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…

A little with good husbandry, is better than a great portion Doct. with unthriftiness.

A little with good husbandry, is better than a great portion Doct. with vnthriftines.

It is not greatly material how much men have to begin with, but how well and wisely they guide their affairs. He that is painful and prudent in his business (notwithstanding his wealth be small) is rising from the bottom towards the top: and he that is remiss and careless in his state (though his substance be great) is falling from the top towards the bottom. Tending to this purpose there are many sentences both in this book, and in other places of Scripture, as where it is said, that by wisdom an house is builded, and with understanding it is established. And by ¹knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. By house here, like as else where, he meaneth men▪ whole estate, the founding, and finishing, and furnishing whereof being all ascribed to wisdom (of which one especial point is to be industrious) as is also the establishment and supportance of it. And contrary by slothfulness (which is a great branch of folly) the ²roof of the house goeth to decay, and by idleness of the hands, the house droppeth through. And for this cause is that exhortation given in the 27. Chapter: Be diligent to know the state of thy flock, and ³take heed of the beards. For riches remain not always, nor the crown from generation to generation. As if he should have said, let not thy great substance bring thee to neglect thine affairs, least the neglect of thine affairs bring thy great substance to nothing. What though thou have large and ample possessions, and dignity left to thee by thy ancestors? Yet if thou be careless, and heedless in thy government, thou art like to leave neither wealth nor honour to thy posterity.