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

First, in the abusing of ones own goods, for a man may be a gross thief in Gods account, though he never touch penny of mans goods, but only his own goods. For as in the sixth commandment, he that kills himself and is cruel to his own person shall not be exempted from the name and account of a murderer, and in the seventh commandment a man may be a filthy person and a vile breaker of that commandment in abusing his body himself alone; so in this eight commandment he that abuseth his own goods and robs himself, is no better then a thief before God. Now men abuse their own wealth ⟨image 161⟩by two ways; by wastefulness and niggardliness, by unjust spending and unjust sparing. For lavish spending and wastefulness hath many branches, first, excess in diet or in apparel, in sports or in building, above that, that one is able and can go through with all. For excess of diet, in meat and drink, the wise man saith, He that loves pastime shall be a poor man and he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich. When one is given to his appetite, and will too much please his tooth, when he will fare well above his ability, and so spend all in summer and keep nothing for winter, this man brings poverty upon him self and and robs his own family.

First, in the abusing of ones owne goods, for a man may be a grosse theefe in Gods account, though he neuer touch penny of mans goods, but only his owne goods. For as in the sixt commandement, he that kils himselfe and is cruell to his owne person shall not be exempted from the name and account of a murtherer, and in the seuenth commandement a man may be a filthy person and a vilde breaker of that commandement in abusing his bodie himselfe alone; so in this eight commandemēt he that abuseth his owne goods and robs himselfe, is no better then a theefe before God. Now men abuse their owne wealth ⟨image 161⟩by two waies; by wastfulnes and niggardlynesse, by vniust spending and vniust sparing. For lauish spending and wastfulnesse hath many branches, first, excesse in diet or in apparaile, in sports or in building, aboue that, that one is able and can goe through with all. For excesse of diet, in meate and drinke, the wise man saith, He that loues pastime shall be a poore man and he that loues wine and oyle shall not be rich. When one is giuen to his appetite, and will too much please his tooth, when hee will fare well aboue his abilitie, and so spend all in summer and keepe nothing for winter, this man brings pouertie vpon him selfe and and robs his owne family.