Works of Joseph Hall, Book 3
SALOMONS ETHICKS. THE THIRD BOOKE. IƲSTICE.
Iuſtice giues to each his owne;
To God Piety: which comprehends
Feare.
Honour and reſpect.*Honour and Obedience are indeed mixed duties of Iuſtice both to God and man: but becauſe as they belong to man, they are politike vertues and there handled; here we conſider them onelyonly as due to God.
Obedience.
To God and man,
Fidelity.
Truth.
in words,
in dealings.
LoueLove.
To man onelyonly,
others,
Mercy.
Liberality.
our ſelues; Diligence in our vocations.
§. 1.
1. Of Iuſtice in generall.
2. Of the feare of God,
what it is,
what fruits it hath
preſent.
future.
NExt to Prudence, is Iuſtice. A man of vnderſtanding walketh vprightly:Pr. 15.21. Pr. 10.7. Pr. 16.17. Pr. 12.22. The iuſt man, therefore, is he that walketh in his integrity; and whoſe path is to decline from euell; and briefly, hee that deales truly, in giuing each his owne.
Whether to God; vntounto whom Iuſtice challengeth Piety: which comprehends, Ec. 8.13.firſt, the feare of the Lord; and this feare of the Lord is to hate euill, as pride, arrogancie, and the euill way; and in all our waies to acknowledge God;Pr. 3.6. Pr. 14.2. Pr. 1.7. Pr. 15.33. that he may direct our waies; ſo that, he that walketh in his righteouſneſſe, feareth the Lord; but he that is lewd in his waies, deſpiſeth him: which grace as it is the beginning of knowledge, and the very inſtruction of wiſdome,Pr. 1.7. Pr. 15.33. Pr. 2.3. Pr. 2.4. Pr. 2.5. Pr. 15.16. Pr. 23.18. Pr. 14.26. ſo in ſome reſpect knowledge is the beginning of it; for If thou ca…leſt after knowledge, and cryeſt for vnderſtanding; if thou ſeekeſt her as ſiluer, and ſearcheſt for her as treaſures; then ſhalt thou vnderſtand the feare of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God; and this feare giues both contentment; Better is a little with the feare of the Lord, than great treaſure, and trouble therewith; and 2. future hope. Feare the Lord continually: for ſurely there is an end, & thy hope ſhall not be cut off. In which regard, This feare of the Lord is an aſſured ſtrength to depend vponupon; becauſe his children ſhall hauehave hope,Pr. 3.7. Pr. 3.8. Pr. 19.23. Pr. 14.27. yea and preſent health and ioy. Feare the Lord, and depart from euill; ſo health ſhall be to thy nauell, and marrow to thy bones: and with health, life eternall. The feare of the Lord leadeth to life, yea is a well-ſpring thereof, and he that is filled therewith,Pr. 28.14. Pr. 30.9. Pr. 28.14. ſhall continue, and ſhall not be viſited with euill; ſo that Bleſſed is the man that feareth alway: whereas on the contrary, He that hardneth his heart, and denies God, and ſaith, Who is the Lord? ſhall fall into euill.
§. 2.
Honour
in the beſt things,
in the beſt times.
Obedience
in attending on his will,
in performing it.
Pr. 3.9. Pr. 3.10.HOnour and reſpect; both from the beſt things: Honor the Lord with thy riches, and the firſt fruits of all thy encreaſe; ſo ſhall thy barnes be filled with abundance, and thy preſſes ſhall burſt with new wine: and in our beſt times; Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth;Ec. 12.1. while the euill dayes come not, nor the yeeres approach, wherein thou ſhalt ſay, I hauehave no pleaſure in them.
