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…

Confutation of them that lay the blame of their frowardness Use. 1 upon the unkindness of their neighbours: and especially of such as charge the ministry of the word, and the preachers of it with all the schisms, and seditions, and with all the ⟨p. 81⟩breaches and divisions that are in the Church. They publish the Gospel of grace which teacheth peace, and maketh peace between God and man, and between man and man, yea a man and his own conscience. But would there be so great oppositions, say they, and themselves and their doctrine so much crossed and resisted, unless the cause were in them? They be troublesome men and busy bodies, given to faction, and no man can live in peace by them. The Devil cannot live in quiet by them, and therefore he maketh a tempest in their hearts whom he possesseth, and so their waves dash against the ministers and all other good Christians Our Saviour knew that such would be the success of his Gospel, that wicked men would be in as great a hurly bu•lie at it as if he had come with fire and sword against them. Jeremiah cleareth ¹himself of all private occasions of discontentment amongst the people, he neither borrowed on usury, nor lent on usury, nor had any traffic or dealing with them; yet all contended against him, and every man cursed him. But what moved them to such passion and distemper? the Devil and their own sinful hearts, which the Prophet so mightily warred against.

Confutation of them that lay the blame of their frowardnesse Vse. 1 vpon the vnkindenesse of their neighbours: and especially of such as charge the ministrie of the word, and the preachers of it with all the scismes, and sedicions, and with all the ⟨p. 81⟩breaches and diuisions that are in the Church. They publish the Gospell of grace which teacheth peace, and maketh peace betweene God and man, and betweene man and man, yea a man and his owne conscience. But would there bee so great oppositions, say they, and themselues and their doctrine so much crossed and resisted, vnles the cause were in them? They be troublesome men and busie bodies, giuen to faction, and no man can liue in peace by them. The Diuell cannot liue in quiet by them, and therefore hee maketh a tempest in their hearts whom hee possesseth, and so their waues dash against the ministers and all other good Christians Our Sauiour knew that such would bee the successe of his Gospell, that wicked men would bee in as great a hurlie bulie at it as if he had come with fire and sword against them. Ieremie cleareth