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…

BY uprightness is not meant an extravagant well meaning without further rule or warrant, as though good intents were competent guides of our ways to salvation: but the sincerity of an heart faithfully, though not perfectly willing to believe and obey that which it knoweth, and resolutely, though not absolutely, desirous to know that which God shall reveal unto it. Now this is said to guide righteous men, that is, shall procure good direction from the Lord, both for his service, and their own happiness, and make them tractable to follow the same. Contrary to this is the condition of the wicked, who are not led with uprightness, but carried with perverseness, and therefore misled by the same to their undoing. For thus standeth the opposition: the uprightness of the just shall guide them in the way, and so preserve ⟨p. 12⟩them: but the frowardness of the wicked will keep them from the way, and so destroy them.

BY vprightnesse is not meant an extrauagant well meaning without further rule or warrant, as though good intents were competent guides of our waies to saluation: but the sinceritie of an heart faithfullie, though not perfectlie willing to beleeue and obey that which it knoweth, and resolutelie, though not absolutelie, desirous to know that which God shall reueile vnto it. Now this is said to guide righteous men, that is, shall procure good direction from the Lord, both for his seruice, and their owne happines, and make them tractable to follow the same. Contrarie to this is the condition of the wicked, who are not ledde with vprightnesse, but carried with peruersenesse, and therfore misled by the same to their vndoing. For thus standeth the opposition: the vprightnesse of the iust shall guide them in the way, and so preserue ⟨p. 12⟩them: but the frowardnes of the wicked will keepe them from the way, and so destroy them.

Doct. 1 The uprightness] Every one that is truly godly hath a faithful guide and counsellor in his own breast. A sound heart is the stern of the soul, and a good conscience is the pilot to govern it, which will lead him through the whole course of his life, till he come to the haven of safety and blessedness. So is the uprightness of Job commended, that it directed him to the fear of God, and caused him to eschew evil. So is the soundness of Zechariah and Elizabeth notified, that by virtue thereof they walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord without reproof. And so is the sincerity of all blessed persons extolled and praised by the same effects in the hundred and nineteenth Psalm, that they keep the commandments of God, and work no iniquity.