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…

Reproof of them that make less account of these trees of life, than of a thorny hedge, than of nettles, than of most unsavoury weeds, than of plants that bring forth deadly poison. They distaste no men so much as good men, and the better they are, the worse they like them. Jeremiah came and offered his fruit to a people that stood in great need to eat of the tree of life: for they were ready to perish with death. But they practised to abolish that fruit which was offered for their preservation, and to take away his life, which sought to save theirs. For so hath the Lord declared their conspiracy: Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, ¹and cut him out of the land of the living, that his name may be no more in memory. Which almost of all the Prophets sped better? How much more favourably was Paul dealt with? And especially Christ Jesus, the very tree of life, and Lord of life, and life it self, whom all the rest did but resemble? His perfect fruit they trampled on, & laboured to dig him up by the root. And so they dealt still with his messengers and servants, not making use of their company, but abhorring it: not desiring to be partakers of ⟨p. 106⟩their knowledge, and wisdom, and other graces, but to suppress them.

Reproofe of them that make lesse account of these trees of life, than of a thornic hedge, than of nettles, than of most vnsauourie weedes, than of plants that bring foorth deadly poison. They distaste no men so much as good men, and the better they are, the worse they like them. Ieremy came and offered his fruit to a people that stood in great neede to eate of the tree of life: for they were readie to perish with death. But they practised to abolish that fruit which was offered for their preseruation, and to take away his life, which sought to saue theirs. For so hath the Lord declared their conspiracie: Let vs destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, ¹and cut him out of the land of the liuing, that his name may be no more in memorie. Which almost of all the Prophets sped better? How much more fauourably was Paul dealt with? And especially Christ Iesus, the very tree of life, and Lord of life, and life it selfe, whom all the rest did but resemble? His perfect fruit they trampled on, & laboured to dig him vp by the roote. And so they dealt still with his messengers and seruants, not making vse of their companie, but abhorring it: not desiring to be partakers of