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 Encouragement to them whose travel is in it, that they work cheerfully. They are of as good note with God for their service, if they be faithful, as others whose trades are more gainful, and ⟨p. 146⟩better esteemed among men. The Merchants, and Goldsmiths, and Jewellers, and others of such places are not so often mentioned in the Scriptures as they be, nor animated with so many consolations as they are: the grand promises for blessing on their labours, is made to them in special, and the rest must deduct their comforts from thence by proportion.

Vse. 1 Incouragement to them whose trauell is in it, that they worke cheerefully. They are of as good note with God for their seruice, if they be faithfull, as others whose trades are more gainfull, and ⟨p. 146⟩better esteemed among men. The Merchants, and Goldsmiths, and Iewellers, and others of such places are not so often mentioned in the Scriptures as they be, nor animated with so many consolations as they are: the grand promises for blessing on their labours, is made to them in speciall, and the rest must deduct their comforts from thence by proportion.

Reproof of them that disdain this calling, scorning to be of it, or to put their children to it, as accounting, and calling them hinds, and clowns, and peasants, and contemptible persons, that be of that profession. It is a righteous hand of God upon us, that tillage is so much decayed, because it is no better regarded: and that there should be so much detracted daily from the employment of men, because there are so few men that are willing to be employed in it. Notwithstanding it is their great sin, as may appear by the premisses, which do what they can, for their parts, to defraud the land of so ancient, honest, profitable, and necessary a trade and vocation.

Reproofe of them that disdaine this calling, scorning to be of it, or to put their children to it, as accounting, and calling them hindes, and clownes, and peasants, and contemptible persons, that be of that profession. It is a righteous hand of God vpon vs, that tillage is so much decaied, because it is no better regarded: and that there should bee so much detracted daily from the imployment of men, because there are so few men that are willing to be imployed in it. Notwithstanding it is their great sinne, as may appeare by the premisses, which doe what they can, for their parts, to defraud the land of so ancient, honest, profitable, and necessarie a trade and vocation.