It followeth, There is none that doth good: whereby is meant that they have put off all sense of humanity. For as the best bond of mutual conjunction amongst us, consisteth in the knowledge of God (because as he is father unto all, he doth notably reconcile us: and out of him there is nothing but mere dissipation) so for the most part inhumanity followeth the ignorance of him, whiles every man, other men being contemned, loveth and seeketh himself. Contrariwise it is added, their throat is an open sepulchre: 1that is to say, a golf to destroy men. And it is more then if he had said, devourers, or eaters of men. Because it is a note of outrageous cruelty, that the throat of man should be such a golf, that it should serve to the swallowing, and supping up of whole men. Hereunto appertaineth that also is said, Their tongues are deceitful, 2and lips smeared with poison. It followeth, their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 3Which vice is contrary to the former: but the meaning is, they are every way full ⟨image 50⟩of mischief, for if they speak fair, they deceive, and under fair speeches they proffer poison: But if they broach that they have in their mind, thence cometh bitterness & cursing. It is a notable kind of speech, which is added out of Isaiah, Contrition and calamity are in their ways. 4For it is a singular demonstration, or description of barbarous cruelty, which wheresoever it go or come, by destroying all things, it causeth solitariness and desolation: after which sort Pliny describeth Domitian.
It followeth, There is none that doth good: whereby is meant that they haue put off all sense of humanitie. For as the best bonde of mutuall coniunction amongst vs, consisteth in the knowledge of God (because as he is father vnto all, he doth notably reconcile vs: and out of him there is nothing but meere dissipation) so for the most part inhumanitie followeth the ignorance of him, whiles euery man, other men being contemned, loueth and seeketh himselfe. Contrariwise it is added, their throate is an open sepulchre: 1that is to say, a goulfe to destroy men. And it is more then if he had said, deuourers, or eaters of men. Because it is a note of outragious crueltie, that the throate of man shoulde bee suche a goulfe, that it shoulde serue to the swallowing, and supping vppe of whole men. Heereunto apperteiueth that also is saide, Their tongues are deceitfull, 2and lippes smeered with poyson. It followeth, their mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse. 3Which vice is contrarie to the former: but the meaning is, they are euery way full ⟨image 50⟩of mischiefe, for if they speake faire, they deceiue, and vnder fayre speeches they proferre poyson: But if they broach that they haue in their minde, thence commeth bitternesse & cursing. It is a notable kinde of speech, which is added out of Esay, Contrition and calamitie are in their wayes. 4For it is a singuler demonstration, or description of barbarous crueltie, whiche wheresoeuer it goe or come, by destroying all things, it causeth solitarinesse and desolation: after which sorte Plinie describeth Domitian.
- 1Psal. 5.10. Outrageous cruelty described.Psal. 5.10. Outragious crueltie described.
- 2Psal. 140.4.
- 3Psal. 10.7
- 4Isaiah 59.7.Esay 59.7.
