Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

The time was when Adam digged and delved, when David kept sheep, and all the house of Jacob were called men occupied about cattle: but as they for this were abominable to the Egyptians (as Moses saith in the same verse) so they which do like them are abhorred of their brethren: and they which live by them, scorn them for their work, which would be chastened themselves, because they work not. There was no art nor science which was so much set by in former times, and is now profitable to the Common-wealth; bringing less profit unto her self, that may so justly complain of her fall without cause, and her despite from them which live by her, as this painful science of husbandry: that it is marvel that any man will take pain for the rest, to be contemned for his labour, and be a scorn for the rest, which might hunger and starve, if he did not labour for them more then they do themselves. No marvel then though many in the poor Countries murmur and complain, that other cannot live by them, and they cannot live ⟨image 25⟩themselves: but it is marvel if their complaint do not grow in time to rebellion, and pull others as low as themselves: for why should the greatest pain yield the less profit? yet this is their case; for if you mark, you shall see that the husbandman doeth bate the price of his fruits so soon as the dearth is past, though he raiseth it a little while the dearth lasteth: but they which raise the price of their wares with him, seldom fall again, but make men pay as dear when the dearth is past, as if it were a dearth still. Thus a plentiful year doth damage him, and a hard year doth vantage them. So this painful man is fain to live poorly, fare meanly, go barely, house homely, rise early, labour daily, sell cheap, and buy deer, that I may truly say, that no man deserveth his living better, no man fulfilleth the law nearer: that is, thou shalt get thy living in the sweat of thy brows; then this poor son of Adam, which picks his crumbs out of the earth. Therefore he should not be mocked for his labour, which hath vexation enough though all men speak well of him:

The time was when Adam digged and delued, when Dauid kept sheepe, and all the house of Iacob were called men occupied about cattell: but as they for this were abhominable to the Egyptians (as Moses saith in the same verse) so they which doe like them are abhorred of their brethren: and they which liue by them, scorne them for their worke, which would bee chastned themselues, because they worke not. There was no arte nor science which was so much set by in former times, and is now profitable to the Common-wealth; bringing lesse profit vnto her selfe, that may so iustlie complaine of her fall without cause, and her despite from them which liue by her, as this painefull science of husbandrie: that it is maruell that any man will take paine for the rest, to be contemned for his labour, and be a scorne for the rest, which might hunger and starue, if he did not labour for them more then they doe themselues. No maruell then though many in the poore Countries murmure and complaine, that other cannot liue by them, and they cannot liue