A plain and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

Secondly their own lewd and wretched behaviour in matter §2or manner, or effect, begetteth them pain and trouble, or want, either presently together with the practice, or else to follow not long after. And this will the more evidently be seen, if we instance in some several sorts of sinners. How miserable do worldlings make their lives▪ by tossing and toiling, and tumbling in the earth? They rise early and go late to bed, and eat the bread of carefulness. In the day they macerate their bodies with immoderate travail and drudgery, in the night they torment their minds with excessive carking and caring. And when are proud, and ambitious, and vainglorious persons at rest, and free from vexations? Quarrels, and suites, and contentions are as ordinary with them, as smoke is with fire. Sometimes their big stomach urgeth them in malice or bravery to fly upon others: and sometimes their high looks causeth others in envy or revengement to set upon them, and so wounds, or strokes, or foil, or charges, or one mischief or other, doth usually ensue upon it. As for voluptuous livers, and such as give over themselves to sensuality, the world may see how painful their displeasures are, and that all their delights be mere delusions. How many miles will gamesters ride? how many hours will they spend, how many sleeps will they break to pass away their money to others, and to purchase misery to themselves? to loose their substance and comfort, and to win penury and anguish▪ What other consequents do commonly follow upon this, we need not to show, sithence they are plainly enough seen by their borrowing and breaking, by writs and arrests, or executions, or outlawries, and such like proceedings against ⟨p. 45⟩them, besides the felonies that divers fall into, and the punishment which they suffer for them. Now for Epicures and bellygods, for gluttons and drunkards, the holy ghost describeth their¹ doleful condition, being plagued with woe, with sorrow, with strife, with wounds, with redness of eyes, &c. And how offensive too much wine, and strong drink, and surfeiting is to the brain and stomach, they that use it feel, and others behold by their loathsome and swinish behaviour. We speak not of adulterers, nor thieves, nor of sundry kinds of wicked malefactors, which bestow their whole time in making their ways foul, & deep, and dangerous, and tedious.