Pr. 1.33.Thirdly, Obedience. Hee that obeyeth mee ſhall dwell ſafely (ſaith Wiſdome) and bee quiet from feare of euill:Pr. 4.20. Pr. 4.21. Pr. 10.17. Pr. 28.9. whether in attendance to the will of God; My ſonne, hearken to my words, incline thine eare vntounto my ſayings; Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keepe them in the midſt of thine heart: for, He that regardeth inſtruction, is in the way of life; whereas he that turneth away his eare from it, his very prayer ſhall be abominable;Pr. 28.7. Pr. Pr. 28.4. Pr. 19.16. or in executing of it: He that keepeth the commandement, is a childe of vnderſtanding; yea he is bleſſed, and thereby keepeth his owne ſoule; where they that forſake the Law, praiſe the wicked: and he that deſpiſeth his waies, ſhall die.
§. 3. Fidelity
in performances
To God,
To man.
in faithfull reproofe.
OR whether to God and man. 1. Fidelity: both, firſt in performing that wee hauehave vndertaken: If thou hauehave vowed a vow to God, deferre not to pay it; for hee delighteth not in fooles;Ec. 5.3. Ec. 5.4. pay therefore that thou haſt vowed; It is better that thou ſhouldſt not vow; than that thou ſhouldſt vow, and not pay it: Suffer not thy mouth to make thy fleſh to ſin,Ec. 5.5. Neither ſay before the Angell, that this is ignorance:Pr. 20.25. Pr. 12.22. Pr. 28.10. Pr. 28.20. Pr. 25.19. Wherefore ſhall God bee angry by thy voice, and deſtroy the worke of thine hands? For, It is deſtruction to a man, to deuoure that which is ſanctified, and after the vowes to enquire. Neither this to God onelyonly, but to man; They that deale truly, are his delight; and the vpright ſhall inherit good things: yea, The faithfull man ſhall abound in bleſſings; whereas the perfidious man, as he wrongs others (for Confidence in an vnfaithfull man in time of trouble,Pr. 17.13. is like a broken tooth, and a ſliding foot) ſo he gaineth not in the end, himſelfe; He that rewardeth euill for good, euill ſhall not depart from his houſe.
2. In a faithfull reproofe: Open rebuke is better than ſecret louelove: The wounds of a louer are faithfull, and the kiſſes of an enemie are pleaſant, but falſe: Pr. Pr. 15.12. Pr. 25.12.ſo that he that reproueth, ſhall finde more thanke at the laſt: and how euer the ſcorner take it, yet he that reproueth the wiſe and obedient eare, is as a gold eare ring, and an ornament of fine gold.
§. 4. Truth in words:
The qualitie.
The fruit
to himſelfe,
to others.
The oppoſites
1.
Lies,
Slander.
2.
Diſsimulation,
Flatterie.
HE that ſpeaketh truth, will ſhew righteouſneſſe. Wherein? Pr. 12.17. Pr. 14.25.A faithfull Witneſſe deliuereth ſoules: but a deceiuer ſpeaketh lies; A vertue of no ſmall importance: for Death and Life are in the hand of the tongue; and as a man loues,Pr. 18.21. hee ſhall eat the fruit thereof, to good, or euill; to himſelfe, others: Himſelfe, Pr. 15.4. Pr. 12.19. Pr. 10.20. Pr. 10.21. Pr. 23.23.A wholſome tongue is as a Tree of life, and the lip of truth ſhall be ſtable for euer: Others, The tongue of the iuſt man is as fined ſiluer, and the lips of the Righteous doe feed many: therefore Buy the truth, and ſell it not; as thoſe doe which either 1. lye, 2. ſlander, 3. diſſemble, or 4. flatter.
§. 5. The lyer
His faſhions,
His manifeſtation,
His puniſhment.
