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…

Consolation to them that think it no pains to be painful in ⟨p. 115⟩labouring for the bread of life. They feel not, they say, the love of the word of God, the desire of faith and care of repentance, &c. But from whence proceedeth that? is it not hence, that they are greedy and covetous of getting abundance of love and desire, and therefore they think that which they have to be nothing, in comparison of that which they would have. But these men must be well confuted: their troubles, their attention, their meditations, their pains, their reading, their questions, their conference, their joy in Christian company, their diligence in all good exercises with willingness, doth manifestly show the error of their doubts and fears. But may not an hypocrite do all these things, and yet have no touch in him? But may an hypocrite do all these things in good earnest with resistance of hypocrisy? May an hypocrite continue an hypocrite, and yet bewail his want of sincerity in the presence of God alone, with promise, and purpose to perform every service more sincerely, if possibly by any means he may be able? It was an argument wherewith David confirmed his own heart in assurance that he truly loved the Lord, and unfeignedly sought his own salvation, because he loved the law of the Lord, meditated in his word and kept his precepts. And Job taketh it for a sure effect of his uprightness, that he had not departed from the commandments of Gods lips, but esteemed the words of his mouth more than his appointed food.

Consolation to them that thinke it no paines to be painfull in ⟨p. 115⟩labouring for the bread of life. They feele not, they say, the loue of the word of God, the desire of faith and care of repentance, &c. But from whence proceedeth that? is it not hence, that they are greedie and couetous of getting abundance of loue and desire, and therefore they thinke that which they haue to bee nothing, in comparison of that which they would haue. But these men must be well confuted: their troubles, their attention, their meditations, their paines, their reading, their questions, their conference, their ioy in Christian companie, their diligence in all good exercises with willingnes, doth manifestly shew the error of their doubts and feares. But may not an hypocrite do all these things, and yet haue no touch in him? But may an hypocrite doe all these things in good earnest with resistance of hypocrisie? May an hypocrite continue an hypocrite, and yet bewaile his want of sinceritie in the presence of God alone, with promise, and purpose to performe euery seruice more sincerely, if possibly by any meanes he may be able? It was an argument wherewith Dauid confirmed his owne heart in assurance that he truly loued the Lord, and vnfainedly sought his owne saluation, because he loued the law of the Lord, meditated in his word and kept his precepts. And Iob taketh it for a sure effect of his vprightnes, that he had not departed from the commandements of Gods lips, but esteemed the words of his mouth more than his appointed foode.