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XXX. Upon the hearing of the street-Cries in London. [ A]
WHat a noise do these poor souls make in proclaiming their commo∣dities? Each tells what he hath, and would have all hearers take notice of it; and yet (God wot) it is but poor stuffe that they set out with so much ostentation. I do not hear any of the rich Merchants talk of what bags he hath in his chests, or what treasures of rich wares in his store-house; every man rather desires to hide his Wealth, and when he is urged, is ready to dissemble his ability.
No otherwise is it in the true Spirituall Riches: He that is full of Grace and [ B] Good works, affects not to make shew of it to the world, but rests sweetly in the secret testimony of a good Conscience, & the silent applause of Gods Spirit witnessing with his own; whiles contrarily the venditation of our own Worth, or Parts, or Merits, argues a miserable indigence in them all.
O God, if the confessing of thine own Gifts may glorifie thee, my modesty shall not be guilty of a niggardly unthankfulnesse; but for ought that concerns my self, I cannot be too secret. Let me so hide my self, that I may not wrong thee; and wisely distinguish betwixt thy Praise and my own.