An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

HE addeth a proverbial sentence,¹ as if he should say. In such a kingdom where Princes and Peers seek their own, and the king is a fool, it happeneth as to a negligent householder, who where he might in time with one penny cost keep his rafters from rotting, letteth it run till the house be like to fall. Where therefore the householder is not diligent, and every day repairing where decay is, here always one damage and loss followeth an other. But a diligent body straight way repaireth a thing fallen in decay, & preserveth not only that he hath, but always amendeth where he seeth fault or breach, still making his house more and more comely. And that he saith of the house, he will have understanded of all things belonging to house keeping. Even as the building being neglected decayeth, so doth the house keeping decay being neglected. A diligent householder is always increasing somewhat: a slothful and negligent, always loseth somewhat. Thus many Bishoprics and Dukedoms have decayed, because no man hath set his hand to the restoring of them. He that neglecteth that is small ⟨image 173⟩by little and little loseth all. An householder must be both a sparer and liberal, and he must make much of small things, that when time serveth he may be liberal, For many small maketh a great.