King Solomons Solace, Book · Chapter 1
CHAP I.
Of King Solomon his glorious Eſtate, his Tranſgreſſion and his Affliction.
ABout the thrée thouſand,Annal. ſac… Script. Codaman Fol. 21.21. one hundred and tenth yeare after the creation of the world, that right noble and moſt famous King Solomon, the beſt beloued ſonne of King Dauid, (that man of Gods pleaſure and ſweet Pſalmiſt of Iſrael) liued and raigned ouer Iſrael, the Lords choſen people, in the moſt renowned cittie Hieruſalē. As this Solomō was both choſen & nominated by the Lorde his God, ere that hee was borne, by his grace appointed to ſuccéede his Father King Dauid in the throne of that happy Kingdome, and by his ſingular wiſedome to goe in and out before his people: ſo alſo, in proceſſe of time, it came to paſſe, that by the direction of diuine prouidence, the meanes of his right prudent Mother, the willing conſent and word of his kinglie father, and the faithful miniſtry of Zadock the Prieſt and Nathan the prophet hee was annointed, crowned and proclaimed king ouer Iſrael, euen in the life-time of King Dauid, who thereupon gaue him the charge of the regal Scepter, praiſed Iehouah his God with ioy and gladnes, and prayed hartily vntounto his ſupreme grace, for the future peace and proſperity of his Sonne Solomon, as wherein he might build an houſe to his moſt excellent Maieſtie the God of Iſrael, and prepare the Sanctuary for euer. Whereupon Solomon ſate on the ſeat of the Lord, & was king in the steede of Dauid, and God proſpered and encreaſed him in dignitie, and gaue him ſo glorious a kingdome as the like no king euer had before him in Iſrael. This was that Solomon to whome the Lord appeared in Gibeon, and willed him to aske whatſoeuer hee would, that it might be giuen vntounto him, and (beeing yet but a child in yeeres) he praied to God for an vnderſtanding heart, to iudge the Lords people: with the which praier of his, the Lord being right well pleaſed, filled him with vnderſtanding as with a floud that his mind couered the whole earth, and repleniſhed it with profound and graue ſentences, his name went abrode in the Iles, and for his peace he was beloued: the countries meruailed at him for his Songs, Prouerbs, ſimilitudes & Interpretations. Moreouer by the name of the Lord God, the God of Iſrael, he gathered Gold as Tin, and heaps of Siluer as Lead whereby he became famous before all the kings of the earth, to the ioy of his people, the wonder of the nations, and the glorie of his God. This was that Solomon, who in the time of his peace and proſperitie, and namelie about foure hundreth and foureſcore yeeres after that the children of Iſrael, (by the conduct of Moſes) came forth of the land of Aegypt, built vntounto the name of Iehouah his God, a magnificēt houſe, an houſe of exceeding great glorie, namelie that moſt beautifull Temple of God in Hieruſalem, according to the purpoſe of the Lord and that iuſt rule, which Dauid his father receiuing from the Lord gaue vntounto him, before his death. In the end this admirable worke perfectlie finiſhed with all thinges both neceſſarie and conuenient, king Solomon, as he was of an heroicall ſpirite & no leſſe glorie, ſo being thankefull, he bleſſed and magnified Iehouah his God, from whoſe grace he acknowledged this honour to be giuen him, he adored his eternall maieſtie with feruent zeale, he praied vntounto him in ſpirit and with vnderſtanding, and offered vp many great, ſwéete and pleaſing ſacrifices vntounto his ſupreme power, who then againe right well pleaſed with him▪ with his workes, with his adorations, with his ſacrifices and prayers, appeared to him the ſecond time, ſaying,1. King 4. that hee had both heard his prayer and interceſſion which hee had made before him, and had halowed the houſe which hee had built to put his name there foreuer, and that his heart ſhould bee there perpetuallie. Furthermore, this magnanimious King for the better maintenance and preſeruation of his royal eſtate prouided himſelfe twelue certain Officers according to the nū ber, as well of the twelue months in the yeere, as of the twelue tribes of Iſraell appointed and authoriſed euerie of them in his turne, to leuie, collect, receiue and prouide from thoſe places and perſons, which were within their ſeuerall diuiſions, all ſuch victuals and other neceſſaries as might bee requiſite for the kings perſon and familie. The which Officers were theſe viz.K. Solomons 12. Officers. The ſonne