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…

Secondly, as the excellency of Christians doth not consist in bodily pomp, but in spiritual graces, and behaviour; so it is not so much apprehended with mens eyes, as with their hearts: their ⟨p. 50⟩consciences will praise them, when their tongues revile them, as the Apostle saith: we approve our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. He would not appeal to their lips before men, ¹but to their souls before the Lord, and then he was sure they would justify him, though in speech many would condemn him. Now if it be so, a woman's grace will as well shine to their hearts, as a mans: a poor bodies as well as rich folks: so long as they remain godly, aswell as when they began to be godly, and more at the last then at the first, because their light groweth daily greater, and brighter.

Secondly, as the excellencie of Christians doth not consist in bodily pompe, but in spirituall graces, and behauiour; so it is not so much apprehended with mens eies, as with their hearts: their ⟨p. 50⟩consciences will praise them, when their tongues reuile them, as the Apostle saith: we approoue our selues to euery mans conscience in the sight of God. He would not appeale to their lippes before men, ¹but to their soules before the Lord, and then hee was sure they would iustifie him, though in speech many would condemne him. Now if it bee so, a womans grace will as well shine to their hearts, as a mans: a poore bodies as well as rich folkes: so long as they remaine godly, aswell as when they began to be godlie, and more at the last then at the first, because their light groweth daily greater, and brighter.

1. 12. Cor. 4. 2.