A Faithfull witneſſe will not lie, but a falſe record will ſpeake lies. Of thoſe ſix,Pr. 14.5. Pr. 6.16. Pr. 6.17. Pr. 6.19. Pr. 19.28. Pr. 26.28. Pr. 12.19. Pr. 19.5. Pr. 12.22. Pr. 21.28. Pr. 25.18. Pr. 24.28, 29. Pr. 30.7. Pr. 30.8. Pr. 19.22. yea, ſeuen things that God hateth, two are, A lying tongue, and a falſe witneſſe that ſpeaketh lies; For ſuch a one mocketh at iudgement, and his mouth ſwallowes vp iniquitie, yea a falſe tongue hateth the afflicted. He is ſoone perceiued; for a lying tongue varieth incontinently: and when he is found, A falſe witneſſe ſhall not be vnpuniſhed, and he that ſpeaketh lies, ſhall not eſcape, for the, lying lips are abomination to the Lord, therefore a falſe witneſſe ſhall periſh: and who pitties him? Such a one is an hammer, a ſword, a ſharpe arrow to his neighbour; he deceiueth with his lips, and ſaith, I will doe to him as he hath done to me. Two things then hauehave I required of thee, denie me them not vntill I die, &c. Remoue farre from me vanitie, and lyes. Let me be a poore man rather than a lyer.
§. 6. The ſlanderer:
what his exerciſe,
in miſreports,
in vnſeaſonable medling.
what his entertainment.
THis wicked man diggeth vp euill, and in his lips is like burning fire;Pr. 16.27. Pr. 16.30. Hee ſhutteth his eies to deuiſe wickedneſſe: hee moueth his lips, and bringeth euill to paſſe: and either hee inuenteth ill rumors; A righteous man hateth lying words:Pr. 13.5. but the wicked cauſeth ſlander and ſhame;Pr. 20.3. Pr. 11.13. Pr. 26.20. Pr. 18.8. or elſe in true reports he will be fooliſhly medling, and goeth about diſcouering ſecrets; (where he that is of a faithfull heart, concealeth matters) and by this meanes raiſeth diſcord. Without wood the fire is quenched: and without a tale-bearer, ſtrife ceaſeth; for the words of a tale-bearer are as flatterings,Ec. 7.23. and goe downe into the bowels of the belly: therefore as on the one ſide, thou mayeſt not giuegive thine heart to all that men ſpeake of thee,Pr. 25.23. left thou heare thy ſeruant curſing thee; ſo on the other, no countenance muſt be giuen to ſuch: for As the North-wind driues away raine; ſo doth an angry countenance the ſlandering tongue.
§. 7.
The diſſembler of foure kinds,
malicious,
vaine-glorious,
couetous,
impenitent.
The flatterer
his ſucceſſe
to himſelfe,
to his friend.
his remedie.
Pr. 10.18.THE ſlanderer and diſſembler goe together: Hee that diſſembleth hatred with lying lips,Pr. 26.24. and he that inuenteth ſlander, is a foole; There is then a malicious diſſembler: He that hateth, will counterfeit with his lips, and in his heart he layeth vp deceit;Pr. 26.25. Pr. 26.26. ſuch one, though he ſpeake fauourably, beleeue him not; for there are ſeuen abominations in his heart. Hatred may be couered with deceit; but the malice thereof ſhall (at laſt) bee diſcouered in the congregation. There is a vaine-glorious diſſembler, that maketh himſelfe rich,Pr. 13.7. Pr. 13.7. Pr. 20.24. Pr. 23.6. Pr. 23.7. and is poore: and 3. a couetous: There is that makes himſelfe poore, hauing great riches: and this both 1. in bargains: It is naught, it is naught, faith the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boaſteth; and 2. In his entertainment; The man that hath an euill eie: as though he thought in his heart, ſo will he ſay to thee, Eat and drinke,Pr. 28.13. Pr. 27.14. but his heart is not with thee. Laſtly, an impenitent; Hee that hideth his ſinnes, ſhall not proſper: but he that confeſſeth and forſaketh them, ſhall hauehave merciemercy. The flatterer praiſeth his friend with a loud voice, riſing early in the morning: but with what ſucceſſe? Pr. 29.5.To himſelfe: It ſhall be counted to him for a curſe: To his friend: A man that flattereth his neighbour,Pr. 26.28. Pr. 20.19. ſpreadeth a net for his ſteps; he ſpreadeth and catcheth: For a flattering mouth cauſeth ruine. The onelyonly remedie then is: Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips:Ec. 7.7. for It is better to heare the rebuke of wiſe men, than the ſong of fooles.
