The reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19.…The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19.…

The cubit here mentioned, is a certain kind of measure borrowed from a mans arm, which is the length from the bowing of the arm or elbow, to the end of the longest finger, about which length, we are commonly when we come into the world. So that the meaning is this: As God makes a man a cubit long at the first, and afterwards adds many cubits one after another to his stature:⟨p. 158⟩ so man himself cannot by all his care increase his stature one cubit: nay, all the cunning, wit, labour, & industry of man, is not able to add any thing to his stature, because it is the proper work of God, and of the same nature with the work of the creation.

The cubit here mentioned, is a certaine kinde of measure borrowed from a mans arme, which is the length from the bowing of the arme or elbowe, to the end of the longest finger, about which length, wee are commonly when we come into the world. So that the meaning is this: As God makes a man a cubit long at the first, and afterwards addes many cubits one after another to his stature:⟨p. 158⟩ so man himselfe cannot by all his care encrease his stature one cubit: nay, all the cunning, wit, labour, & industrie of man, is not able to adde any thing to his stature, because it is the proper worke of God, and of the same nature with the worke of the creation.

After a thing is created, to make it grow and increase, is a work that proceeds from the same power, by which it was created. Therefore, as none but God doth or can create the body: so it is God alone that increaseth the stature, and adds length, and makes it grow from stature to stature. And so this is a reason from the like. As man by taking care cannot increase his stature one cubit, no nor any thing at all, as it is in Luke: So he cannot by taking⟨p. 159⟩ care increase his worldly state, or better it.