of Hur, the ſonne of Dekar, the ſon of Cheſed, the ſonne of Abinadab, Baana the ſonne of Ahilud, the ſonne of Gaber, Ahinadab the ſonne of Iddo: Ahimaaz: Baana the ſonne of Huſai, Iehoſophat the ſonne of Paruah: Semei the ſonne of Ela: Gaber the ſonne of Vri. Theſe Officers being elected with diſcretion, and ſo approued, were not the children of Belial, as proud, couetous, luxurious, extortioners, bribers, oppreſſors, fighters, brawlers, or ſuch as were either noted or ſuſpected of anie wicked vice, but of a goodlie conſtitution, prudent, ingenious, of good capacitie, gentle courteous, of good conſcience, obedient to the lawes, honeſt and faithfull in their places, therein aunſwering to the interpretations of their ſeuerall names either proper or appellatiue. Whereby king Solomō was not onelyonly moſt royally ſerued with all kind of princly prouiſion of houſhoulde, but had his ſtore-houſes replete with that which was timely repoſed therein for the ſame, and like vſes. Howbeit Solomon beeing moſt prudent did euer eſtéeme his people and ſubiectts for his beſt ſtore-houſe,Kings ſtore-houſe. ſo wel ſemblant, (I ſay not to the open fieldes, but) to that good Orchard or Gardine, well ſet with diuers kindes of trées, which hauehave in them not onelyonly many branches, boughs, leaues & ſtems erected, but aboundance of fruit, wholeſome and profitable for mans vſe, eſpecially then, when the ſame is welhuſbandred, neceſſities reſpected, iniuries ſalued & particular cauſes wel waighed. And truly, to and for this end had king Solomon thoſe prudent and meete prepoſitours, knowing that by ſuch perſons the affaires, are commonly well managed and performed: but on the contrarie the ſubiects occaſioned iuſtly to murmure, wilbe eaſily perſwaded to rebell againſt the king and his gouernmēt and mens cogitations, erſt pure, may be ſorely corrupted, eſpecially if they perceiue, that they which ſtand in place of authority ſhal not obſerue that which themſelues bid and command, which both defaceth their authority and deſtroieth the good nature of many a man.Solomons ſervants in houſe. * Alſo the king for his priuate ſeruants in houſe had them which were of eſpeciall choice, as who for their wiſedome, ſtrength, agilitie, actiuitie, induſtrie, good diſpoſition, manners humanity, patience, docilitie, conſtancie, truſt, fidelitie and the feare of the Lord, were not only beſt fit to ſtand before him, to gard him, to ſerue him, to attend his royall preſence and perſon, but alſo to heare his wiſedome, to apprehend his iudgements, to note his behauiour, to imitate his graces, and to be interpreters of his wil and word vntounto others And indeed theſe and ſuch are worthie ſo noble a maiſter, and well it becommeth a king of that puiſſance and magnanimity to be ſerued and attended on by ſuch choſen ſeruants.K. Solomons principal Lords. But aboue all the reſt the king had certaine principall and princelie Lordes, by whoſe graue counſayle, iudgement, prudence, good aduiſe and prouidence both the king himſelfe was aſſiſted, conſolated and preſerued in gouernment, and the affaires of the whole kingdome of Iſraell the better diſpoſed, ordered and performed,1. King 4.2, 1. Chro. 28. Exod. 18.20. that according to the defier and charge of his father King Dauid who was not vnmindfull of that prudent counſaile which ſometimes wiſe Iethro gane Moſes in the right vſe wherof, himſelfe was eaſed and ayded, and the people timely iudged and well gouerned. And theſe are the names, of thoſe principall Lordes. viz. 1. Azariah. 2. Helioreph. 3. Ahiah. 4. Iehoſophat. 5. Benaiah. 6. Zadock. 7. Abiathar. 8. Azariah. 9. Zabud. 10. Ahiſhar. 11. Adoniram. Azariah the firſt of that name, was an eſpeciall Lorde, attending and aſſiſting the kings perſon. Helioreph and Ahiah were the kings wiſe Secretaries, Scribes, ornotaries. Iehoſophat was the kings Recorder of the geſtes, or Chronicles. Benaiah was the general Captaine ouer the kings hoſtes, in the which office his ſucceeded Captaine Ioab. Zadocke was the chiefe Prieſt preferred to that function and place after that Abiathar was degraded and put away for his confederacie with Adoniah againſt King Solomon. Abiathar (the ſame before named among the Lordes) was a prieſt who ſometimes miniſtred and attended in the ſtéede and place of Zadock. Azariah the ſecond of that name, was a prudent Lorde whome the King had placed ouer thoſe twelue Purueyors or officers before named. Zabud was the