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…

Godly men are not altogether void of thoughts, that are not right and allowable: sometimes Satan casteth in matter to turn them out of the right course: sometimes their own flesh will play it part, and stir up desires of commodity and praise, and pleasures and such like in them; but these are as the muddiness that may be for a time in a good fountain that is troubled: these they allow not: these they resist, and judge themselves for, and therefore God taketh notice only of those that are good, tending to his service, and glory, their own salvation, and the benefit of their brethren. On the other side, the counsels of the wicked, that is, their devises, plots, and purposes in themselves (for they are here rather the work of the mind, then of the tongue, and opposed to the thoughts of the godly) are deceit, tending either to the circumvention, and wronging of others, or to the cloaking and hiding of their own sinfulness.

GOdly men are not altogether voide of thoughts, that are not right and allowable: sometimes Sathan casteth in matter to turne them out of the right course: sometimes their owne flesh will play it part, and stirre vp desires of commoditie and praise, and pleasures and such like in them; but these are as the muddines that may be for a time in a good fountaine that is troubled: these they allow not: these they resist, and iudge themselues for, and therefore God taketh notice only of those that are good, tending to his seruice, and glorie, their owne saluation, and the benefite of their brethren. On the other side, the counsels of the wicked, that is, their deuises, plots, and purposes in themselues (for they are here rather the worke of the mind, then of the tongue, and opposed to the thoughts of the godly) are deceit, tending either to the circumvention, and wronging of others, or to the cloaking and hiding of their owne sinfulnesse.

Doct. The godly differ as much from the wicked in inward cogitations and purposes, as in outward conversation and practise. At the first creation man was made to excel the brute beasts more by the reason and gifts of the soul, then by the fashion and shape of the body: and at the second, a Christian is made to excel sinful men more by the holiness and working of the soul, then by the actions and works of the body. This caused the Apostle S. Paul to urge the Ephesians with so earnest an asseveration and attestation, that hereby they should clear their regeneration unfalliblie, and put it out of all doubt and question. This I say, and