Four great liars, striving who shall win the silver whetstone Also, a resolution to…Foure great lyers, striuing who shall win the siluer whetstone Also, a resolution to…

The first Reason, immoderate care.

1 AS a man doth see the blessings of God upon him, so he must also labour with a careful diligence to maintain the state of this life. But because the affection of man is carried headlong unto a greedy covetousness: this desire of overmuch carping and caring, must be bridled with two strong bits.¹ First, all our care must extend it self no further, then the present day: Secondly, in caring we must not trust unto our selves, but fix all our confidence in the mercy and providence of God who blesseth all, and without whose goodness, nothing can come to pass, do what we will. As touching the first, we have the direction of our Saviour Christ: who teacheth ⟨image 14⟩us to pray on this wise. Give us this day our daily bread, whereby we are given to understand, that we are only to seek for the present time, resting with this persuasion, that he which hath blessed us this day, will also to morrow, & the next day show his like goodness unto us. Again, in the same place, our Saviour Christ speaketh on this wise. Care not them for the morrow: ²for the morrow shall care for it self: the day hath enough with his own grief. By this we learn that God will provide for every day all things necessary, though we do not increase the present grief, with caring and casting in our heads how we shall live in the time to come. Now tell me what is the cause that thou yearly doest buy a Prognostication, & one of those, which tell the strangest things? Is it because thou hast a delight to read the style of Prognostications? Or because thou wouldest learn to Prognosticate? Or because the pictures and Characters which they make, delight thy mind? it were folly to be persuaded