ſonne of Nathan, a Prieſt, and the Kinges friend and familiar companion. Ahiſhar was ſet ouer the Kinges Pallace: & Adoniram had the authority for the Tributes, as high Treaſurer of the kingdome.A deſcription of King Solomons Counſelors. As all and eueryevery of thoſe Lords were of no meane choice, but ſome of them ſuch as were commended and left vntounto him by his Father Dauid for wiſe & graue Counſaylors, and the Sonnes of Nobles: ſo were they moſt exquiſitely qualified and adorned with ſuch princely vertues, as appertaine to perſonages of that ranke. As firſt, they were adorned with that perfection of their mēbers, as beſt fitted thoſe affaires to and for the which they were elected and put in place. Next they wanted not the goodnes of apprehenſion to vnderſtand whatſoeuer was ſpoken worthy audiēce. Thirdly they were graced with an excellēt memory, to retain things heard and apprehended, yéelding nothing, neceſſarie the remē brance, to thriftles obliuion. 4. they poſſeſſed a profound conſideration and déepe conceit concerning ſuch difficulties as occurred. 5. A courteous affabilitie, pleaſing ſpeech and ready eloquence, but ſo, as therein their tongues concorded with their heartes. 6. A learned skill in the liberall ſciences. 7. They were in word faithfull louers of the truth, contemners of lyes, compoſite in manners, pleaſant, gentle, tractable & well complexioned. 8. Alſo free and without any iuſt ſuſpition of ebrietie, luxurie, carnall luſts, and notorious offences. 9. Men right magnanimious in their purpoſes, and affecting the true honor. 10. Not couetous minded but contemning Gold, Siluer and other accidentall things of the world, in regard of their dutie to God, to their king and the common-wealth, wherein they had and retayned a moſt faithfull louelove, as well of ſtrangers as of their neighbours. 11. As they had a louelove both to the iuſt, and to iuſtice: ſo alſo hated they alkind of iniuries, & odious offences, yeelding eueryevery one his right, aiding the oppreſſed and thoſe which ſuſtained wrong, not making at any time the ſtrength of their authoritie, their rod of reuenge to beate them, whom they affected not in good will, but remouing away all iniuſtice and ſhew of oppreſſion, they ſet no difference betwéene perſons and degrées of men, but only betwéene cauſes, as equitie required. 12. They had likewiſe a ſtrong and perſeuering purpoſe in th'execution of things méet the performance, audacious, deuoid of puſillanimity or feare. 13. They knew well the iſſues of all expences, nor were they ignorant of any vtilitie appertinent to good gouernment, as whereby the poore ſubiects might not be iuſtly occaſioned to exclame or complaine of hard or cruel dealings. 14. They were neither worders, or giuen to high laughters, nor gameſters, nor common players, or ſuch like, but graue, modeſt, ſilent, temperate and courteous: 15. readie to heare ſuch as came to ſéeke iuſtice, as whereby the king might be eaſed of that burthen and poore men ſatiſfied in their iuſt requeſts. 16. They had the ingenie and vertue to inueſtigate, vnderſtand and make knowne to the king the whole eſtate, and principall affaires of his kingdome. 17. They were both able & willing to cheare the ſubiects, to correct their acttions, to ſalue their ſores, to conſolate the afflicted, to tolerate the ſimplicitie of the ignorant by a fatherly connivance, and to gouerne not only the whole, but eueryevery particular member of the common wealth. 18. Laſtly, they had a chiefe regarde of their oath to God and the king, as Solomon himſelfe, aduiſed them, fearing God and keeping his commandements, wherein the whole duty not onelyonly of eueryevery man, but eſpecially of ſuch princely perſonages conſiſteth. And this Solomon well obſeruing, as hee had an heroicall ſpirite, ſo procéeded he to conſider of, and to reward their good deſerts according to their ſeruices done, and after the terme of the impoſition of his will, that they might further be encouraged in their places of gouernment: but thoſe placed he in the higheſt grade of remuneration, whoſe good ſeruice he had approued moſt profitable: and ſo orderly eueryevery one of the reſt after his place had both his qualification & rewarde of the ſame; for the king being conuerſant with thoſe his princes, he honoured the honour worthy, and held eueryevery one in his ſorte, he inuited to his owne Table this day one, the next day another, adorning this man now, and that