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…

Use. 1 Reproof of all that affect such a mischief, living in hope, for their own private lucre, that so great an hurt will grow to the public state of the land: but specially of such as take the way, and use the means to effect this evil, and to draw upon it such a judgement. And of this sort are they which practise that which is here declared to be a noisome sin, namely to store up their corn that no man shall have any benefit by it, whiles there is any good substance in it. They are much more kind hearted to Rats, and Mice, and Weasels, than they are to their brethren: for they shall have all freely given them for nothing, and men cannot buy any of it for their money. And therefore what can they say for themselves why they should not be as much liable to the woe and curse which S. James doth denounce, as those whose other riches were corrupt: whose garments were moth-eaten for want of wearing: whose gold and silver was cankered and rusty for want of usage? But worse are they which not only hoard up their own corn, that it shall never come forth seasonably to prevent a dearth: but engross other mens also for the same purpose, that they may make their gain thereof to the detriment and hurt of many others. But of all others, worst are they which not only keep back corn from the marker, but from the barn: not from sale, but from sowing: which refuse to yield tillage and seed to the ground: which yet further, by force or fraud, extort the ground from other men that they shall neither till nor sow it. These dry up the springs of the Market, that the streams of plenty should be restrained from flowing to it: these bring a ⟨p. 93⟩curse upon the earth, and make it barren in comparison of the ¹store it was wont to yield. These labour for depopulation of houses, and towns, and fields, and people.

Vse. 1 Reproofe of all that affect such a mischiefe, liuing in hope, for their owne priuate lucre, that so great an hurt will grow to the publike state of the land: but specially of such as take the way, and vse the meanes to effect this euill, and to draw vpon it such a iudgement. And of this sort are they which practise that which is here declared to be a noisome sinne, namely to store vp their corne that no man shall haue any benefit by it, whiles there is any good substance in it. They are much more kinde hearted to Rats, and Mice, and Wesils, than they are to their brethren: for they shall haue all freely giuen them for nothing, and men cannot buy any of it for their mony. And therefore what can they say for themselues why they should not be as much liable to the woe and curse which S. Iames doth denounce, as those whose other riches were corrupt: whose garments were moath-eaten for want of wearing: whose gold and siluer was canckred and rustie for want of vsage? But worse are they which not onely hoord vp their owne corne, that it shall neuer come foorth seasonably to preuent a dearth: but ingrosse other mens also for the same purpose, that they may make their gaine thereof to the detriment and hurt of many others. But of all others, worst are they which not onely keepe back corne from the marker, but from the barne: not from sale, but from sowing: which refuse to yeeld tillage and seed to the ground: which yet further, by force or fraud, extort the ground from other men that they shall neither till nor sow it. These drie vp the springs of the Market, that the streames of plentie should be restrained from flowing to it: these bring a