger of fire? Hast thou much gold, the rust doth venim it and thee? Is thine apparell gorgeous, thou hast the Moth thine enemie? Hast thou much cattel, thou fearest rottennes, in marchandise Pirates feare thee, in husbandrie blasting hindreth thee? Thus the Lord of Hosts hath set an host of enemies against all worldly things whatsoeuer. When the ice is frozen, one may walke on it for a time, but when the Sunne commeth, it melteth, and such things perish sooner than they grow, In momento ardet, quod diu crescebat lignum. The Temple was destroyed in fortie and sixe houres, that was so long in building.
- 1How riches are abused, and how many ways they may decay with us and deceive us.How riches are abused, and how many waies they may decay with vs and deceiue vs.
- 2Simile.
- 3Simile.
- 4Simile.