man then, according to his degrée: Neither was any one of them neglected or left without ſome taſte of his bounty: yea his clemency, liberality & grace was apparent to all, for he was neuer of the mind or ſemblance, to be couetous towards his ſubiects, whiles he was bountifull to himſelfe, but as I ſaid, bountifull to all, but eſpecially to thoſe his princes and them which had beſt deſerued in their faithfull ſeruices. Now, by this the ſooner, the true religion floriſhed, the common-wealth of Iſrael proſpered, and the higheſt of all was wonderfull well pleaſed with the king, with his Nobles and with the people in thoſe his happy daies, wherein as he was not inferiour to any Prince in the whole world: ſo neither was the kingdome of Iſrael thereby leſſe proſperous then any kingdome on the earth: yea, this nation and their policie was to all others (by many degrées) preferred through this grace and bleſſing of the Lord both on them and their king. Truly theſe be the things which the noble Counſaylors of kings and Princes moſt reſpect, according to the right of their degrées, the dignities of their functions, the duties of their places and the diuine preſcription, knowing this to be the verie end of their preferments, and the ſame which finally crowneth them that are worthie with the higheſt honour, as we hauehave ſéene it verified in the examples of Abraham, Moſes Iehoſuah, Ioſeph, Samuel, and Dauid the Kinges Father. Whereas the neglect, or abuſe of this princely duty (which is often found in them which ambitiouſly aſpire for their proper pleaſures, vain glory or filthy lucre) hath occaſioned euen mighty men in the world ſhamefully to couch and fall downe vnderunder ignomy and finally to dye without any honour, as we may behold in the fearefull examples of Cain, Nimrod, Achitophel Ioab, Shimei, Adonia, Doeg and many ſuch like.
But yet behold: After many proſperous and floriſhing daies of peace and pleaſing tranquillity, this wiſe king, euen Solomō began more and more to decipher his infirmities and to manifeſt himſelfe (as indeede he was) a mortall, yea, a ſinfull man. For as Sathan, who had long time envied his happy ſtate and royall dignity, ſuggeſted euill in his heart, and tempted him, to ſinne againſt Iehouah his God, thereby entending to ouerwhelme him & his kingdome, as ſometimes he aſſayed to effect againſt righteous Iob: whereon the Lord, who had thus long ſtaide him vp with his diuine power, permitted him (at the length) to fal, that for ſome good cauſes to himſelfe wel known, howbeit within the compaſſe of ſuch a limit and meaſure, as he ſhould not defect and fall away from him for euer. But King Solomon was (as it were) for a time committed, I ſay not to Sathan, but to himſelfe, who beeing ſo left, notwithſtanding his excéeding great wiſedome & ſoveraigne dexteritie in iudgement, ſoone forgat himſelfe, his condition, his duty, and the law of his God: & following after the ſenſuall humour of a humain mind and prave affection, he bowed his loynes vntounto Women, yea to many outlandiſh & ſtrange Women, contrary to th'xpreſſe commandement of Iehouah his God: whereby in his elder dayes, being quite ouercome in his bodie, turning away his hart from the Lord, and affecting thoſe vaine Gods, which his wiues worſhipped, he wrought wickednes before Iehouah his God, and walked not vprightly in his law: by doing whereof, he ſtained his honour, defiled his poſterity, brought wrath on his children, and felt ſorrow for his folly. For the Lord who had before graced and magnified him, being iuſtly prouoked, was very angry with him and in his fierce (yet iuſt) wrath not only minaced the diuiſion of his kingdome in the dayes of his Succeſſor, namely Rehoboam, but ſtirred vp againſt him to that end, euen in his latter time, ſundry Satans or aduerſaries, who euer croſſing & thwarting his peace & purpoſes, drenched him with manie bitter potions, to the noyſome diſturbance of that bleſſed tranquillity which his name imported, th'exéeding ſorrow of his people dayly vexed with incurſions of enemies, and the continuall agony of his oppreſſed ſoule, which both day and night felt the gnawing of a reſtles worme within his conſciēce. And here we obſerue two memorable things for admonition and inſtruction to all poſterities, firſt, what is the nature of man with his condition, when hee is left or committed to himſelfe, not ſtayed or aſſiſted by the diuine grace. Next how little the Lord God