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…

Doct. A rash surety doth seldom live in peace without trouble and misery. Such a one, as though crosses were too few, and too slow, doth increase and hasten them to himself. He giveth his hand to his neighbour to put strength and weapons into his neighbours hands, to his own woe and vexation. Hereof hath Solomon spoken already in the sixth chapter: My son, if thou be ¹surety for thy neighbour, and hast stricken hand with the stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth: thou art even taken with the words of thine own mouth. Before a man doth voluntarily ensnare himself, he is like a bird that hath the liberty of the whole air, to fly whether she will at her pleasure, but after he hath bound himself by promise and covenant, he is like a bird in a net, and in the fowlers hand, that may be killed, or caged, or given to children to play with, or otherwise dealt with according to the fowlers will, and yet the poor bird, is either surprised in her own place, or allured by hope of food to the bait, not knowing that she is in any peril, whereas the surety doth wilfully cast himself into danger, being forewarned of the event, that would follow, and hath no bait of any gain, or benefit laid for him.

Doct. A rash surety doth seldome liue in peace without trouble and miserie. Such a one, as though crosses were too few, and too slow, doth increase and hasten them to himselfe. He giueth his hand to his neighbour to put strength and weapons into his neighbours hands, to his owne woe and vexation. Hereof hath Salomon spoken alreadie in the sixt chapter: My sonne, if thou be ¹suretie for thy neighbour, and hast stricken hand with the stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth: thou art euen taken with the words of thine owne mouth. Before a man doth voluntarilie insnare himselfe, he is like a bird that hath the libertie of the whole ayre, to flie whether snee will at her pleasure, but after hee hath bound himselfe by promise and couenant, he is like a bird in a net, and in the fowlers hand, that may be killed, or caged, or giuen to children to play with, or otherwise dealt with according to the fowlers will, and yet the poore bird, is either surprised in her owne place, or allured by hope of foode to the baite, not knowing that she is in any petill, whereas the suretie doth wilfullie cast himselfe into danger, being forewarned of the euent, that would follow, and hath no baite of any gaine, or benefite laide for him.