A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes…

Where there is no counsel] Where godly and holy instruction for guiding the heart and behaviour, and grave and prudent advice for government of state, either domesticall, or public, do fail, there the people do fall, that is, the governors themselves, and they that are in subjection to them, do run into many mischiefs of grievous disorders, and miserable destruction. For what in that case is to be expected from superiors, but violence and oppression? And what from inferiors, but falsehood and disobedience? And what from all sorts, but impiety and wickedness? And what then from God, but heavy strokes and punishments? But where many counsellors are, which be faithful, and give wise and wholesome counsel, and that is also embraced and followed, there is health, that is, religion and justice, peace, plenty, and safety, with God gracious favour and blessing.

VVHere there is no counsell] Where godly and holie instruction for guiding the heart and behauiour, and graue and prudent aduice for gouernment of state, either domesticall, or publike, doe faile, there the people doe fall, that is, the gouernours themselus, and they that are in subiection to them, doe runne into many mischiefes of grieuous disorders, and miserable destruction. For what in that case is to be expected from superiours, but violence and oppression? And what from inferiours, but falsehoode and disobedience? And what from all sorts, but impietie and wickednesse? And what then from God, but heauie stroakes and punishments? But where many counsellors are, which be faithfull, and giue wise and wholesome counsell, and that is also imbraced and followed, there is health, that is, religion and iustice, peace, plentie, and safetie, with God gracious fauour and blessing.

Doct. Nothing is more necessary and profitable to any state then good counsel, where this is wanting, there the beauty and brightness of authority is away. The multitude of men, the wealth of the people, the strength of munition, and the mighty force of arms will little avail, if wise men be not employed in the weighty affairs. And this caused Solomon to make such comparisons, that lowly and submissive words of a poor wise man, ¹