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…

Admonition to beware how we take upon us the defence of sinful men to keep them from such correction as is due unto them; for we lose our labour if we seek to stay them from all punishment: many by escaping the parents rod do come under the Magistrates whip, and many by escaping the whip do come to the gallows, and many by escaping the gallows do fall into damnation: for they are deprived of those medicines which might have wrought a cure in their souls. And what do we in this case but withstand the discipline of God himself? How would the Magistrate take it if the offenders whom he is to punish should be plucked away and rescued out of his hands? do not they which make such attempts bring themselves into the compass of the same faults which the malefactors were to suffer for? whatsoever ⟨p. 74⟩the others were condemned for, these have now made themselves accessory unto, whether it be felony or treason or any other grievous offence: and yet it is a thing little feared of men: they which have neither mercy nor courage to deal in the cause of a poor oppressed innocent are ready and bold to protect and maintain those, which are impious and sinful and walk in such lewd and wicked ways as are offensive and abominable to God and man. How many are kept from their condigne punishment by the countenance of great mens cloth and service? How many do words and letters prevail for? how many are cleared by corrupt Jurors, who lay the guiltiness of many soul and fearful faults upon their own consciences?

Admonition to beware how wee take vpon vs the defense of sinful men to keepe thē from such correction as is due vnto them; for we lose our labour if wee seeke to stay them from all punishment: many by escaping the parents rodde doe come vnder the Magistrates whip, and many by escaping the whip doe come to the gallows, and many by escaping the gallows doe fall into damnation: for they are depriued of those medicines which might haue wrought a cure in their soules. And what doe wee in this case but withstand the discipline of God himselfe? How would the Magistrate take it if the offenders whom he is to punish should be pluckt away and rescued out of his hands? do not they which make such attempts bring themselues into the compasse of the same faults which the malefactors were to suffer for? whatsoeuer ⟨p. 74⟩the others were condemned for, these haue now made themselues accessarie vnto, whether it be fellonie or treason or any other grieuous offence: and yet it is a thing little feared of men: they which haue neither mercie nor courage to deale in the cause of a poore oppressed innocent are readie and bold to protect and maintaine those, which are impious and sinfull and walke in such lewde and wicked waies as are offensiue and abominable to God and man. How many are kept from their condigne punishment by the countenance of great mens cloath and seruice? How many doe words and letters preuaile for? how many are cleered by corrupt Iurors, who lay the guiltines of many soule and fearefull faults vpon their owne consciences?