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

Superiors in gifts, they must do this (for all duties in this commandment are mutual) they must turn their gifts to the best good of others, use their wisdom to direct, their knowledge to instruct, their strength to bear burdens as the Apostle saith: you that are strong, What? we must not lay burdens upon the weak to suppress them, but bear the burdens of the weak, to help them. Unless therefore he to whom God hath given more graces then ordinary, do use that which he hath received to the glory of him that gave it, and to the good of mankind for which he gave it, he is found an abuser of the Lords talents, which gave them him; not that he should vain gloriously set himself above others that want them, and so tread his inferiors under foot, or cruelly oppress, or craftily circumvent and deceive those of meaner capacity then himself, but to the common good of the whole Church, and the further edification of the weaker; that as he hath received more, then so according to the number of his talents he might bring forth a greater increase. But for one to grow proud, and set himself above others, that brings the curse of God upon ⟨p. 33⟩him, and is the next way to make him despised, and to loose his gifts which he can use no better. As it is seen by woeful experience in a greater number, that God had furnished with many gifts both of body and mind, so that there was great hope that they should have much set forth the glory of God, and done much good to the Church of God. When they began once to lift up themselves and seek their own vainglory more then Gods glory, and so have turned their gifts the wrong way, themselves have grown in contempt, and those graces which they have had, have rotted away, and by little & little came to nothing. And just it is with God that it should be so, for that man which will not honour God with his gifts God will see that he shall have no honour, and better that they and their gifts should perish, then they should have them to do no good, but set up themselves. Thus much for superiors and inferiors in gifts. These in age follow.

Superiours in gifts, they must do this (for all duties in this commandement are mutuall) they must turne their gifts to the best good of others, vse their wisdome to direct, their knowledge to instruct, their strength to beare burthens as the Apostle saith: you that are strong, What? we must not lay burthens vpon the weake to suppresse them, but beare the burthens of the weake, to helpe them. Vnlesse therefore hee to whom God hath giuen more graces then ordinarie, doe vse that which he hath receiued to the glorie of him that gaue it, and to the good of mankind for which he gaue it, he is found an abuser of the Lords talents, which gaue them him; not that he should vaine gloriously set himselfe aboue others that want them, and so tread his inferiours vnder foot, or cruelly oppresse, or craftily circumuent and deceiue those of meaner capacitie then himselfe, but to the common good of the whole Church, and the further edification of the weaker; that as he hath receiued more, then so according to the number of his talents he might bring forth a greater encrease. But for one to grow proude, and set himselfe aboue others, that brings the curse of God vpon