Works of Joseph Hall, Section 10 – Section 1
§. 10. To his fellow-Subiects, in reſpect of
more publike ſocietie, is required
1. Regard to
Superiors in
Eſtate.
Deſert.
Inferiors,
Equals.
2. Commerce.
more priuate ſocietie,
Iuſt maintenance of each mans proprietie.
Truth of friendſhip.
Pr. 22.7. Pr. 27.21.IN reſpect of themſelues, he requires due regard of degrees: whether of ſuperiors, The rich ruleth the poore; and as the fining pot is for ſiluer, and the furnace for gold, ſo is eueryevery man tryed according to his dignity; ſo as they that come from the holy place, be not forgotten in the City,Ec. 8.10. Pr. Pr. 11.12. Pr. 14.21. where they hauehave done right: or whether of inferiors; for, A poore man, if he oppreſſe the poore, Is like a raging raine that leaueth no food: yea (leſſe than oppreſsion) He that deſpiſeth his neighbour, is both a ſinner and deſtitute of vnderſtanding: or laſtly of equals; and therein quiet and peaceable demeanour, not ſtriuing with others cauſeleſſe;Pr. 3.30. Pr. 17.14. Pr 25.9. Pr. 25.8. Pr. 26.17. Pr. 6.16, 19. not to beginne contentions; for, the beginning of ſtrife is as one that openeth the waters; therefore ere it be medled with, he leaueth off: and being prouoked, debateth the matter with his neighbour. And as he goes not forth haſtily to ſtrife; ſo much leſſe doth he take part in impertinent quarrels: Hee that paſſeth by and medleth with the ſtrife that belongs not to him, is as one that takes a dogge by the eare; and one of the ſix things that God hates, is he that raiſeth vp contentions among neighbours.
Ec. 5.8. Pr. 8.19.Secondly, mutuall commerce, and interchange of commodities; without which, is no liuing: The abundance of the earth is ouer all: and the King conſiſts by the field that is tilled. The husbandman therefore muſt till his land, that hee may bee ſatisfied with bread; for, much increaſe commeth by the ſtrength of the Oxe:Pr. 14.4. Pr. 11.…6. Pr. 24.30, 31. and moreouer, he muſt ſell corne, that bleſſings may be vponupon him; which if he withdraw, the people ſhall curſe him; ſo that, the ſlothfullman, whoſe field is ouer growne with thornes and nettles, is but an ill member: Pr. 31.14.And againe, The Merchant muſt bring his wares from farre; and each ſo trade with other, Ec. 10.19. P. 22.28. Pr. 23.10. Pr. 23.11. Pr. Pr. 23.4. Pr. 28.22. Pr. 28.20. Pr. 20.21.that both may liue. They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforts the liuing, but ſiluer anſwereth to all. For leſſe publike ſociety, is required due reſeruation of propriety; not to remoue the ancient bounds which his fathers hauehave made; not to enter into the field of the fatherleſſe; for he that redeemeth them, is mighty; not to increaſe his riches by vſury and intereſt, not to haſten ouer-much to be rich; for ſuch one knoweth not that pouerty ſhall come vponupon him; and that an heritage haſtily gotten in the beginning, in the end thereof ſhall not bee bleſſed: and that in the meane time, The man that is greedy of gaine,Pr. 15.27. Pr. 18.24. troubleth his owne houſe. 2. Truth of friendſhip. A man that hath friends; ought to ſhew himſelfe friendly: for a friend is neerer than a brother;Pr. 27.10. Pr. 27.6. Pr. 27.9. Thy owne friend therefore, and thy fathers friend forget thou not: for whether he reproue thee, The wounds of a louer are faithfull: or whether he aduiſe, As ointment and perfume reioyce the heart; ſo doth the ſweetneſſe of a mans friend by hearty counſell: or whether he exhort; Pr. 27.17. Pr. 19.4. Pr. 17.17. Pr. 27 19. Pr. 25.17.iron ſharpens iron, ſo doth a man ſharpen the face of his friend; and all this, not in the time of proſperitie only, as commonly, Riches gather many friends, and the poore is ſeparated from his neighbour: but contrarily, A true friend loueth at all times, and a brother is borne for aduerſity; in all eſtates therefore, as the face in the water anſwers to face, ſo the heart of man to man; who yet may not be too much preſſed: Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours houſe, leſt he be weary of thee, and hate thee; neither enter into thy brothers houſe in the day of thy calamity: nor againe, Pr. 27.10.too forward in proffering kindneſſe to his owne loſſe; A man deſtitute of vnderſtanding,Pr. 17.18. Pr. 6.1, 2, &c. Pr. 6.3. toucheth the hand, and becommeth ſurety for his neighbour: If therefore thou art become ſurety for thy neighbour (much more if thou haſt ſtricken hands with the ſtranger) thou art ſnared with the words of thine owne mouth, thou art euen taken with the words of thine owne mouth. Doe this now, my ſonne,Pr. 27.13. Pr. 6.4. Pr. 6.5. ſeeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour (not hauing taken a pledge for thy ſuretiſhip) goe and humble thy ſelfe, and ſollicit thy friends: GiueGive no ſleepe to thine eies, nor ſlumber to thine eielids. Deliuer thy ſelfe as a Doe from the hand of the Hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the Fowler; and take it for a ſure rule, Pr. 11.15.He that hateth ſuretiſhip, is ſure.
SALOMONS OECONOMICKS, OR GOVERNMENT OF THE FAMILIE.
1.
HVSBAND,
WIFE.
2.
PARENT,
CHILDE.
3.
MASTER,
SERVANT.
By IOS. HALL.
SIC ELEVABITVR FILIVS HOMINIS
Io 3.
ANCHORA FIDEI:
LONDON, Printed for THOMAS PAVIER, MILES FLESHER, and John Haviland. 1624.
SALOMONS OECONOMICKS, OR FAMILY.
§. 1. The head of the Family: in whom is required
Wiſdome,
Stayedneſſe,
Thrift.
THE man is the head, and guide of the family; In whom wiſdome is good with an inheritance:Ec. 7.13. Pr. 24.3. for Through wiſedome an houſe is builded and eſtabliſhed: which directs him to doe all things in due orders; firſt, to prepare his worke without,Pr. 24.27. and then after, to build his houſe; and therewith, ſtayedneſſe. For, Pr.as a bird that wandreth from her neſt, ſo is a man that wandreth from his owne place; and (which is the chiefe ſlay of his eſtate) thriftineſſe; for Hee that troubleth his owne houſe (by exceſſe) ſhall inherit the wind:Pr. 11.19. and the foole ſhall bee ſeruant to the wiſe in heart: for which purpoſe he ſhall finde, that The houſe of the righteous ſhall hauehave much treaſure, while the reuenues of the wicked is but trouble:Pr. 15.6. or if not much; yet Better is a little with the feare of the Lord, than great treaſure,Pr. 15.16. and trouble therewith: Howſoeuer, therefore, let him be content with his eſtate: Let the Lambes bee ſufficient for his cloathing, and let the Goats be the price of his field.Pr. 27.16. Pr. 27.27. Let the milke of his Goats be ſufficient for his food, for the food of his family, and the ſuſtenance of his maides: and if he hauehave much reuenue, let him looke for much expence. For, Ec. 5.10.When goods increaſe, they are increaſed that eat them: and what good commeth to the owners thereof, but the beholding thereof with their eyes?