A20544:255
A plain and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Prouerbs…
A plain and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Proverbs of SolomonA plaine and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon
London: printed by Thomas for Thomas Man, 1606
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answer. But better fare doth not make their state better: it helpeth not their health, it sweeteneth not their sleep, it refresheth 1not their harts, it furthereth them to no good service. That meat doth a man good which inciteth him to prayer, & thankfulness, which moveth him to compassion & mercy, and which maketh him able and ready to exercise every good duty in his calling.
Answere. But better fare doth not make their state better: it helpeth not their health, it sweetneth not their sleepe, it refresheth 1not their harts, it furthereth them to no good seruice. That meate doth a man good which inciteth him to prayer, & thanckfulnesse, which moueth him to compassion & mercie, and which maketh him able and readie to exercise euery good dutie in his calling.
First, the store and plenty of riches and possessions doth Reasons. 1 nothing help the state of unrighteous men in the time of their prosperity; for that which they have is none of their own: they have neither right nor use of any thing that is about them. Isay. 61. 5. They plough other mens grounds, and plant 1other mens orchards, and keep other mens cattle, and become other mens drudges. And for this cause the Prophet Habakkuk doth cry out shame upon their folly, when they think themselves to be very wise and prudent; Ho, he that 2increaseth that which is not his, and he that hideth himself with thick clay. They make themselves packhorses, or at least servile porters which bow their backs to other mens burdens, and shall be recompensed only with feeling the weight of the same. Or let the best be made of it, and be it their own, yet their own is nothing but a load of heavy mortar. And this were well if this were all; but the worst remaineth to be spoken of: namely their burdens of wicked treasures be as it were bags or purses obtained by stealth, or robbery, which will therefore bring their lives into peril.