§. 8. Truth in dealings: wherein is the true dealers
Practices,
To doe right,
with ioy.
Reward
Gods louelove,
Good memoriall.
Pr. 11.3. Pr. 11.5. Pr. 15.19. Pr. 21.8. Pr. 21.3. Pr. 21.15. Pr. 10.16. Pr. 29.7. Pr. 29.10. Pr. 21.8. Pr. 3.29. Pr. 16.11. Pr. 15.9. Pr. 12.26. Pr. 28.6. Pr. 20.7.THe vprightneſſe of the iuſt ſhall guide them, and direct their way; which is euer plaine and ſtraight: whereas the way of others is peruerted, and ſtrange. Yea, as to doe iuſtice and iudgement is more acceptable (to the Lord) than ſacrifice; ſo it is a ioy to the iuſt himſelfe, to doe iudgement: all his labour therefore tendeth to life, he knoweth the cauſe of the poore, and will hauehave care of his ſoule: His worke is right, neither intendeth he any euill againſt his neighbour; ſeeing he dwelleth by him without feare: and what loſeth he by this? As the true balance, and the weight are of the Lord, and all the weights of the bagge are his worke: So God loueth him that followeth righteouſneſſe: and with men. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: and Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightneſſe, than hee that peruerteth his waies, though he be rich. Yea finally, The memoriall of the iuſt ſhall be bleſſed.
§. 9. Deceit:
The kindes
Coloured,
Direct
Priuate,
Publike,
The iudgement attending it,
Pr. 16.18.COntrary to this, is Deceit: whether in a colour: As he that faineth himſelfe mad, caſteth fire-brands,Pr. 26.19. arrowes and mortall things; ſo dealeth the deceitfull man, and ſaith, Am I not in ſport? As this deceit is in the heart of them that imagine euill: ſo in their hands are Diuers weights, and diuers balances: or directly, Pr. 12.10. Pr. 10.10. Pr. 29.24. Pr. 1.19. Ec. 3.16. Ec. 3.17. Pr. 12.27. Pr. 20.17.Hee that is partner with a theefe, hateth his owne ſoule, and dangerous are the waies of him that is greedy of gaine; much more publiquely, I hauehave ſeene the place of iudgement, where was wickedneſſe; and the place of iuſtice, where was iniquitie: I thought in mine heart, God will iudge the iuſt and the wicked, yea, oft-times ſpeedily; ſo as The deceitfull man roſteth not what he tooke in hunting: or if he eat it; The bread of deceit is ſweet to a man, but afterward his mouth ſhall be filled with grauell.
§. 9. LoueLove
To God; rewarded
with his louelove,
with his bleſsings.
To men
In paſsing by offences,
In doing good to our enemies.
LOueLove to God: I louelove them that louelove me: and they that ſeeke mee early,Pr. 8.17. Pr. 8.21. ſhall finde me; and with me, bleſsings: I cauſe them that louelove mee, to inherit ſubſtance, and I will fill their treaſures. 2. To men, 1. In paſsing by offences; Pr. 10.12.Hatred ſtirreth vp contentions, but louelove couereth all treſpaſſes, and the ſhame that riſes from them: Pr. 12.16. Pr. 17.9. Pr. 15.21.ſo that hee onelyonly that couereth a tranſgreſſion, ſeeketh louelove. 2. In doing good to our enemies: If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giuegive him bread to eat; and if he bee thirſtie, giuegive him water to drinke. Here therefore doe offend: 1. the contentious, 2. the enuious.
§. 10. The contentious,
whether in raiſing ill rumors,
or whether by preſsing matters too farre.
