Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

Riches, the danger of them being not well used. [ 1123]

IN an Artichock, there is a little picking meat not so wholesome as delicious, and nothing to that it shews for; more then the tenth part is unprofitable leaves; and besides, there's a core in the midst of it, that will choak a Man if he take not good heed. Such a thing is Wealth that Men so covetously desire; It is like some kind of Fish, so full of bones and unseen, that no Man can eat of them without great danger: The Rich Mans Wealth is very troublesome to the outward Man like a long garment that is too side, if he tread upon it, he may chance to catch a fall, a fall into much discontent and envy of the World; But to the Soul, Riches, if not well imployed prove very pernitious, making a Man vainly confident; thinking that he is so wal••'d and moated about, that he is out of all Gunshot, when he is more open to danger then a poorer Man; then they make him proud: And Pride, saith S. Bernard, is the Rich mans cosen, it blows him up like a bladder with a quill, then he growes secure, and so falls into sud∣dain ruine.

Notes

• S. O••es expo∣sit. on Iude.
• Si rectè frueris, non est ut copi•• major Ab Iov•• donari possit tibi. Ausonius. Prov. 10. 15.