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, this is manifest by the effects of it: for who will use so §2many shifts and devises to come by goods, as slothful men use to do. They will pawn and forset all their credit to get any mans money by borrowing. They will adventure all their state to win away mens money by gaming. And in that case they spare not any friend, either kinsman or brother, either such as feast them, or ⟨p. 13⟩come to visit them, or be invited by them, all is one, so that they may come by the coin, they care not who they be that loose it. They will hazard their lives to wrest and extort away mens money by robbery, and filch away their cattle by stealing: doth not this declare a violent affection of having, when they strain themselves so far to get substance?

Secondly, this is manifest by the effects of it: for who will vse so §2many shifts and deuises to come by goods, as slothfull men vse to doe. They will pawne and forset all their credit to get any mans money by borrowing. They will aduenture all their state to winn away mens mony by gaming. And in that case they spare not any friend, either kinsman or brother, either such as feast them, or ⟨p. 13⟩come to visite them, or be inuited by them, all is one, so that they may come by the coyne, they care not who they be that loose it. They will hazard their liues to wrest and extort away mens money by robbery, and filch away their cattell by stealing: doth not this declare a violent affectiō of hauing, when they straine themselues so far to get substance?

Confutation of them that charge none but rich men with covetousness, as if it were impossible for any to affect wealth, that Use. 1 cannot effect their desires to enjoy it. All unthrifty persons should be acquitted of that sin, and every one that is faithful in his calling and prosperous in his state, should be condemned thereof, if God would allow of their verdict. But he hath not empannelled them upon the jury, they may justly be challenged for partiality, and being parties, neither speak they according to law, nor yet have any sufficient evidence for the facts: for the Lord himself testifieth that such as get little, be desirous of much, and they that have nothing, by their wills would have all.