A20559:567
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The last breach of this commandment is in wantonness, which is the preparation and foundation for all the former, consisting either in things belonging to the body, or the body it self. In things belonging to the body as in the costly apparel, not that there should not be things fitting the estate, and that there were not a diversity of degrees to be had, but in no estate or degree, may one be so excessive as to hinder him from good works of mercy and religion, that one should bestow so much time in trimming the body as he can have no time for trimming his soul, and bestow so much cost in rich apparel as he can spare nothing to bestow on poor servants.
The last breach of this commaundement is in wantonnesse, which is the preparation and foundation for all the former, consisting eyther in things belonging to the bodie, or the bodie it selfe. In things belonging to the bodie as in the costly apparrell, not that there should not be things fitting the estate, and that there were not a diuersitie of degrees to be had, but in no estate or degree, may one be so excessiue as to hinder him from good works of mercie and religion, that one should bestow so much time in trimming the bodie as he can haue no time for trimming his soule, and bestow so much cost in rich apparrell as hee can spare nothing to bestowe on poore seruantes.
Secondly, in strange apparel, as in Zephaniah the priest, the kings children are rebuked, for that having more money and maintenance then their neighbours; they did not bestow it in doing any Work of mercy to the poor, or providing any ⟨image 156⟩thing of profit for the commonwealth, but only in setting out themselves by new fashions, that no new trick or odd foolish devise could come up, but they must have it straight, yea they never thought themselves well until they were beginners of some new fangled invention concerning their coats, that other folks might look at them and lust after them, and these kind of persons howsoever they seem fine in their own eyes, yet they be filthy in Gods eyes: Also in excessive diet too much meat and drink, for as one cannot lay on more fuel, but he shall have a greater flame, so stuffing ones self with meat and drink will make the heart more outrageous in all evil lusts. As the prophet saith, They rise up full, and then they neighed after their neighbours wives, as a fed horse after a mare; for though this be an homely comparison, yet the holy Ghost useth it to make the sin more loathsome.