THe firſt is hee that raiſeth contentions among brethren: which once raiſed, Pr. 6.19. Pr. 18.19.are not ſo ſoone appeaſed. A brother offended is harder to winne than a ſtrong Citie: and their contentions are like the barre of a Palace.Pr. 16.29. This is that violent man that deceiueth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way which is not good,Pr. 18.6. Pr. 26.21. the way of diſcord, whether by ill rumors; The fooles lips come with ſtrife; and as the coale maketh burning coales, and wood a fire, ſo the contentious man is apt to kindle ſtrife; and that euen among great ones: A froward perſon ſoweth ſtrife, and a tale-bearer maketh diuiſion among Princes; or by preſsing matters too farre: When one churneth milke,Pr. 16.28. Pr. 30.33. he bringeth forth butter; and he that wringeth his noſe, cauſeth bloud to come out: ſo he that forceth wrath; bringeth forth ſtrife, the end whereof is neuer good: Pr. 29.9.for if a wiſe man contend with a fooliſh man, whether he be angry or laugh, there is no reſt.
§. 11. Enuy
The kindes
At our neighbour,
At the wicked,
The effects
to others,
It ſelfe.
THe ſecond is that iuſtice, whereby the ſoule of the wicked wiſheth euill,Pr. 21.10. Pr. 24.17. and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eies; that moueth him to bee glad when his enemie falleth, and his heart to reioice when he ſtumbleth; and this is a violent euill. Pr. 14.30.1. To it ſelfe; A ſound heart is the life of the fleſh; but enuie is the rotting of the bones. 2. To others; Anger is cruell, and wrath is raging: but who can ſtand before enuie?Pr. 27.4. But of all other, it is moſt vniuſt when it is ſet vponupon an euill ſubiect. Pr. 24.20. Pr. 3.31.Fret not thy ſelfe becauſe of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked, nor chuſe any of his waies; neither let thine heart be enuious againſt ſinners,Pr. 23.17. Pr. 24.1. Pr. 24.2. Pr. 3.32. Pr. 24.20. nor deſire to be with them; for as their heart imagineth deſtruction, and their lips ſpeake miſchiefe, ſo the froward is an abomination to the Lord; and there ſhall be none end of the plagues of the euill man; and his light ſhall be put out.
§. 12. Iuſtice to man onelyonly: Firſt, to others 1. in Mercy:
The quality.
The gaine of it.
Pr. 3.3. Pr. 21.13. Pr. 12.10. Pr. 16.6. Pr. 3.4.LEt not mercy and truth forſake thee: binde them on thy necke, and write them vponupon the table of thine heart; this ſuffereth not to ſtop thine care at the cry of the poore: yea, the righteous man regardeth the life of his beaſt; no vertue is more gainfull: for By mercy and truth iniquity ſhall bee forgiuen; and By this thou ſhalt finde fauour and good vnderſtanding in the ſight of God and man: Good reaſon; For he honoreth God,Pr. 14.31. that hath mercy on the poore: yea, he makes God his debter; He that hath mercy on the poore,Pr. 19.17. Pr. 11.17. Pr. 21.21. Pr. 14.21. lendeth to the Lord, and the Lord will recompence him: So that The mercifull man rewardeth his owne ſoule; for He that followeth righteouſneſſe and mercy, ſhall finde righteouſneſſe, and life, and glory; and therefore is bleſſed for euer.
§. 13. Againſt mercy offend
1. Vnmercifulneſſe.
2. Oppreſsion.
3. Bloud-thirſtineſſe.
Pr. 22.7. Pr. 14.20. Pr. 19.7.1. THat (not only) the rich ruleth the poore, but that the poore is hated of his owne neighbour; whereas the friends of the rich are many: Of his neighbour? Yea all the brethren of the poore hate him: how much more will his friends depart from him? though he be inſtant with words, yet they will not.
