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 deceitful hand maketh poor: but the hand of the diligent Verse. 4 maketh rich.

A deceitfull hand maketh poore: but the hand of the diligent Verse. 4 maketh rich.

This verse also containeth an answer to an other objection, which might rise out of the words immediately going before: if food and maintenance be the gift of God, and they that have little shall be kept from want, and they that have great store shall be stripped of all, to what end should men travel and take pains? the wisest way is to give over all labour. Now this he refuteth by showing the means whereby righteous men use to receive this food and provision from Gods hand, and that is by sedulity and diligence in their vocations. And therefore he demonstrateth the contrary effects of contrary men, namely, of slothful persons, and such as be industrious, and painful. Slothful persons fall into two evils, the one is the practise of deceitfulness, called here a deceitful hand, ⟨p. 59⟩the other is the burden of poverty, which is a punishment inflicted upon them, both for fraud and idleness. They that be diligent have their reward yielded unto them, that they thrive, and prosper by the labour of their hands: and though their wealth be not so great in quantity, yet the smallness thereof is recompensed in quality, and good use of it, and therefore is called precious riches. Chap. 12. 27. And so they have neither need nor disposition to give themselves to deceitful shifts, as sluggards.

This verse also containeth an answere to an other obiection, which might rise out of the words immediately going before: if food and maintenance be the gift of God, and they that haue little shall be kept from want, and they that haue great store shall bee stript of all, to what end should men trauell and take paines? the wisest way is to giue ouer all labour. Now this hee refuteth by shewing the meanes whereby righteous men vse to receiue this food and prouision from Gods hand, and that is by sedulitie and diligence in their vocations. And therefore he demonstrateth the contrary effects of contrary men, namely, of slouthfull persons, and such as be industrious, and painefull. Slothfull persons fall into two euills, the one is the practise of deceitfulnesse, called heere a deceitfull hand,