Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Ye see then that we must be kindhearted both generally and particularly as time requireth. As how? If there come a year of dearth, many men will seek to enrich themselves by it, and they bear themselves in hand, that it is a time even for their own tooth: and it is a thing too much used nowadays, as it hath bin at all times heretofore: and would God we could forget it. But we shall see a number that lye in wait like scouts §60or spies, and if there come a dear year, O say they, this serves well to make me rich; when as in very deed it is the time wherein they should open their bowels to have compassion of such as are in necessity. We see that poor folk have much ado to maintain themselves though they be succoured: yea and such as heretofore have been able to live in their own houses without being pinched over near, are now driven to borrow. And why is that? They have their ordinary earnings as before: but corn and wine are at such excessive prices, that they be not able to buy them; every man shrinks away and holds himself short. And as for the rich man that hath wherewith to live, his mind is upon nothing else but how he may enrich himself, O (sayeth he) this is a fat year for me, for it is a lean year for all others. Alas, here is a wretched regard. So then let us learn that our Lords meaning by this Law is not that we should forbear to relieve such as are (as ye would say) wind-shaken already: but that if we see a man that hath much ado to maintain himself, we should not run upon him to overthrow him altogether. As how? If I see a man a little behind hand, and I have a mind to some corn ground or vineyard of his; lo he is in fit case for my purpose: and if I take him at the vantage, he is undone by it, & it is unpossible for him to scape utter ruin. And when a man having that regard to self-profit, endeavoureth to catch away the poor mans possessions; surely although there were no Law of God at all: yet doeth even natural equity condemn it. But here our Lord showeth us his will, which is, that whensoever we see any man distressed, we should spare him so much the more, until he have some means to recover himself again; and that we should not lye in wait to catch from him at every occasion that is offered to further the matter:

Yee see then that we must be kindharted both generally and particularly as time requireth. As how? If there come a yeare of dearth, many men will seeke to inrich themselues by it, and they beare themselues in hande, that it is a time euen for their owne tooth: and it is a thing too much vsed nowadayes, as it hath bin at all times heretofore: and woulde God we coulde forget it. But we shal see a number that lye in waite like skouts