A plain and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the ninth and tenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

The most faithful Ministers be commonly exposed to Doct. greatest reproaches. If they begin to disgrace sin justly; sinful ¹men will not spare to deprave them unjustly. And for this purpose whatsoever cometh to hand will serve their turn: If they can prove no evil by them, it is enough to traduce them for too much goodness. So was John accused to be a devilish wretch, for being, as they made it, too precise and pure in mortification: and Christ on the other side condemned ²of intemperance, for enjoying a more free liberty in the holy use of the creatures.

The most faithfull Ministers bee commonly exposed to Doct. greatest reproches. If they begin to disgrace sinne iustly; sinfull ¹men will not spare to depraue them vniustly. And for this purpose whatsoeuer commeth to hand will serue their turne: If they can proue no euill by them, it is inough to traduce them for too much goodnesse. So was Iohn accused to bee a diuellish wretch, for being, as they made it, too precise and pure in mortification: and Christ on the other side condemned ²of intemperancie, for inioying a more free libertie in the holie vse of the creatures.

1. 1The best men most defamed
2. 2Mat. 11. 18. 19.

First, hereby they use a policy to shift for themselves, Reasons. 1 striving to fence their hearts from fear, and their names from infamy. For if they could persuade their own souls, that these sharp censurers were as bad as other men, they think it would ward off the stroke of their rebukes: if they could make others believe that all their accusations were but calumniations, it would free them from ignominy and discredit.