A20547:167
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.
Reasons. 1 First, he cannot but live in great fear, and distraction of mind, lest the party for whom he hath undertaken, should either fail of fidelity, and purposely cast his debt upon him, or else should come too short of ability, and prove unsufficient to discharge it himself. So if another be in want, then must he be in woe: If another be unthrifty, then he must be unhappy: if another be false, then he must needs be brought to a fall.
Reasons. 1 First, he cannot but liue in great feare, and distraction of mind, lest the party for whom hee hath vndertaken, should either faile of fidelitie, and purposely cast his debt vpon him, or else should come too short of abilitie, and prooue vnsufficient to discharge it himselfe. So if another be in want, then must he be in woe: If another be vnthriftie, then he must be vnhappie: if another be false, then he must needes be brought to a fall.
Secondly, God doth oftener by a providence whet the hearts of creditors, and sharpen them against sureties which fall into their hands. And that we should not deceive our selves in this case, ⟨p. 47⟩with expectation of favour, he telleth us what is to be looked for, if we grow too bold and hardy. Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are surety for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take thy bed from under thee? Prou. 22. 27. Now this why should, is set down by way of threatening, according as it is also in some other places of scriptures, as when Amaziah said to the Prophet, have they made thee the Kings counsellor? 1cease thou: why should they smite thee? And as he giveth a caveat for every one to take heed of entering into suretyship, or else not to think it strange if they feel the smart of it, so he granteth a warrant to creditors, to deal roundly with rash sureties, and not to be too sparing of them. Take his garment, saith he, that is surety for a stranger and a pledge of him for the stranger.