Pr. 30.14. Pr. 22.16.2. There is a generation, whoſe teeth are as ſwords, and their iawes as kniues, to eat vp the afflicted out of the earth. Theſe are they that oppreſſe the poore, to increaſe themſelues,Pr. 22.22. Pr. 25.20. and giuegive to the rich; that rob the poore becauſe he is poore, and oppreſſe the afflicted in iudgement; that take away the garment in the cold ſeaſon, and therefore are like vineger powred vponupon nitre, or like him that ſingeth ſongs to an heauy heart; That trouble their owne fleſh,Pr. 11.17. and therefore are cruell; An ordinary ſinne. I turned and conſidered all the oppreſſions that are wrought vnderunder the Sunne;Ec. 4.1. and behold, the teares of the oppreſſed, and none comforteth them; and the ſtrength is of the hand of thoſe that oppreſſe them,Ec. 5.7. and none comforteth them. None? Yes ſurely, aboue. If in a country thou ſeeſt the oppreſſion of the poore, and the defrauding of iudgement, and iuſtice, be not aſtonied at the matter; for he that is higher than the higheſt, regardeth, and there bee higher than they,Pr. 22.23. Pr. 22.16. Pr. 21.13. Pr. 29.10. Pr. 24.15. Pr. 28.17. Pr. 1.11. Pr. 1.12. Pr. 1.15. which will defend the cauſe of the poore, to cauſe the oppreſſor to come to pouerty: in which eſtate he ſhall cry and not be heard.
3. The bloudy man is he which not only doth hate him that is vpright, but layeth wait againſt the houſe of the righteous, and ſpoileth his reſting place; yea, that doth violence againſt the bloud of a perſon: Such as will ſay, Come with vsus, we will lay wait for bloud, and lie priuily for the innocent without a cauſe. We will ſwallow them vp aliue like a graue, euen whole; as thoſe that goe downe into the pit. But, my ſonne, walke not thou in the way with them:Pr. 1.16. Pr. 1.17. Pr. 1.18. Pr. 12.10. Pr. 26.2. Pr. 24.16. Pr. 26.27. Pr. 28.17. refraine thy foot from their path: for their feet runne to euill, and make haſte to bloud-ſhed. Certainly as without cauſe the net is ſpred before the eies of all that hath wings, ſo they lay wait for bloud, and lie priuily for their liues; Thus the mercies of the wicked are cruell: But ſhall they preuaile in this? The cauſeleſſe curſe ſhall not come: The iuſt man may fall ſeuen times in a day, but he riſeth vp againe, whiles the wicked ſhall fall into miſchiefe; yea into the ſame they had deuiſed: He that diggeth a pit, ſhall fall therein; and he that rouleth a ſtone, it ſhall fall vponupon him, and cruſh him to death: for Hee that doth violence againſt the bloud of a perſon, ſhall flee vntounto the graue, and they ſhall not ſtay him.
§. 14. The ſecond kinde of Iuſtice to others, is Liberality
Deſcribed,
Limited,
Rewarded,
with his owne,
with more.
LIberality or beneficence, is to caſt thy bread vponupon the waters;Ec. 11.1. Ec. 11.2. Pr. 22.9. Pr. 3.27. Pr. 3.28. to giuegive a portion to ſeuen, and alſo to eight; in a word, to giuegive of his bread to the poore, and not to with-hold his goods from the owners thereof (i. the needy) though there be power in his hand to doe it, and not to ſay to his neighbour, Goe and come againe, to morrow I will giuegive thee, if he now hauehave it:Ec. 5.18. Not that God would not hauehave vsus enioy the comforts hee giues vsus, our ſelues; for, to eueryevery man to whom God hath giuen riches and treaſures, and giueth him power to eat thereof, and to take his part, and to enioy his labours, this is the gift of God; but if the clouds be full, they will powre out raine vponupon the earth,Ec. 11.3. and yet they ſhall be neuer the emptier. The liberall perſon ſhall hauehave plenty,Pr. 11.25. Pr. 28.17. Ec. 11.1. and he that watereth, ſhall alſo hauehave raine: yea not only he that giueth to the poore, ſhall not lacke, but ſhall finde it after many daies; whereas hee that hideth his eies, ſhall hauehave many curſes: but, There is that ſcattereth, and is more increaſed:Pr. 11.24. Pr. 22.9. thus He that hath a good eye, is bleſſed of God.
