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⟨ordinary⟩, such as all our wit and prudence can ⟨neither⟩ foresee nor avoid. Such was that ⟨extraordinray⟩ and surprising storm in November 1703, ⟨whereby⟩ many thousands were undone, as to their ⟨estates⟩, besides the many lives that were lost: and ⟨such⟩ also was the dreadful fire in London whereby ⟨some⟩ that had great estates the one week had ⟨scarce⟩ breed to eat the next: and in the time of war ⟨many⟩ are unavoidable losers. But these must not ⟨be⟩ reckoned the common and ordinary ways that ⟨make⟩ and keep men poor. We know indeed, ⟨that⟩ by the divine providence, in the body of a ⟨common⟩-wealth there must be both poor and rich, ⟨even⟩ as an human body cannot subsist without ⟨hands⟩ and feet to labour, and walk about to pro(illegible text)d for the other members; the rich being the ⟨belly⟩, which devour all, yet do no part of the ⟨work⟩: but the cause of every man's poverty is ⟨not⟩ one and the same; some are poor by condition ⟨and⟩ content with their calling, and neither seck ⟨nor⟩ can work themselves into better condition; (illegible text)et God raiseth up, as by a miracle, the children ⟨and⟩ posterity of these, oftentimes, to possess the ⟨most⟩ eminent places either in church or common ⟨wealth⟩, as to become Archbishops, Bishops, Judges Commanders-general in the field, Secretaries of State, Statesmen, and the like: so that it proveth not always true, which the poet say,
If poor thou art, then poor thou shalt remain;
Rich men alone do now rich gifts obtain.
Of this condition are the greatest number in every kingdom: others there are, who have possessed great estates, but those estates have not thriven, ⟨nor⟩ continued, being gotten by oppession, deceit, usury, and the like, which commonly lasteth not
