/58 Long-life, .Riches; and Honour, Sr R m. formed the difpofitions of their minds, and VI. by their influence have learned moderation, to be content with a little, and to deny the pomp of life, and that falfe appearance of greatnefs, which is imagined to be in fump.: tuous living, this muft of courfe cut off a great deal of expence, which the pride, and vanity, and luxury of others maketh them liable to. Solomon fays, Troy. vi. 26. By means of a whorl woman a man is brought to a piece of bread ; and, in chap. xxix. . He that keepeth company with harlots fpend eth his fubflance. And it is certain that gluttony, drunkennefs, and the pride of life, the affecting an unneceffary fhew of magni- ficence and grandeur, which are all contrary to virtuous wifdom, muft have the fame effect. There is, it is true, a fordid parfi- mony, which is itfelf a vice ; and a with- holding more than is meet, which as it tend - eth to poverty, fo is altogether inconfifcent with charity ; but true virtue avoideth both extremes, the abject meannefs of the cove- tous, as well as the foolifh expenfivenefs of the prodigal. Again ; diligence is neceffary to the ac- quiring of riches. Our author's obfervation is, Prov. x. 4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack hand, but the hand of the dili- gent
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