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. Instruction, not to give too much credit to froward men, nor too large a testimony of them. If we see that they will not be brought to a Christian conversation without, we may know also that they have an unchristian conscience within: for their heart is never better than they are willing their ways should be. And why then should we esteem them to be men of plain meaning, when God himself telleth us that there is no plain meaning in them? Why should we praise them whom he doth discommend? why should we clear them whom he convinceth? why should we ⟨p. 69⟩justify them whom he condemneth? And yet it is a fault, though much against piety, that carrieth a great colour and gloss of love and charity. He is a very honest man (say they) but yet given to gaming too much, no man can dissuade him from it. It is his only fault (saith another) that he is a great swearer, and cannot be brought to leave it. He is a right good man (saith a third) and every way deserveth praise, saving that he is no body at Church: he cannot abide those sermons, and Preachers: say all what they can, he is still at defiance with them all: and so they, as much as in them is, stand for them that go about to traverse their indictment against the Lord and all his faithful Ministers.

Vse. Instruction, not to giue too much credit to froward men, nor too large a testimonie of them. If wee see that they will not bee brought to a Christian conuersation without, we may know also that they haue an vnchristian conscience within: for their heart is neuer better than they are willing their waies should bee. And why then should we esteeme them to be men of plaine meaning, when God himselfe telleth vs that there is no plaine meaning in them? Why should we praise them whom he doth discommend? why should we cleere them whom he conuinceth? why should we ⟨p. 69⟩iustifie them whom he condemneth? And yet it is a fault, though much against pietie, that carrieth a great colour and glosse of loue and charitie. He is a very honest man (say they) but yet giuen to gaming too much, no man can disswade him from it. It is his only fault (saith another) that he is a great swearer, and cannot be brought to leaue it. He is a right good man (saith a third) and euery way deserueth praise, sauing that hee is no bodie at Church: he cannot abide those sermons, and Preachers: say all what they can, he is still at defiance with them all: and so they, as much as in them is, stand for them that go about to trauerse their inditement against the Lord and all his faithfull Ministers.