The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

And these are first, To bring them up in some profitable and lawful calling, by which they may live honestly and Christianly, and not be fruitless burdens of the earth, and clogs to their friends, drones that must live on other mens sweat, and can do nothing themselves, but that they be trained up in some honest occasion, whereby they may be able to maintain themselves, and do some good to others. So Adam did, though he was rich enough, and had large possessions to leave to his sons. For they had the whole world to be divided amongst them, that was patrimony sufficient, yea he would not let his sons spend their time idly, & live like idle fellows having nothing to do, but brought up the one in husbandry, and the other in keeping sheep, probable and lawful vocations. The like is seen in Isaac, who was a great man, and of such great wealth, as that Abimelech the king confesseth he was greater and mightier then he. Notwithstanding all this greatness, Jacobs bringing up was not in idleness and sloth, but he was exercised in husbandry, and had very good skill in handling cattle, and had it not been for this, what would he have done when persecution came, when he was fain to leave his fathers, if he had done nothing before, and could have done nothing now, but eat and drink and sleep, who would have given him entertainment, and where should he have had maintenance on that price? but having been trained up laboriously, and being a very good shepherd, though he was gone from his father, yet he could take pains and get his living, so that every one would be willing to have had him; and the place where he came was much the better for him. And Jacob himself[…] ⟨image 109⟩till they begin to set up and enrich themselves, by this cruelty and oppression of others. Therefore either let it be well gotten or it will do them no good, for it carries the curse and plague of God, who will do more hurt then all the wealth can do good.

And these are first, To bring them vp in some profitable and lawfull calling, by which they may liue honestly and Christianly, and not be fruitlles burdens of the earth, and clogs to their friends, drones that must liue on other mens sweat, and can do nothing themselues, but that they be trayned vp in some honest occasion, whereby they may be able to maintayne themselues, and doe some good to others. So Adam did, though he was rich enough, and had large possessions to leaue to his sonnes. For they had the whole world to be deuided amongst them, that was patrimonie sufficient, yea he would not let his sonnes spend their time idely, & liue like idle fellowes hauing nothing to doe, but brought vp the one in husbandrie, and the other in keeping sheepe, probable and lawfull vocations. The like is seene in Isaac, who was a great man, and of such great wealth, as that Abimelech the king confesseth he was greater and mightier then he. Notwithstanding all this greatnesse, Iacobs bringing vp was not in idlenesse and sloth, but he was exercised in husbandrie, and had verie good skill in handling cattle, and had it not beene for this, what would he haue done when persecution came, when he was faine to leaue his fathers, if he had done nothing before, and could haue done nothing now, but eate and drinke and sleepe, who would haue giuen him intertainment, and where should he haue had maintenance on that price? but hauing beene trayned vp laboriously, and being a verie good shepheard, though he was gone from his father, yet he could take paines and get his liuing, so that euerie one would be willing to haue had him; and the place where he came was much the better for him. And Iacob himselfe