A09450:625
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 reformation of covetousness Written upon the 6. chapter of Matthew, from the 19. verse to the end of the said chapter. By William Perkins.The reformation of couetousnesse Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19. verse to the ende of the said chapter. By William Perkins.
London: printed by T. Creede for Nicholas Ling, 1603
THE REFORmation of Covetousness.THE REFORmation of Couetousnesse.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When men provide so much wealth as will keep and maintain both them and theirs for many ages, if they can heap up goods not to be numbered, they will do it, and there be many such gather-goods. Men forecast to provide so much as would maintain them, if they should live as long as Methuselah. This is the care forbidden, when men provide so much for themselves, as would suffice for many families. The king himself, who hath most need of abundance, must not multiply too much his horses and money; much less ought⟨p. 255⟩ any subject. If any man had need of superabundance and superfluity, the King much more, yet he is forbidden it. Why then, if it be a thing to be barred the Prince, if he must be stinted and limited, what man dares be so bold as to exceed his bounds, & break out beyond his borders. This is one example of the distrustful care.
When men prouide so much wealth as will keepe and maintaine both them and theirs for many ages, if they can heape vp goods not to bee numbred, they wil do it, and there be many such gather-goods. Men forecast to prouide so much as would maintaine them, if they should liue as long as Methushelah. This is the care forbidden, when men prouide so much for themselues, as would suffice for many families. The king himselfe, who hath most neede of aboundance, must not multiply too much his horses and money; much lesse ought⟨p. 255⟩ any subiect. If any man had neede of superaboundance and superfluitie, the King much more, yet hee is forbidden it. Why then, if it bee a thing to bee barred the Prince, if hee must bee stinted and limited, what man dares bee so bolde as to exceed his bounds, & breake out beyond his borders. This is one example of the distrustfull care.
An other example is, when men provide against all mischances and casualties, so that they will avoid all losses and damages whatsoever. And howsoever the judgement of God fall on others, they will be free from all; And though all the world should die before them for want, yet they will live and have abundance of meat, drink, and cloth.