regardeth them that turne their harts frō him, how wiſe or magnificent ſoeuer they bee in their places before men. We know, how true and too often that is verified which King Dauid ſaid in his godly meditations: that man being in honour hath none vnderſtanding, and therefore is compared to that Beaſt which periſheth. For thus Adam the Lord of the whole earth, beeing left vntounto himſelfe with Lady Hevah his wife (though in the moſt bleſſed Pallace of pleaſant Paradiſe) within ſhort time tranſgreſſed the commaundement, and expreſſed folly. Thus Prince Noah, after his laborious trauails on the huge deluge, at length being at eaſe, and (as it were) cō mitted to himſelfe, was made druncken with wine, and lay vncouered before his children. Thus good Lot, after that Sodom was burned and himſelfe but a little refreſhed, fell into both the ſinne of drunkennes and inceſte. Thus Iſrael both in the wildernes, and in the land of Canaan, franked and pampered with proſperitie, wherein they too much admired their owne valour forgat the Lord, went a whoaring after ſtrange Gods and fell to ruin. Saul the late king plaied a plain rebell againſt the Lord (as Samuel told him) in the height of his wealth. Yea, thus Dauid the father of K. Solomon, being a whiles permitted to try himſelfe and his might, tranſgreſſed and confeſſed his folly. Lo ſuch is mans nature & prave inclinatiō, ſemblant to the ponderous lead or Iron, which declineth to the bottom of the water whereon it is caſt, when as it is not by ſome arte or meanes ſtaid from ſinking: or as the vine which groweth proud and out of courſe without timely pruning: yea, they be not vnlike (touching their miſfortunes) thoſe little Chickens, which runne forth to the Vultures; and the ſily Lambes which offer themſelues a pray to the Foxes, without regard of their proper dās to kéepe or draw them away. Men therefore, yea the beſt and moſt ſtrong men ſhould feare, and not deſire to bee left vntounto their owne wils, wiſedome, power and habilitie: but pray and deſier to be continually protected, governed and directed by the diuine counſayles and providence, knowing that God beeing their Father doth euermore care and prouide for them, which being humbled in his feare depend on his will & direction. Next yt, we ſée that the Lord neither bleſſeth nor graceth thē which leaue him and his ſervice, how mighty, wiſe, rich or glorious ſoeuer they be: but in this he eſtéemeth the king as a Caytiffe, the Emperour as a wretch, the rich as a beggar, the wiſe as a foole: nor will he vouchſafe them honour, who diſhonour him. Nor indeede hath he freed his own from the touch of miſerie in meaſure, when they tranſgreſſed. Adam and Hevah were exiled Paradiſe: Noah was wade aſhamed: David mas floyſed with many afflictions. So neyther will the Lord that any perſon of whatſoeuer eſtate or condition, ſhould aſſure himſelfe of peace and proſperity longer, then whiles hee liueth in peace with his maker,King Solomon began now to know his tranſgreſſion, and to returne. dependeth on him by faith in Meſſiah and ſerueth him in ſingleneſſe of heart. All this the King at length wiſely conſidering (by the bleſſed motion of the diuine Spirite, which now began to reclaime, and call him home againe:) ſodainely altred the conſtitution of minde and changed his behauiour (as Dauid did, after that the Lord created a new heart, and renewed the right ſpirite, within him) And thereupon he became euen as another man. For now, knowing both his heynous tranſgreſſion, and the danger of his own poore ſoule: foreſéeing the imminent alteration of his high eſtate, and the great perill of his people: and féeling the heauy ſinger of that iuſt God, and his dreadfull wrath already burning as a conſuming fier in his conſcience; he was as a man ſtricken with a deadly arrow, he waxed both pale and wan in the fearefull agonies of his moſt ſorry ſoule, that face which ſhined ſometimes as a bright Angel, was deformed with the aboundance of his watry teares: and whereas he vſed to ſit royally on his ſtately Throne, he did now chooſe to lye all alone on the cold earth: he wayled all the day, and watched eueryevery night, rent his kingly cloathes & caſt aſhes on his head: mingled his drinke with his teares, and watred hid cowch with the ſame, ſighed ſorily, and lamented wofully: abandoned as donge all his former pleaſures and contemned as vanitie the delights of men. Moreouer all his words, which were before ſo