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…

Doct. He that expecteth comfort for sound mercy, must not only apply his hand, but his soul to the exercise of well doing. That is the seat of love, which giveth life to all good actions, and without which in regard of themselves, it is as good never a whit, as never the better. For though a man should feed the poor with ¹all his goods, and have not love, it profiteth him nothing. Isaiah conditioneth with them who would have the Lord to pour forth his mercies and blessings upon them, that they should not only pour out their food and victuals, but their souls also to the hungry. Isa. 58. 10.

Doct. He that expecteth comfort for sound mercie, must not onelie applie his hand, but his soule to the exercise of well doing. That is the seate of loue, which giueth life to all good actions, and without which in regrad of themselues, it is as good neuer a whit, as neuer the better. For though a man should feede the poore with ¹all his goods, and haue not loue, it profiteth him nothing. Esaias conditioneth with thē who would haue the Lord to powre forth his mercies and blessings vpon them, that they should not onely powre out their foode and victuals, but their soules also to the hungrie. Isa. 58. 10.

1. 11. Cor. 13. 3.

Reasons. 1 First, there is required a needful work of the soul in this service, and that is wisdom and discretion. So is a merciful man commended in the Psalms: A good man is merciful and ¹lendeth, and will measure his affairs by judgement. And so is a liberal man described by the Prophet Isaiah, That he will devise of