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

Sith then the earth is the Lords, and he is the right owner of it, this use we must make of it; thankfully to acknowledge whence we receive all these things that we enjoy. And men will say why? Who is so simple but he knows and confesseth that God gives him all things? In word it is true, all most none but will say so, yet indeed and in practise how many be there which deny it and say the contrary? For where there is a true & hearty persuasion, that God doth freely bestow all things, and we have them of his gift; These two things will always follow. First, such a one so far as he is thus persuaded will never be proud, for he can say to himself, what hast thou that thou hast not received? and then he will be the more humble rather, when he knows that he is more indebted to God, and hath a greater reckoning to give; For all swelling proceeds from hence that a man thinks that he is beholding to no body but himself. Secondly, he that in truth of heart confesseth he hath it from God, will use that he hath to Gods glory. Else if one will say. Why I know that, what need you tell me that I have my wealth from God? I know it well enough. But how do you use it, to serve your own lust; so that you think it nothing to bestow twenty pound upon your filthy lust, but cannot afford a penny to a poor christian, to Christ Jesus, then you ⟨image 135⟩are a deep dissembling hypocrite. For why doth God give you so large wages but that you should do him the better service? and why hath the steward his masters money but to lay it out for his masters profit? else if a steward should say, I have the keeping of an hundred or two of pounds, but it is all my masters and not mine, but yet he will spend it frankly in gaming or riotousness, then he is either a dissembler and thinks not that it is his masters though he say so, or else he is a thief that will lavish his masters goods so unthriftily. But in truth the ill use of goods shows, that most men in their hearts, say of their goods as the Atheists in the 12. Psalm. say of their tongues, our tongues are ours and we will speak. And they say our wealth is ours and we will do with it what our lust.

Sith then the earth is the Lords, and he is the right owner of it, this vse we must make of it; thankefully to acknowledge whence wee receiue all these thinges that we enioy. And men will say why? Who is so simple but he knowes and confesseth that God giues him all thinges? In word it is true, all most none but will say so, yet indeede and in practise how many be there which denie it and say the contrarie? For where there is a true & heartie perswasion, that God doth freely bestow all things, and we haue them of his gift; These two thinges will alwaies followe. First, such a one so far as he is thus perswaded will neuer be proud, for he can say to himself, what hast thou that thou hast not receiued? and then he will be the more humble rather, when he knowes that he is more indebted to God, and hath a greater reckoning to giue; For all swelling proceedes from hence that a man thinkes that he is behoulding to no body but himselfe. Secondly, he that in truth of heart confesseth hee hath it from God, will vse that he hath to Gods glorie. Else if one will say. Why I know that, what neede you tell me that I haue my wealth frō God? I know it well enough. But how doe you vse it, to serue your owne lust; so that you thinke it nothing to bestow twentie pound vpon your filthie lust, but cannot afford a pennie to a poore christian, to Christ Iesus, then you