Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Sir you are best say no more, than you are able to prove, lest I make you to repent your boldness, For if my patience you to much do move, I may chance turn your heat into a coldness. Why I lend my money like a friend for good will, And thereby do help men at their need. A friend thou art in deed, though a friend but ill, Pythagoras thy friendship, hath plainly decreed, There be many sayth he, who no friends do lack, And yet of friendship they have but scant, So thou art a friend for their money's sake, And yet thy friendship they always shall want. Assuredly thou highly offendest, For that so double in dealing thou art: Aristotle sayeth, by the same thou pretendest, And not so to bear a dissembling heart. A Christian ought not unto riches to yield, For it is a thing but failable and vain, Riches is no perpetual shield, But the shield of Faith, shall ever remain. Take therefore faith, and God's word for thy sword, And arm Christianity in this wise. Shall policy and riches then be abhorred, Sir they are fools that them will despise. I put case poverty should me assail, Can God's word and faith me any thing aid: Poverty against riches can never avail, I am sure sir this may not be denayed. We deny not, but in this world, riches bear the sway, Yet, it not riches to be called sure: For in God's power it is to make riches decay, Whereas God's word and faith shall ever endure. But give me riches, take you God's word and faith, And see which of us shall have the better gain. Now Faithful few, you here what he sayth, Therefore to turn the titles I must be fain, Well since it will no better be, To God let us the cause betake: Whom I trust, whenas time he doth see, He will for us, a deliverance make. Come Master wealthiness, let us away, What should we here any longer do? In deed I hold it best as you say, Therefore your saying I agree unto. Sorry I am, to see his estate, Now near he is, to the Fount of perdition: God grant him repentance, or it be to late, That of his sins he may have remission. But alas, he goeth the contrary way, For of his covetousness, he taketh no ruth: And Aristotle I remember doth say, The covetous man cannot learn the truth. Wherèfore he cannot, or will not know, The way to reform me Christianity: Therefore from this place now I will go, To pray unto God, to show him the verity. Now Faithful few adieu unto thee, I will pray unto God for thy comfort and aid: I beseech thee make like intercession for me, And that my reformation be not long delayed.
seed 43: T35 · seed 44: T34 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
¶Syr you are best say no more, then you are able to proue, Least I make you to repent your boldnesse, For if my pacience you to much do moue, I may chaunce turne your heate into a coldnesse. Why I lende my money like a friend for good will, And thereby doe helpe men at their néede. ¶A friend thou arte in déede, though a friend but ill, Pithagoras thy friendship, hath playnely decréede, There be many sayth he, who no friendes do lacke, And yet of friendship they haue but skant, So thou arte a friend for their moneys sake, And yet thy friendship they alwayes shall want. ¶Assuredly thou highly offendest, For that so double in dealing thou arte: Aristotle sayeth, by the same thou pretendest, And not so to beare a dissembling harte. A Christian ought not vnto riches to yéeld, For it is a thing but fayleable and vayne, Riches is no perpetuall shielde, But the shield of Fayth, shall euer remayne▪ Take therefore fayth, and Gods word for thy sworde, And arme Christianity in this wise. ¶Shall pollicy and riches then be abhord, Syr they are fooles that them will despise. I put case pouerty should me assayle, Can Gods word and fayth me any thing ayde: Pouerty agaynst riches can neuer auayle, I am sure syr this may not be denayde. ¶We deny not, but in this world, riches beare the sway, Yet, it not riches to be called sure: For in Gods power it is to make riches decay, Whereas Gods word and fayth shall euer endure. ¶But geue me riches, take you Gods word and fayth, And sée which of vs shall haue the better gayne. ¶Now Faythfull few, you here what he sayth, Therefore to turne the tytles I must be fayne, ¶Well since it will no better be, To God let vs the cause betake: Whome I trust, when as time he doth sée, He will for vs, a deliueraunce make. ¶Come Mayster Welthinesse, let vs away, What should we here any longer doe? ¶In déede I hold it best as you say, Therefore your saying I agrée vnto. ¶Sorry I am, to sée his estate, Now neare he is, to the Founte of perdition: God graunt him repentaunce, or it be to late, That of his sinnes he may haue remission. ¶But alas, he goeth the contrary way, For of his couetousnesse, he taketh no ruh▪ And Aristotle I remember doth say, The couetous man cannot learne the truth. Wherèfore he cannot, or will not know, The way to reforme me Christianity: Therefore from this place now I will goe, To pray vnto God, to shew him the verity. Now Faythfull few adue vnto thée, I will pray vnto God for thy comfort and ayd: I beséech thée make like intercession for me, And that my reformation be not long delayd.