Two extremes in the management of family-affairs are here condemned and
the ill consequences of them foretold:--1. Carefulness and carnal
policy, on the one hand. There are those that by their extreme
earnestness in pursuit of the world, their anxiety about their business
and fretfulness about their losses, their strictness with their
servants and their niggardliness towards their families, trouble their
own houses and give continual vexation to all about them; while others
think, by supporting factions and feuds in their families, which are
really a trouble to their houses, to serve some turn for themselves,
and either to get or to save by it. But they will both be disappointed;
they will inherit the wind. All they will get by these arts will not
only be empty and worthless as the wind, but noisy and troublesome,
vanity and vexation. 2. Carelessness and want of common prudence, on
the other. He that is a fool in his business, that either minds it not
or goes awkwardly about it, that has no contrivance and consideration,
no only loses his reputation and interest, but becomes a servant to the
wise in heart. He is impoverished, and forced to work for his living;
while those that manage wisely raise themselves, and come to have
dominion over him, and others like him. It is rational, and very fit,
that the fool should be servant to the wise in heart, and upon that
account, among others, we are bound to submit our wills to the will of
God, and to be subject to him, because we are fools and he is
infinitely wise.