There are among men, many and divers occupations. And the state & 1conditions, wherein men are, do stand in need of many and sundry things. There is an occupation or […] ⟨p. 268⟩kind of labour, which is put in practise by force of hand, and strength of body, rather then by art, although it wanteth not altogether wit and discretion. There is also a more fine and subtle labour of the wit, which, although it be not done without the body and strength of man, is yet notwithstanding accomplished by the wit rather then by the bodily force of him which laboureth. Of the first sort are all those occupations or sciences which are commonly called handicrafts, and in that number we reckon also merchandising, husbandry, and grassing of cattle. Of the latter sort are the study of tongues, of Physic, of law, of Divinity especially, and of Philosophy, and lastly the governing of a common weal. The Patriarchs verily, who were most innocent and excellent men, did for the most part either exercise husbandry, or else breed and feed up cattle to increase. There are many examples, of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, and other more. The Levites, and Prophets lived by their study and ecclesiastical ministry. The feat of merchandising is no where condemned throughout the holy Scriptures: but those merchants are condemned which neither fear nor seek after God, but use odd shifts and subtle sleights to deceive and cozen their brethren & neighbours. For James the Apostle of Christ our Lord saith: Go to now ye that say: to day, and to morrow let us go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, & win (and yet cannot tell what shall happen on the morrow: for what is your life? it is even a vapour, that continueth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.) For that ye ought to say: If the Lord will, and if we live, let us do this or that: Neither is Lydia the seller of purple found fault withal in the Acts of the Apostles, for that she did sell purple: For Solomon, where he setteth forth the praise of a good housewife, doth commend 2her greatly for exercising merchandise. All notable kings have lived by governing of their common wealths, even as Joseph the preserver of Egypt, and Daniel the chief next to the king in Babylon and Media did in like sort.
There are among men, many and diuers occupations. And the state & 1conditions, wherin men are, do stand in néede of many and sundry thinges. There is an occupation or 〈…〉 ⟨p. 268⟩kinde of labour, which is put in practise by force of hand, and strength of bodie, rather then by arte, althoughe it wanteth not altogether witt and discretion. There is also a more fine and subtile labour of the witt, which, although it be not done without the bodie and strength of man, is yet notwithstanding accomplished by the witt rather then by the bodily force of him which laboureth. Of the firste sorte are all those occupations or sciences which are commonly called handicraftes, and in that number we reckon also merchaundising, husbandrie, and grasing of cattell. Of the latter sorte are the studie of tongues, of Physicke, of lawe, of Diuinitie especiallie, and of Philosophie, and lastly the gouerning of a common weale. The Patriarches verilie, who were most innocent and excellent men, did for the most parte either exercise husbandrie, or else bréede and feede vpp cattel to increase. There are many examples, of Abell, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Iob, and other more. The Leuites, and Prophets lyued by their studye and ecclesiasticall ministerie. The feate of merchandising is no where condemned throughout the holye Scriptures: but those merchauntes are condemned which neither feare nor seeke after God, but vse odde shiftes and subtile sleightes to deceiue and coosen their brethren & neighbours. For Iames the Apostle of Christ our Lorde saith: Go to now ye that saye: to daye, and to morrow let vs go into such a citie, and continue there a yere, and buy, and sell, & winne (and yet cannot tel what shall happen on the morrowe: for what is your life? it is euen a vapour, that continueth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.) For that ye ought to saye: If the Lorde will, and if wee liue, let vs do this or that: Neither is Lydia the seller of purple founde fault withall in the Actes of the Apostles, for that shée did sell purple: For Solomon, where he setteth forth the praise of a good huswife, doth commend 2her greatly for exercising merchaundise. All notable kinges haue liued by gouerning of their common wealthes, euen as Ioseph the preseruer of Aegypt, and Daniel the chiefe next to the king in Babylon and Media did in like sort.
- 1Sundry kinds o• occupati•n•.Sundrie kindes o• occupati•n•.
- 2[…]〈…〉
