A20559:616
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.
But this wearying ones self in slavery to his lusts, and serving himself, it humbles one not a whit, nay it makes one more proud, more surly, and more ⟨image 171⟩associable that one neither knows God nor himself, it doth not prepare him to die, but it makes him forget his latter end, and never think of death, it makes not the heart pitiful and merciful, but it hardens the heart, and infects it with cruelty, and such an one as is not made by his labour able and willing to give more, but able and willing to give nothing at all. So that every man must labour, no man hath any warrant or privilege to be idle, that is to be a Sodomite. And furthermore, every man must look that his vocation be honest and lawful, or else he shall do himself more harm then good by his labour.
But this wearying ones selfe in slauerie to his lusts, and seruing himselfe, it humbles one not a whit, nay it makes one more proud, more surly, and more ⟨image 171⟩associable that one neither knowes God nor himselfe, it doth not prepare him to die, but it makes him forget his latter ende, and neuer thinke of death, it makes not the heart pitifull and mercifull, but it hardens the heart, and infects it with crueltie, and such an one as is not made by his labour able and willing to giue more, but able and willing to giue nothing at all. So that euery man must labour, no man hath any warrant or priuiledge to be idle, that is to be a Sodomite. And furthermore, euerie man must looke that his vocation be honest and lawfull, or else hee shall doe himselfe more harme then good by his labour.
The second point of liberality is in keeping that prudently and discreetly, which was honestly gotten, for if labour in getting be not joined with wisdom in preferring and saving, that is no good thrift, neither must this be a niggardly and miserable sparing, but an orderly and wise disposing and husbanding of that which God hath put into our hands, that he may be better able to do good, and to relieve others. In this many fail, and by failing in it, are faulty in a good duty as necessary as the former; yea labour indeed, and that with great diligence and carefulness, till they have gotten something, but let it go as fast, either by drinking or gaming, or else by good cheer and dainty fair above their ability, and by this immoderate undiscreet lavishness, they undo whatsoever they did before by following their calling, and keep themselves always in want and penury, whereas if they would be as careful to keep thriftily, as they be painful to get, they might live of their labours comfortably and joyfully, and besides might be much beneficial to other that stood in need, and have wherewithal to open their hand liberally in works of mercy.