XXXVIII. PLENTY AND EASE OFTEN LEAD TO MORAL POVERTY AND MISERY. He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.1-Ps. cvi. 15. The prosperity of fools shall destroy them. PROV. I. 32. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.2-MATT. xiii. 22. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, JULIUS CESAR. Act II. Scene 1. Fat paunches have lean pates; and dainty bits Make rich the ribs, but bank'rout quite the wits. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. Act 1. Scene 1. Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds. KING HENRY IV. (2d part). Act iv. Scene 1. 1 Numb. xi. 31-33. 2 Luke xxi. 31; Tim. vi. 9, 10; 2 Tim. iv. 10. The path is smooth that leadeth unto danger. POEMS. The profit of excess Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain, That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain. POEMS. XXXIX. UNIVERSALITY OF GUILT. In many things we offend all.-JAMES iii. 2. There is no man which sinneth not.1 2 CHRON. vi. 36. For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.2-ECCLES. vii. 20. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?-Ps. cxxx. 3. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin.3-PROV. xx. 9. 1 1 Kings viii. 46. 2 Rom. iii. 23. 3 1 John i. 8. Who has a heart so pure, But some uncleanly apprehensions Keeps leets and lawdays, and in session sit With meditations lawful. OTHELLO. Act III. Scene 3. Use every man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping.-HAMLET. Act II. Scene 2. Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud; Nobody but has his fault. MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Act I. Scene 4. Where's that palace, whereinto foul things Sometimes intrude not. OTHELLO. Act III. Scene 3. No perfection is so absolute, That some impurity doth not pollute.-POEMS. We all are men, In our own natures frail: and capable Of our flesh. KING HENRY VIII. Act v. Scene 2. XL. GOD'S FAVOURS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED. God is no respecter of persons.1-Acтs x. 34. (He) accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.-JOB XXXIV. 19. The king is but a man as I am; the violet smells to him as it doth to me; the element shews to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but human conditions; his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man. KING HENRY V. Act. IV. Scene 1. The gods sent not Corn to the rich men only. CORIOLANUS. Act 1. Scene 1. Once or twice I was about to speak; and tell him plainly Looks on alike. WINTER'S TALE. Act IV. Scene 3. 1 Gal. ii. 6; Rom. ii. 11. XLI. THE SAFETY OF A MIDDLE STATE. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.1-PROV. xxx. 8. They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing. It is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean. MERCHANT OF VENICE. Act 1. Scene 2. Full oft 't is seen Our mean * secures us; and our mere defects Prove our commodities. KING LEAR. Act IV. Scene 1. His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him; Act IV. Scene 2. 1 1 Tim. vi. 6-10; Deut. xxxii. 15; James iv. 3; Hos. xiii. 6. |