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…

Thirdly the one stayeth the other mens hearts and hands from §3showing them mercy for relief of his necessity: and the other dealeth cruelly with himself by refusing the needful use of those things which he holdeth in his own hands.

Thirdly the one staieth the other mens hearts and hands from §3shewing them mercy for reliefe of his necessity: and the other dealeth cruelly with himselfe by refusing the needfull vse of those things which he holdeth in his owne hands.

Reproof of them that are ashamed of their poverty, but far Use. 1 from being humbled by it. They count it a base thing to be in need, and yet themselves to be no base persons though they be most needy. If they judge not their state contemptible, why do they cloak it? if they acknowledge it to be mean and vile, why do they take so much upon them? The complaint of the Prophet against Israel may justly be charged upon this kind of people: their pride doth testify to their face, and they do not return to the ¹Lord their God, nor seek him for all this. For it is a contempt of corrections, when they strive against his strokes, and stubbornly resist his hand that smiteth them. The particular manner we have briefly spoken of in the ninth verse of the former chapter. Only one sort of men we may not pass by in silence, but somewhat must be spoken of them, and that is such as being acquainted fully with the insufficiency of their own state, are yet most greedy ⟨p. 20⟩of getting all bargains into their hands, to the defrauding of all those that have any dealing with them. They are like to quagmires overgrown with green grass, wherein is no appearance of peril, before a man be plunged in them. These easily fall to both the extremities here specified. So long as they are borrowing though they have nothing, yet they will make themselves very rich, that they may be trusted: but when they should make payment, though they have wherewith to discharge many of their debts, yet then nothing is to be found to satisfy any man. In the next place it serveth to reprehend those niggardly persons, which swimming in plenty and great abundance, do yet almost statue with penury and want; God offereth them means and opportunity of doing, and enjoying good, that like flowing fountains they might send forth streams unto others, and be largely refreshed with comforts themselves, and they become bottomless gulfs, & whirl pools, which draw away, and swallow up all from others, and yet themselves have use of nothing.