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…

He that gathereth in summer is a son of understanding, Verse. 5 and he that sleepeth in harvest is a son of confusion.

Hee that gathereth in sommer is a sonne of vnderstanding, Verse. 5 and hee that sleepeth in haruest is a sonne of confusion.

The drift of these words is to teach men to redeem the time and make the best advantage of the seasons, comparing opportunity to summer or harvest, when the fruits of the earth are ripe, and ready to be gathered; and the persons to whom it is offered, to husbandmen that have commodities growing in the fields. And therefore we judge him prudent which so stirreth himself, and hasteneth his people to cut down his ⟨p. 63⟩corn, and to inn it when it is ripe, and the weather is seasonable: so God here calleth him a son of understanding, that is, a wise man which taketh time while time serveth, for any good purpose and occasion. And as the world crieth, fie on him that sleepeth in harvest, that is, doth no more labour or look to his affairs, then if he were in a dead sleep, and so sustaineth the loss of all his crop, by means whereof he overthroweth the state of all his family: so the Lord termeth him a son of confusion, or which bringeth confusion, that is to say, misery, and shame upon himself, and his friends, which striveth not to take his part of Gods blessing in due season.

The drift of these wordes is to teach men to redeeme the time and make the best aduantage of the seasons, comparing oportunitie to sommer or haruest, when the fruits of the earth are ripe, and ready to be gathered; and the persons to whom it is offred, to husbandmen that haue commodities growing in the fields. And therefore we iudge him prudent which so stirreth himselfe, and hasteneth his people to cut downe his ⟨p. 63⟩corne, and to inne it when it is ripe, and the weather is seasonable: so God heere calleth him a sonne of vnderstanding, that is, a wise man which taketh time while time serueth, for any good purpose and occasion. And as the world cryeth, fie on him that sleepeth in haruest, that is, doth no more labour or looke to his affaires, then if hee were in a dead sleepe, and so sustaineth the losse of all his croppe, by meanes whereof hee ouerthroweth the state of all his familie: so the Lord termeth him a sonne of confusion, or which bringeth confusion, that is to say, misery, and shame vpon himselfe, and his friends, which striueth not to take his part of Gods blessing in due season.