A20559:619
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 other thing required in the right use of ones own goods is liberality, without which there is no true obedience to this commandment. Now this liberality must spread it self in two branches towards one self, and towards others. A liberal man must be liberal to himself, for all goodness begins at home, and shows it self first where it was first bred. And so Eccles. 5. 17. This is good he saith, to eat, and drink, and take pleasure in ones labour, and this he saith is the gift of God. To have meat and drink, and apparel, is a thing common to reprobates, but to have these things, and the right use of them also in joy and comfort, and thankfulness, this is a special favour, and a thrift not common to many.
The other thing required in the right vse of ones owne goods is liberalitie, without which there is no true obedience to this commaundement. Now this liberalitie must spread it selfe in two braunches towards one selfe, and towards others. A liberall man must be liberall to himfelfe, for all goodnesse begins at home, and shewes it selfe first where it was first bred. And so Eccles. 5. 17. This is good he saith, to eate, and drinke, and take pleasure in ones labour, and this he saith is the gift of God. To haue meat and drinke, and apparell, is a thing common to reprobates, but to haue these things, and the right vse of them also in ioy and comfort, and thankfulnesse, this is a speciall fauour, and a thrift not common to many.
Therefore it is our duty to take a part of those things that God hath given us, and with a thankful and a cheerful heart to enjoy his kindness, and not to make our case worse then we ⟨image 172⟩need, as the foolish Israelites did, that when God in goodness had provided sufficient food for them, that they might have enough, and gone to bed cheerfully after a good and competent supper, they were so fearful and doubtful least they should have had nothing for morning, that they pinched themselves of Gods allowance, and would needs reserve something until the morning. But what came of it, did not God send worms amongst it, so that it stank and was good for nothing? and so it is still, this is a thing perpetual to the end of the world, that he which will be a more niggardly then God would have him, and spares more then God hath laid necessity upon him, the curse of God vvill fall upon the goods thus saved, that it were as good as they had been spent, for they shall corrupt and vanish away to nothing, he that spares thus, shall never have any good by them, that is most sure. And indeed if one do not first show mercy to himself, how is it possible he should show mercy to an other? he that vvill starve and pine himself, when he needs not, no man vvill trust him to feed and relieve his neighbour when he needs, this is most certain he that vvill be cruel to his own flesh can never have any true pity to an other.