Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Ofthev nitieofrich iemels andeel!yfurniture 365 fought and found by men, are fold at fuch high rates, as not their owne worth, but the buyers phantafie lets vpon them : in regard whereof the fame iewell or flone altereth the price according to the worth of the owner; and that which is e- fleemed in the hand ola poore man at a finall value, becom- tnethprecious and of great worth when a richer and more noble mailer is owner ofit.So that there are commended by their rarity more then by their excellency; byopinion rather then found reafon;by the wealth oftheir owners,rather then by their owne worth, and are in truth meere trifles for wan- tons to play wiIb,rather then any folide or fubflantiall good, which brings true profit to thofe who are poffeffed of them. The like a11ò may bee Paid of rich furniture, and fumptuous houfhold fluffe, which in comparifon of thofe more excel- lent things, are meere vanities and worthleffe trifles: nei- ther is there any cattle why any man fhould much delire thefe things if hee want them, or glory in them if wee haue them; for the chiefe ornaments of a houfe are not gorgeous hangings, rich beds and fuch like furniture; but the ver- tues and graces of the inhabitants, the wifedome and dif- erect gouernment of fuperiors, the dutie and obedience of inferiours,with piety, honefly, and good order obferued of all.Euen ascontrariwife the chic fe difgraces and deformi-Viiitai&de; ties therof, are not walks couercd or coloured with nothing ño attvafd lnu4 but finoke; emplie roomes, or poore furniture : but when erdiaatè proie- (as our Saviour fpeaketh)it is cleane fwept of all vertue and tli.ynon a neg- goodneffe, and blcmifhed and difhonefled with difor- letloleßulo, der, vice and wickedneffe. Againc, the great labour which non a s: ju. there thin soffmallworthre r quire, may lerue to weanethe g g y- fedabimprobi- harts of any from them-who are not too ful of pride & vaine f ate babuanti..- glory r for as at firfi they are not eafily gotten; fathey are um ccruitur. kept withmo leffe difficultie, there neuer wanting occafion Chryfoff.in . oflooking to them, folding ,vnfolding,brufhing,cleanfing, Mar.r6;Ho altering,remouing; to fay nothing of the manifold difcon_ 11114.4. tents and occafons of anger which they bring to theow- nets, ifanyofthem chance tomifcarie, or to be mifuled. In al which the trouble and griefe oftentimes exceed the com- fort and contentment which they bring voto them. Or if there