These things considered and wisely regarded, what should it grieve them, whom God hath endued with riches, and the commodities of this life, more then they need (to the end he may prove them, what liberality they will show to their poor flesh) to reach out their hand, as they see most §Kneed both in giving and lending, and there especially, where God hath placed them,1 and to their own kindred? And for this cause, men ought to know, that they should be more moderate in spending wastefully upon others (where they need not, neither doth any charity bind them) or upon themselves in diet, apparel, or such like: considering that he which hath made them able to give, might and could have made them stand in ⟨p. 179⟩§Aneed to receive: and therefore we have the poor always amongst us, 2that we may do good to them. But all is too little for mens selves, by means either of a licentious wasting; as excess and needless sumptuousness of clothing, and providing for their bodies, or by a miserable pinching and hoarding up for their posterity; that they may exceed and pass their bounds; and that they may match any of their equals to the utmost: whatsoever cometh in by the year, or by the quarter, they have a bottomless bag to put it in; none are the better for it, but themselves and theirs: whereas indeed, none are more the worse for it, then themselves, and theirs, as we see it oft to come to pass; they themselves coming to an heavy reckoning for it, their children for §Bthe most part, spending it wastefully. But I cannot now bring examples, which in scripture and experience, are innumerable. And whereas there are two sorts of them, who have goods for their destruction:3 the one hath no other thought abiding with him, but about increasing, though he know not why, and perhaps have neither child nor brother: of whom it is verified, that the covetous never doth good, till he be dead,4 like the water in the ice, which never is profitable, until it be thawed. The other sort go so far in satisfying the desire of the heart, and the lust of the eye, and take such pride, and jollity in their life, whiles they have that, which they would, that in stead of giving and lending, they have not sufficient at the years §Cend to satisfy all their expenses: what do I say, to satisfy, when they are a whole years revenue afore hand in charges, besides other debt:
These things considered and wisely regarded, what should it greeue them, whom God hath indued with riches, and the commodities of this life, more then they neede (to the end he may proue them, what liberalitie they will shew to their poore flesh) to reach out their hand, as they see most §Kneede both in giuing and lending, and there especially, where God hath placed them,1 and to their owne kindred? And for this cause, men ought to know, that they should be more moderate in spending wastfully vpon others (where they neede not, neither doth any charitie binde them) or vpon themselues in diet, apparrell, or such like: considering that he which hath made them able to giue, might and could haue made them stand in ⟨p. 179⟩§Aneede to receiue: and therefore we haue the poore alwayes amongst vs, 2that we may doe good to them. But all is too little for mens selues, by meanes either of a licentious wasting; as excesse and needeles sumptuousnes of clothing, and prouiding for their bodies, or by a miserable pinching and hoarding vp for their posteritie; that they may exceede and passe their bounds; and that they may match any of their equalles to the vtmost: whatsoeuer commeth in by the yeare, or by the quarter, they haue a bottomles bag to put it in; none are the better for it, but themselues and theirs: whereas indeede, none are more the worse for it, then themselues, and theirs, as we see it oft to come to passe; they themselues comming to an heauie reckoning for it, their children for §Bthe most part, spending it wastfully. But I cannot now bring examples, which in scripture and experience, are innumerable. And whereas there are two sortes of them, who haue goods for their destruction:3 the one hath no other thought abiding with him, but about encreasing, though he know not why, and perhaps haue neither childe nor brother: of whom it is verified, that the couetous neuer doth good, till he be dead,4 like the water in the ice, which neuer is profitable, vntill it be thawed. The other sort goe so farre in satisfying the desire of the heart, and the lust of the eye, and take such pride, and iolitie in their life, whiles they haue that, which they would, that in stead of giuing and lending, they haue not sufficient at the yeares
- 1Men ought to be moderate in spending, that they may lend.
- 2Deut. 15.11.
- 3Two sorts have goods to their destruction.Two sortes haue goods to their destruction.
- 4The covetous doth no good, while he liveth.The couetous doth no good, while he liueth.
