A commentary upon the whole book of Judges Preached first and delivered in sundry…A commentary vpon the vvhole booke of Iudges Preached first and deliuered in sundrie…

But howsoever it be, let all be highly thankful, for that they may use the benefit of traffic, or other improving of their commodities, as these now did, and let them be fruitful in well-doing, as they would readily promise to be, if they were again under the cross, and joyful in the use of preaching and Sacraments, with other duties; which is the true praise that God expecteth. But as for such as deprive themselves of the benefit thereof by their own default, they have much to answer for. Such are idle persons, and ill husbands, as we call them, and such, as, if the Lord somewhat alter the course of their takings and gains, and they come short thereof, over they did sometime before, they fret and complain that their trades be naught, & that they shall be undone: and much like to them are they, who having got by their trades well, conceal their estates, & feign themselves bankrupts, to defeat others of their goods; or such other as cast the burden upon their thriftlessness and improvidence upon their trades, dealings, or blind-fortune, forgetting how God had sometimes blessed them therein before. Therefore let us know (whatsoever the bad practises of men are) that it is a great favour of God, that people may have free recourse to markets and fairs, and other like places of buying and selling commodities, even as the want thereof is a sore punishment, when people neither know where they should utter their commodities, nor ⟨p. 247⟩buy them whereof they stand in need: in both which consisted their maintenance, as was said before. And yet lamentable it is to see, what abuse the corrupt custom of our time hath brought this liberty unto. For many do not only steal away Gods due, I mean the Sabbath, to do their worldly business on; but there are other, whose common trade and practise it is (in a more profane manner,) to harbour thieves, to receive stolen wares, to entertain drunkards, to become bawds to adulterers, and to spend that day lewd, and unseemly meetings and match-makings, stage-plays, and other revel rout; and all under the honest colour of exchanging commodities, and maintaining their charge. So that in stead thereof, men and women set to sale their good name, chastity, sobriety, and whatsoever else should be precious to the godly.

But howsoeuer it bee, let all bee highly thankfull, for that they may vse the benefit of traffique, or other improuing of their commodities, as these now did, and let them be fruitfull in well-doing, as they would readily promise to bee, if they were againe vnder the crosse, and ioyfull in the vse of preaching and Sacraments, with other duties; which is the true praise that God expecteth. But as for such as depriue themselues of the benefit thereof by their owne default, they haue much to answere for. Such are idle persons, and ill husbands, as we call them, and such, as, if the Lord somewhat alter the course of their takings and gaines, and they come short therof, ouer they did somtime before, they fret and complaine that their trades be naught, & that they shall be vndone: and much like to them are they, who hauing got by their trades well, conceale their estates, & faine themselues bankerupts, to defeat others of their goods; or such other as cast the burthen vpon their thriftlesnes and improuidence vpon their trades, dealings, or blind-fortune, forgetting how God had somtimes blessed them therein before. Therefore let vs know (whatsoeuer the bad practises of men are) that it is a great fauour of God, that people may haue free recourse to markets and faires, and other like places of buying and selling commodities, euen as the want thereof is a sore punishment, when people neither know where they should vtter their commodities, nor