A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes…

Doct. 2 Rewardeth his own soul, troubleth his own flesh, &c.] They are the best husbands which best provide for the good of their own persons. To be carried with carnal self-love is a vice which is worthy to be condemned: to be lead with Christian love of ones self, is a virtue which is much to be commended. The one draweth a man to wickedness, the other driveth him from it, to goodness: the one causeth him to be hurtful to his neighbours, the other maketh him helpful unto them: the one serving himself sinfully, doth utterly undo himself, the other applying himself to the service of God faithfully, doth procure his own blessedness for ever. When the Apostle would bring an argument that should be persuasive and forcible, and most likely to prevail with rich men to work mercy and liberality in them, he chooseth this, That they should lay up for themselves a good foundation against ¹the time to come, that they might obtain eternal life. It were to no purpose to lay up only for children, for heirs, executors, or administrators, though they were sure to have children, and friends, and their children, and friends were sure to enjoy their possessions: but to enrich themselves, is truly to be rich; and to have ones wealth personally in himself, and for himself, and not only about him, is to he rich in deed.

Doct. 2 Rewardeth his owne soule, troubleth his owne flesh, &c.] They are the best husbands which best prouide for the good of their owne persons. To bee carried with carnall selfe-loue is a vice which is worthie to be condemned: to be lead with Christian loue of ones selfe, is a vertue which is much to be commended. The one draweth a man to wickednes, the other driueth him from it, to goodnesse: the one causeth him to be hurtfull to his neighbours, the other maketh him helpefull vnto them: the one seruing himselfe sinfully, doth vtterly vndoe himselfe, the other applying himselfe to the seruice of God faithfully, doth procure his owne blessednes for euer. When the Apostle would bring an argument that should be perswasiue and forcible, and most likely to preuaile with rich men to worke mercie and liberalitie in them, he chuseth this, That they should lay vp for themselues a good foundation against ¹the time to come, that they might obtaine eternall life. It were to no purpose to lay vp onely for children, for heires, executors, or administrators, though they were sure to haue children, and friends, and their children, and friends were sure to inioy their possessions: but to inrich themselues, is truely to be rich; and to haue ones wealth personally in himselfe, and for himselfe, and not onely about him, is to he rich in deede.