§. 15. The extremes whereof are
Couetouſneſſe,
The deſcription of it.
The curſe.
Prodigalitie.
THe couetous is he, that is greedy of gaine, that hauing an euill eie,Pr. 1.19. Pr. 23.6. Pr. 21.26. Pr. 23.4. Pr. 11.24. Pr. 28.8. Ec. 4.8. Pr. 30.15. Pr. 27.20. and coueting ſtill greedily, trauelleth too much to be rich, and therefore both ſpareth more than is right, and increaſeth his goods by vſury and intereſt: There is one alone, and there is not a ſecond, which hath neither ſonne, nor brother; yet is there none end of his trauell, neither can his eyes be ſatisfied with riches, neither doth hee thinke, For whom doe I trauell, and defraud my ſoule of pleaſures? This man is vnſatiable, like to The horſeleeches two daughters, which cry ſtill, GiueGive, GiueGive: eſpecially in his deſires; The Graue and deſtruction can neuer be full; ſo the eies of a man can neuer bee ſatisfied: All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the ſoule is not filled:Ec. 6.7. yea, this is the curſe that God hath ſet vponupon him; Hee that loueth ſiluer ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſiluer:Ec. 5.9. Pr. 18.11. and he that loueth riches, ſhall be without the fruit thereof; and whereas the rich mans riches are his ſtrong City, he that truſteth in riches, ſhall fall,Pr. 11.28. Pr. 11.24. Pr. 23.5. Pr. 28.8. Pr. 16.8. Pr. 30.8. Pr. 30.9. and by his ſparing commeth ſurely to pouertie. All this while hee ſets his eies on that which is nothing, and doth but gather for him that will be mercifull to the poore: wherefore, Better is a little with right, than great reuenues without equity. GiueGive mee not pouerty, nor riches: feed mee with food conuenient for me, leſt I be full, and deny thee, and ſay, Who is the Lord? or leſt I be poore, and ſteale, and take the Name of God in vaine.
§. 16. Prodigality in
Too much expence: whereof
The qualitie,
The end.
Careleſneſſe of his eſtate.
THe prodigall is the man that boaſteth of falſe liberality, that loueth paſtime, and wine,Pr. 12.9. Pr. 21.17. Pr. 28.7. Pr. 28.19. Pr. 6.12. Pr. 6.14. Pr. 6.15. Pr. 13.11. Pr. 21.17. Pr. 28.19. Pr. 28.7. Pr. 22.26. Pr. 22.27. See more of this rule in the laſt page of Politicke, following. and oile, that feedeth gluttons, and followeth the idle; The vnthriftie man and the wicked man walketh with a froward mouth; Lewd things are in his heart, he imagineth euill at all times; Therefore alſo ſhall his deſtruction come ſpeedily, and hee ſhall be deſtroyed ſuddenly without recouery; and in the meane time, The riches of vanity ſhall diminiſh; ſo that he ſhall be a man of want; yea filled with pouerty, and a ſhame to his father. Of this kind alſo is he that is otherwiſe careleſſe of his eſtate: Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are ſurety for debts: If thou haſt nothing to pay, why cauſeſt thou that he ſhould take thy bed from vnderunder thee?
§. 17. Diligence
what it is.
how profitable in
Health,
Wealth and abundance,
Honour.
