That it is the gift of God to be content with things present, he proveth. ⟨image 50⟩Because it is given without any merits of ours going before,1 to that man whom God liketh. He divideth the world into godly and ungodly. Unto the godly, beside the gifts that they have like unto others, chiefly prudence and wisdom, is given mirth also, because they be content with things present, they are not troubled with thoughts and desires of the mind as the wicked are. That they have knowledge, and are wise in doing their business. &c. their knowledge is in mirth and peace, but the wicked have trouble and vexation, always gathering together more and more, and never be satisfied. Moreover, although they have wisdom and industry, yet it is so mixed with sorrow, that they are rather a pain to them, so that they can not enjoy their travel, but till the ground and build, and other receive the pleasure and commodity of it. But that the wicked travel in and build, none useth well but the godly. So those things that Princes gather together, are the goods of the godly, because they only use them merrily and with thanks giving, although they have but a little. The wicked have ⟨p. 49⟩much, and yet they use it not, but have therewith great care and vexation. To be short, the godly truly have the whole world, because they have joy and tranquility. The ungodly in having it, have it not. This is the vanity that the ungodly have.
THat it is the gift of God to be cōtent with thinges present, he prooueth. ⟨image 50⟩Because it is geuen without any merits of ours going before,1 to that man whom God lyketh. He deuideth the world into godly and vngodly. Vnto the godly, beside the giftes that they haue lyke vnto others, chiefly prudence and wisedome, is geuen mirth also, because they be content with thinges present, they are not troubled with thoughtes and desires of the minde as the wicked are. That they haue knowledge, and are wise in doyng their busines. &c. their knowledge is in mirth and peace, but the wicked haue trouble and vexatiō, alwayes gathering togither more and more, and neuer be satisfied. Moreouer, although they haue wisdome and industrye, yet it is so mixt with sorow, that they are rather a paine to them, so that they can not enioy their trauell, but till the ground and buylde, and other receaue the pleasure and commoditie of it. But that the wicked trauell in and buylde, none vseth well but the godly. So those thinges that Princes gather togither, are the goods of the godly, because they onely vse them mearily and with thankes geuing, although they haue but a litle. The wicked haue ⟨p. 49⟩much, and yet they vse it not, but haue therwith great care and vexation. To be short, the godly truely haue the whole worlde, because they haue ioye and tranquilitie. The vngodly in hauing it, haue it not. This is the vanitie that the vngodly haue.
- 1The godly use their goods with peace and mirth: but the ungodly have no peace.The godly vse their goodes wt peace and myrth: but the vngodly haue no peace.
