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…

Reasons. 1 First, they are heavy adversaries of the poor, and practise to add sorrow to them that are already in sorrow. The greatest weight of this burden is like to light upon their backs, because they are least provided of armour to keep it off. An example thereof is to be seen in the prophecy of Amos, where the selfsame effect is wrought by the self-same means which we are now in hand with: Hear this, O ye that swallow up the poor, that ¹ye may make the needy of the land to fail, saying, When will the new Moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, and make the Epha small, and the shekel great, and falsify the weights by deceit? and buy the poor for silver, and the needy for shoes: yea and sell the refuse of the wheat. They had long kept up the corn for this purpose to have it grow dear, and now the time served the turn, and it must be opened in all the haste, they thought the days of the Lords own service too long, until they were at it. And now woe to the poor, for the plot is laid to pray upon them. They shall buy the refuse dear, which is little worth, and sell themselves cheap to pay for it.

Reasons. 1 First, they are heauie aduersaries of the poore, and practise to adde sorrow to them that are alreadie in sorrow. The greatest weight of this burthen is like to light vpon their backes, because they are least prouided of armour to keepe it off. An example thereof is to be seene in the prophecie of Amos, where the selfesame effect is wrought by the selfe-same meanes which wee are now in hand with: Heare this, O ye that swallow vp the poore, that ¹ye may make the needie of the land to faile, saying, When will the new Moone be gone, that we may sell corne? and the Sabbath, that we may set foorth wheate, and make the Epha small, and the shekell great, and falsifie the weights by deceit? and buy the poore for siluer, and the needie for shooes: yea and sell the refuse of the wheate. They had long kept vp the corne for this purpose to haue it grow deare, and now the time serued the turne, and it must bee opened in all the haste, they thought the daies of the Lords owne seruice too long, vntill they were at it. And now woe to the poore, for the plot is laid to pray vpon them. They shall buy the refuse deare, which is little worth, and sell themselues cheape to pay for it.