Pr. 16.26. Ec. 9.10.IVſtice to a mans ſelfe, is diligence; for he that trauelleth, trauelleth for himſelfe; The diligent is he, who all that his hand ſhall finde to doe, doth it with all his power. I hauehave ſeene (indeed) the trauell,Ec. 3.20. that God hath giuen the ſonnes of men, to humble them thereby,Ec. 1.8. Ec. 3.9. that all things are full of Labour, man cannot vtter it; But what profit hath he that worketh, of the thing wherein he trauelleth? Much eueryevery way: firſt, Health: The ſleepe of him that trauelleth,Ec. 5.11. Pr. 20.13. Pr. 10.4. Pr. 13.4. Pr. 14.23. Pr. 12.27. is ſweet, whether hee eat little or much: Secondly, Wealth: Open thine eies, and thou ſhalt be ſatisfied with bread: yea, The hand of the diligent, maketh rich, and his ſoule ſhall be fat: and not ſufficiency onelyonly; but in all labour there is abundance, but the talke of the lips bringeth want: yet more, the riches that the diligent man hath, are precious. 3. Honour: A diligent man ſhall ſtand before Kings, and not before the baſe ſort;Pr. 22.19. Pr. 12.24. and The hand of the diligent ſhall beare rule, but the idle ſhall be vnderunder tribute.
§. 18. Slothfulneſſe,
The properties.
The danger of it.
Ec. 4.5. Pr. 19.24.THe ſlothfull, is he that foldeth his hands, and eateth vp his owne fleſh; That hideth his hand in his boſome, and will not pull it out againe to his mouth; That turneth on his bed,Pr. 26.24. as a doore turneth on the hinges, and ſaith, Yet a little ſleepe,Pr. 6.10. a little ſlumber, a little folding of the hands to ſleepe. EueryEvery thing that he ought to doe, is troubleſome: The way of the ſlothfull man is an hedge of thornes, (which hee is loth to ſet foot in) There is a Lion without (ſaith he) I ſhall bee ſlaine in the ſtreet:Pr. 15.19. who although herein he be wiſer in his owne conceit,Pr. 22.13. Pr. 26.13. Pr. 26.16. Pr. 12.11. Pr. 13.4. Pr. 21.25. Pr. 18.9. Pr. 10.5. Pr. 19.15. Pr. 20.4. Pr. 20.13. Ec. 10.18. than ſeuen men that can render a reaſon: Yet (the truth is) hee that (ſo much as) followes the idle, is deſtitute of vnderſtanding. He luſteth (indeed) and affecteth great things, but his ſoule hath nought: ſo, The very deſire of the ſlothfull ſlayeth him, for his hands refuſe to worke. And not only hee that is ſlothfull in his worke, is brother to him that is a great waſter; but he that ſleepeth, (and Slothfulneſſe cauſeth to fall aſleepe) in harueſt, is the ſonne of confuſion: and, He that will not plough becauſe of Winter, ſhall beg in Summer, and hauehave nothing: LoueLove not ſleepe therefore, leſt thou come to pouerty; for what is it, that hence commeth not to ruine? For the houſe: By ſlothfulneſſe the roofe of the houſe goeth to decay; and by idleneſſe of the hands,Pr. 24.30. Pr. 24.31. the houſe droppeth thorow. For the Land: I paſt by the field of the ſlothfull, and by the Vineyard of the man deſtitute of vnderſtanding: and loe, it was all growne ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face of it, and the ſtone wall thereof was broken downe.Pr. 24.32. Then I beheld and conſidered it well; I looked vponupon it,Pr. 10.4. Pr. 6.6. Pr. 6.7. Pr. 6.8. Pr. 6.9. Pr. 24.33. Pr. 6.11. and receiued inſtruction: ſo in eueryevery reſpect the ſlothfull hand maketh poore. Goe to the Piſmire therefore, thou ſluggard, and behold her wayes, and be wiſe: For ſhe hauing no Guide, Gouernour, nor Ruler, prepareth her meat in Summer, and gathereth her food in harueſt. How long wilt thou ſleepe, O ſluggard? when wilt thou ariſe out of thy ſleepe? Yet a little ſleepe, yet a little ſlumber, yet a little folding of the hands to ſleepe: Therefore thy pouerty commeth as a ſpeedy Traueller, and thy neceſſity as an armed man.