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…

Reasons. 1 First, it putteth them in vain hope to effect many exploits which they can never bring to pass, but all their endeavours recoil upon themselves. How many stones did Saul cast up to brain David? which all lighted on his own pate. How small a matter did Haman think it to kill Mordecai? yea to destroy all the Jews? which fell on his own person, with his family, and other friends. How sure were traitorous Papists, and undoubtedly assured to blow up the Parliament, and all estates of the kingdom? and yet of themselves divers were blown up to the gallows, and all the rest, unless they repent, are likely to be blown down to hell.

Reasons. 1 First, it putteth them in vaine hope to effect many exploites which they can neuer bring to passe, but al their indeuours recoile vpon themselues. How many stones did Saul cast vp to braine Dauid? which all lighted on his owne pate. How small a matter did Haman thinke it to kill Mordecay? yea to destroy all the Iewes? which fell on his owne person, with his familie, and other friends. How sure were trayterous Papists, and vndoubtedly affured to blow vp the Parliament, and all estates of the kingdome? and yet of themselues diuers were blowne vp to the gallows, and all the rest, vnlesse they repent, are likely to be blowne downe to hell.

Secondly, they dream of a greater felicity and happiness in their sinful courses, then ever they can attain unto. When Abimelech was aspiring to the kingdom, when he was persuading the Sichemites, when he was murdering his brethren, and making them out of the way, what did he once think of, but of cap, and knee, of honour, peace, & safety? He had concluded that there would be no molestation and trouble, no breach of covenant, and disloyalty, at least no peril of life, especially by the hand of a woman: that all his authority should be brought to such an ebb, as only to have power remaining to command his page to run him through with his sword. The fit and passion of distemper that Ahab fell into when Naboth denied him his vineyard, declareth evidently how happy a man he made reckoning to be when he should get it. And yet the occurrents which fell out at his taking of possession overturned all his happiness. He intruded himself thereinto with jollity and mirth, but Elijah sent him out again with heaviness and grief.