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 ...

How to be truly Rich, and truly Honourable. [ 1312]

THere is mention made of a Painter,* 1.1 that having drawn the picture of a Horse, would needs have him foaming at the mouth, but could not by any means do it: Whereupon in a great rage, he took the sponge wherewith he made his pensils clean, and thr••w it at the picture, intending to have utterly de∣fared it: but it so fell out, that the spunge having sucked in severall sorts of colours, effected that by chance, which the Artist by all his industry could not compasse: Thus it is with them that strive to make themselves great and eminent in the World,* 1.2 How do they cark and care, flatter, lie and dissemble, and all to be thought some body, amongst their fearful Neighbours? But all in vain; this is not the way to do it: for as Charles and Fifth told his sonne, That Fortune was just like a Woman, the more you woe her, the further she flings off: Let every good Christian then, take up the spunge of contempt, and throw it at these outward eminencies. Moses did so,* 1.3 and found to his exceeding joy, that the abjection of vain glory was the acquisition of that which was true and reall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plutarch▪ moral:
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  Heb. 11.