pleaſant and hony ſweete to the hearing, now ſauoured of mortification and ſorrow, expreſſing the vnmeaſurable torment of his wofull ſoule. Alas!The fraile cō dition of mans nature. who would hauehave thought, that ſuch a noble perſon could hauehave beene ſo ſodainely turned about and altred? Who could beleeue, that ſuch paſſing great pleaſures ſhould be determined in paines? ſuch comfortatiues conuerted into coraſiues: ſuch gladneſſe into griefes: ſuch proſperitie into aduerſitie: ſuch felicitie into miſery, in ſo ſhort a time, in ſo noble a perſonage? But yet we may marvaile the leſſe, if we duely conſider not onelyonly that the King (though ſo Wiſe, Rich, and Glorious) is yet but a Man, to whom are incident both ſinnes, ſlydings & falles: but alſo that ſuch are the miſeries, infirmities, afflictions and conditions of this life: And that whenſoeuer the Lord God in his iuſt iudgements either openly or ſecretly beateth and puniſheth a man for his faults, that man is all vnable either to withſtand thoſe ſcourges, or to abide in his honour or proſperous eſtate, to retaine his health or welfare either of body or minde, being worthyly conſtrained to cowch and giuegive place to him which is much ſtronger then he, and to yeelde to him with whom no man can pleade, nor anſwere one for a thouſand, (as Iob ſaid in the like conſideration.) With this I call to minde that which the Kings Father was wont to modulate, ſinging vntounto the Lord his God:
When thou for ſinne a mortall man doeſt beate,
He waues away, and waxeth woe, and wan:Pſal. 39.12.
Much like the garment, which the moath doth freate:
So vaine a thing (indeede) is mortall man.
Lo, here may we ſee the fickle condition of man, & the nature of his proſperitie in this life! Well may he be compared therein to the flower of the fielde (as both Iob, A ſimilitude which ſetteth forth mans condition. Iob. 14.1.and Dauid faith:) for like as the flower is not onelyonly ſed and refreſhed with the pleaſant ſhowers of raine, & the comfortable beames of the Sunne, and groweth and ſhineth in the beauty of diuers colours, but alſo, within a very ſhort time, is annoyed altred, and deformed now with the pearching heate of the Canicular Starre, then with the pinching froſts of Boreas windes: Euen ſo is man: for he commeth vp, he floriſheth, he ſhineth, he is glorious in his place, ſo long as it pleaſeth God to giuegive him the ſweete beames of proſperitie and honor in this world: but this is not permanent: for as man will not abide in honor, ſo neither is it meete he ſhould be ſtill foſtred and lulled here in the cradle of felicitie: for by this, he forgets himſelfe and his eſtate: yea, he forgetteth God that made him, and forſaketh the ſame which redeemed him: Therefore the Lord is beſt pleaſed, that he ſhould be exerciſed with thoſe afflictions which commonly follow after worldly pleaſure and proſperitie, being indeede as a common pronoſtication of ſorrow and aduerſitie. Neither is there any thing to be looked for in this life, as both the ſayings of the wiſe, the ancient hiſtories, the proper ſimilitudes of things, and the preſent examples of ſuch euents doe plainely teach and inſtruct vsus. In the ſenſe and experience therefore of theſe things, what is there found of any conſtancie, or of any ſtability, or of any continuance in mans life? As man himſelfe is fraile, ſo are all thoſe accidents appertenant to his humane nature, tranſitory. Therefore, not onelyonly the poore man, but alſo the rich man: yea, not onelyonly the beggers, but the moſt Royall Princes are ſubiect to this alterations and vanities. In the due conſideration wherof,Good counſell for them that liue in this world. men ſhould not ſo much marvaile at the ſodaine chaunges of others, and at the inconſtancy of theſe worldly things, as they ſhould endeuour to learne to beware that they depend not on the deceaveable vanities of this life: and to take héede, that they waxe not proud, nor forgetfull of their maker, and of their owne eſtate and condition, in the fond abuſe of the things which are not their owne, but as lent vntounto them to be vſed to the honor of God & their owne neceſſities. Laſtly, ſéeing that theſe things be ſo vncertaine they ſhould in time prouide to lay vp for themſelues thoſe treaſures which are permanent and many ſtéede them to their higheſt content, in the feare and louelove of him that bleſſeth and proſpereth all them that neuer turne their faith from him.