Furthermore forasmuch as a number excuse themselves, saying, How shall I do then? For I have no trade too live by, unless I may follow still mine own manner of dealing: Saint Paul sayeth, Let them labour. Let him that would make it excuse, that he hath not wherewith too find him self, except he may deceive and defraud: let him (sayeth Paul) give him self too labouring with his hands. As if he said, that mens dispensing with them selves under colour that they should then fast, and endure many miseries and penuries, is a trifling toy before God: All those allegations are neither here nor there before God, sayeth S. Paul. For if any be afraid that he shall want: let him not forbear too labour. Mark that for one point. And here let us learn too leave these self soothings, wherewithal a number of folks do bring themselves asleep, who when they have said, what shall I do? Do bear themselves on hand that Gods mouth is stopped, and that he dares no more come nigh them: and they will needs be so privileged, that too their own seeming they be quite and clear, if they can allege for themselves, how then? Whereof shall I live? What shall I do, if I follow not my wonted trade? It seemeth too us that God is shut out of the gate, and that he hath no more authority too condemn us, when we have once alleged those things for our selves. But that is but folly, sayeth S. Paul. We should rather scratch up the earth with our nails, than offend God by doing wrong too our neighbours. The thing then whereunto he sendeth us back, is, that when a man is grown rich, and hath lived a long time at his ease by filching and stealing: that is too say, by pretty fine slights and conveyances, that are against equity and right: let him ⟨image 241⟩not be ashamed too abate his countenance, and too labour for the getting of his living. Albeit that he have erst done nothing but sit still, and gotten his living by devising mischief: yet let him not be ashamed too labour and to take pain for his sustenance. Too be short, Saint Paul showeth us here, that all unlawful gains must be left by such as call themselves Christians, and will be taken so too be. And this warning is as needful for us now adays, as ever it was for any.
Furthermore forasmuch as a number excuse themselues, saying, How shall I doo then? For I haue no trade too liue by, vnlesse I may follow still myne owne maner of dealing: Saint Paule sayeth, Let them labour. Let him that would make it excuce, that he hath not wherwith too fynd him self, except hee may deceyue and defraud: let him (sayeth Paule) giue him self too laboring with his hands. As if he sayd, that mens dispensing with them selues vnder colour that they should then fast, and indure many miseries and penuries, is a tryfling toy before God: All those allegations are nother heere nor there before God, sayeth S. Paule. For if any bee afrayd that he shall want: let him not forbeare too labour. Marke that for one poynt. And heere let vs learne too leaue these self soothings, wherwithall a number of folkes doo bring themselues asleepe, who when they haue sayd, what shall I doo? Doo beare themselues on hand that Gods mouth is stopt, and that he dares no more come nygh them: and they will needes bee so priuiledged, that too their owne seeming they bee quyte and cleare, if they can alledge for themselues, how then? Whereof shall I lyue? What shall I doo, if I follow not my woonted trade? It seemeth too vs that God is shet out of the gate, and that he hath no more authoritie too condemne vs, when wee haue once alledged those thinges for our selues. But that is but folly, sayeth S. Paule. Wee should rather scratch vp the earth with our nayles, than offend God by dooyng wrong too our neyghbours. The thing then wheruntoo he sendeth vs backe, is, that when a man is growen riche, and hath lyued a long tyme at his ease by fil•hing and stealing: that is too say, by prety fyne slyghtes and conueyances, that are ageinst equitie and right: let him ⟨image 241⟩not bee ashamed too abate his countenance, and too labour for the getting of his liuing. Albeeit that he haue erst doone nothing but sit stil, and gotten his liuing by deuyzing mischeefe: yit let him not bee ashamed too labour and to take paine for his sustenance. Too bee short, Saint Paule sheweth vs heere, that all vnlawfull gaynes must bee left by such as call themselues Christians, and wil bee taken so too bee. And this warning is as needfull for vs now adayes, as euer it was for any.
