A20547:161
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…
A plain and familiar exposition of the eleventh and twelfth chapters of the Proverbs of SolomonA plaine and familiar exposition of the eleuenth and twelfth chapters of the Prouerbes of Salomon
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Henry Sharpe, 1607London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Henrie Sharpe, 1607
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Verse 15. He that is surety for a stranger shall wholly be broken: but he that hateth those that clap hands, is sure.
Verse 15. He that is suretie for a stranger shall wholy be broken: but he that hateth those that clap hands, is sure.
His purpose here is to give men admonition to beware of suretyship: which he doth infer by two reasons, first, from the hurt and danger which they run into that be not well advised therein: and secondly, from the peace and safety which they enjoy that heedfully avoid the peril thereof. Now he doth not absolutely condemn all suretyship (for then would Paul have 1never undertaken for Onesimus) but rashness only therein, is that which is here, and in other places reproved. For it may sometimes be a work of mercy to become surety, as well as to lend or give. By stranger, is not meant all, or only unknown persons. For it may fall out to be a duty of Christian love, that way to help and relieve some such as we were never before acquainted with, and a near neighbour, a familiar friend, a kinsman, a brother may in this case be a stranger to us, when it is not safe to undertake for him. As first, if there be like to grow detriment to the borrower, as taking money, or any other commodities upon hard conditions, and at unreasonable rates, or for needless expenses, and unthriftiness, or any way to the hurt of his state or conscience. Secondly, if it tend to the hurt and damage of the lender that he is in danger to be defeated of his own, and to sustain loss by our means. If we our selves are to be entangled by it, the sum and value of the debt being more then we are able either to pay, or well to spare: when ones own creditors by that occasion, must be defrauded of their due, when our wives, children, and families which have also an interest in our substance, shall be robbed of their portion and maintenance, and bereaved of the fruit of their own labours. Then he showeth a remedy against it, to hate such as clap hands, that is, to hate and fear to be clappers of hands our selves, for the ratifying and confirmation of promises in this unadvised suretyship, and so we shall be