A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…

there be two great rubs in the way.

First, the loss which they shall sustain, if they restore again all ¹which they have got unjustly. Then the difficulty to restore it unto the right parties. If you ask me, as Amaziah asked the Prophet, How shall we do for those hundred ²talents? How shall I live when all is gone which I have got wrongfully? I can say no more than the Prophet said to him, The Lord is able to give thee more than this. Zacheus did not fear how he ⟨image 167⟩³should live, but Zacheus did fear to offend: so thou shouldest not fear to restore other mens goods, but thou shouldest fear to keep other mens goods: and as Zacheus lived when he had restored, so thou shalt live when thou hast restored. He which saith, Try me if ⁴I will not pour down a blessing, try him whether he will not pour down a blessing; for he hath promised to bless the lender aswell ⁵as the sacrificer. He which is the Lord of all, can give thee more than thou needest: but if you can not restore to the owner, nor to his heirs, then give it to the poor, for they are the next heirs, & repent that thou hast kept it so long: but in no wise thou mayest keep it to thy self, because it is none of thine.

First, the losse which they shall sustaine, if they restore againe all ¹which they haue got vniustlie. Then the difficultie to restore it vnto the right parties. If you aske mee, as Amaziah asked the Prophet, How shall we doo for those hundreth