A20559:702
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.
This is to proclaim to all the world that one hath no fear of God before his eyes. This then to covet another mans house is a great fault. Now the means whereby we may keep our selves from coveting, & much more from taking away his neighbours house, are first to consider, that the house he hath already is better far then he deserves. There is not any that dwells in so simple a cottage, but he dwells in a better house then his merits could purchase, yea if he were in a dungeon, for he hath deserved to be in hell. Then again it doth not seem good to God, to give him a better yet, and therefore he should content himself with that, and confess that God is wiser and knows what is good for him better then himself. Thirdly, consider the deceitfulness of our own hearts. One thinks now that if he had a fairer house he should be more at quiet, but may not this be a false persuasion? may not God cross him ⟨p. 100⟩with sickness and diseases? and then the walls will not comfort him; the roof and the covering will not bring him any ease or help, it is not the dwelling that brings quietness, nor the change of the house that can settle the hart, unless one change his covetousness and wickedness, & entertain contentedness and goodness, he shall have great grief and vexation in a great deal, but if his heart be good and reformed, he shall live quietly, and die blessedly, in what ever house or place he dies or lives. Nor his wife.
This is to proclaime to all the world that one hath no feare of God before his eies. This then to couet another mans house is a great fault. Now the meanes whereby we may keepe our selues frō coueting, & much more from taking away his neighbours house, are first to consider, that the house he hath alreadie is better farre then he deserues. There is not any that dwels in so simple a cottage, but he dwels in a better house then his merits could purchase, yea if he were in a dungeon, for he hath deserued to be in hell. Then againe it doth not seeme good to God, to giue him a better yet, and therefore he should content himselfe with that, and confesse that God is wiser and knowes what is good for him better then himselfe. Thirdly, consider the deceitfulnesse of our owne hearts. One thinks now that if he had a fairer house he should be more at quiet, but may not this be a false perswasion? may not God crosse him ⟨p. 100⟩with sicknesse and diseases? and then the wals will not comfort him; the roofe and the couering will not bring him any ease or helpe, it is not the dwelling that brings quietnesse, nor the chaunge of the house that can settle the hart, vnlesse one change his couetousnesse and wickednesse, & entertaine contentednes and goodnesse, he shall haue great griefe and vexation in a great deale, but if his heart be good and reformed, he shall liue quietly, and die blessedly, in what euer house or place he dies or liues. Nor his wife.