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…

Use. 1 Reproof of many sinful women which seek not honour by virtue, but vanity, not by grace but garishness. And that they maintain with might and main, with heart and hand, with teeth and tongue, and all the means which may be devised. It is as easy to take a purse of gold from a strong armed soldier, as to persuade them to leave their pride and idleness, and other wicked ways which they usually walk in.

Vse. 1 Reproofe of many sinnefull women which seeke not honour by vertue, but vanitie, not by grace but garishnes. And that they maintaine with might and maine, with heart and hand, with teeth and tongue, and all the meanes which may be deuised. It is as easie to take a purse of golde from a strong armed souldier, as to perswade them to leaue their pride and idlenes, and other wicked wayes which they vsually walke in.

But besides these, there are other men and women to be reprehended, which are as unconstant in any good course, as these are obstinate in evil. They have entered into the way of godliness with good commendation in the beginning, and leave off the race in the middest, and run to sinfulness with the world in the later end. They cowardly suffer themselves to be overcome, and rifled, and robbed of their honour: their crown is taken from them, their glory is turned into shame and reproach, and causeth them to renounce that goodness which before they seemed to embrace: to forsake the fellowship of Christians with whom they were wont to converse: to neglect the duties of piety which ⟨p. 51⟩they were wont to exercise, to give over the care of their families, which they were wont to instruct? Even this that they would not be despised and brought to contempt: they would not be mocked and jested at for preciseness: they would not lose their credit, and good account. But is honour preferred by casting off grace? will this be a means to make them glorious, to shake off virtue, and show themselves vicious? They utterly deceive themselves: for our text saith, that they must be gracious persons which shall be able to maintain and keep their honour.