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…

First, godly men do provide themselves of these celestial Reasons. 1 graces, and thereby are made able to participate them to others. They have a learning ear, & therefore also a teaching tongue: ¹they be covetous of spiritual gifts, and therefore also liberal of them: they are great eaters, and as we may say, have an appetite to devour all, and therefore would have every man to take part with them. In earthly commodities, men are of a contrary disposition: for as they are the more greedy of getting to themselves, so are they more niggardly in withholding from others: and as any one doeth swallow up more, the less is left for the rest of the company: but in heavenly things it cometh ⟨p. 102⟩to pass that none be so frank and free, as they whose desires be most greedy of having, and none do save, and leave so much for the use of their brethren, as they that take their full meal, and eat as much as possibly they can. To take the fruition of the graces of God, is the way to make provision of them for our neighbours: and to bestow upon others is the means to retain and augment them to our selves.

First, godly men doe prouide themselues of these celestiall Reasons. 1 graces, and thereby are made able to participate them to others. They haue a learning eare, & therefore also a teaching tongue: ¹they be couetous of spirituall gifts, and therefore also liberall of them: they are great eaters, and as we may say, haue an appetite to deuoure all, and therefore would haue euery man to take part with them. In earthly commodities, men are of a contrary disposition: for as they are the more greedie of getting to themselues, so are they more niggardly in witholding from others: and as any one doeth swallow vp more, the lesse is left for the rest of the company: but in heauenly things it commeth ⟨p. 102⟩to passe that none be so frank and free, as they whose desires be most greedie of hauing, and none doe saue, and leaue so much for the vse of their brethren, as they that take their full meale, and eate as much as possibly they can. To take the fruition of the graces of God, is the way to make prouision of them for our neighbours: and to bestow vpon others is the meanes to retaine and augment them to our selues.