Sermons upon Deuteronomy

So then as touching poverty, every man will grant that we have need to be comforted, and to be told that we must not grudge against GOD, nor be enticed to do evil. But when he saith that we must know how to be rich: men will laugh that speech to scorn, as if it were not grounded upon any reason, and yet is that lesson needefuller than the former. And why? Let us consider a little what rich men are: They be gulfs that can never be filled, yea and much more uneasy to be contented than poor men. If a man compare the rich and the poor together: like as he shall find poor men which martyr themselves, and repine, and are induced to filching and to do many lewd turns: so shall he find the most part of them contented with that which God giveth them, and so keeping on their course. But if a man go to the rich sort, specially to kings and princes: he shall find them so inflamed, and so far in love with the riches of this world: as they cannot be satisfied. Nay, it even grieves them at the heart, that the sun shineth upon the poor. To be short, it is seen that if God should give the whole earth in possession to the rich: yet the most part of them would never think it enough. For (as I said) it grieveth them that the light of the sun should be common to the poor, or that they should have water to drink. Yea and although the poor take pains, and do the best they can: yet doth the rich man malice him. Although he shed sweat and blood for him: yet the rich man thinks that he plucketh the guts and bowels out of his belly, when he eateth of his cost. This nigardship, or rather beastly cruelty of the richer sort, is apparent: & it is too common a thing. Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul say that we have greatly profited, when we have learned to be rich: that is to wit, when we be not desirous to gather still more and more, so as if GOD have given us any abundance, we follow our trade still without coveting in this wise: O, such a piece of ground were good for me: I must needs purchase that, and the next to it.

So then as touching pouertie, euery man will graunt that wee haue neede to bee comforted, and to bee tolde that wee must not grudge against GOD, nor bee inticed to doe euill. But when hee sayth that wee must know how to bee riche: men will laugh that speach to skorne, as if it were not grounded vppon any reason, and yet is that lesson needefuller than the former. And why? Let vs consider a little what rich men are: They be gulfes that can neuer bee filled, yea and much more vneasie to bee contented than poore men. If a man compare the rich and the poore together: lyke as hee shall finde poore men which martyr themselues, and repine, and are induced to filching and to doe many lewde turnes: so shall hee finde the most part of them contented with that which God giueth them, and so keeping on their course. But if a man goe to the rich sorte, specially to kings and princes: hee shall finde them so inflamed, and so farre in loue with the riches of this worlde: as they cannot be satisfied. Nay, it euen greeues them at the heart, that the sunne shineth vppon the poore. To be short, it is seene that if God shoulde giue the whole earth in possession to the riche: yet the moste parte of them would neuer thinke it enough. For (as I sayd) it greeueth them that the light of the sunne should be common to the poore, or that they should haue water to drinke. Yea and although the poore take paynes, and do the best they can: yet doth the rich man malice him. Although hee shed sweate and bloud for him: yet the riche man thinkes that hee plucketh the guttes and bowels out of his bellie, whē he eateth of his cost. This nigardship, or rather beastly crueltie of the richer sorte, is apparant: & it is too common a thing. Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul say that wee haue greatly profited, when we haue learned to bee rich: that is to wit, when we be not desirous to gather still more and more, so as if GOD haue giuen vs any aboundance, we followe our trade still without coueting in this wise: O, such a peece of ground were good for me: I must needes purchace that, and the next to it.