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 those that requite evil for good to the poor beasts that travel for them, and under them, whom they deal as hardly with, as if they were rather noisome & hurtful unto them. Many ways they oppress them, as with burdens too heavy, with stripes too many, with spurring too often, with pace too swift, with journeys too long, with meat too little, with dressing too slender &c. The Lord hath enjoined them perpetual silence, never to complain of these things, though they groan under them, otherwise if they had liberty of speech and reason to lay open their grievances, the wrongs which they sustain would appear to be great, and many. And yet in an other sort, more extremity then this is used against other sorts of creatures, and that is when men make a sport of making them miserable: when it is a pleasure to put them to pain: when it is a pastime to behold their torment and tearing. This proceedeth not of a tender heart: this is not the work of righteousness: this delight will leave no comfort behind it. Have our sins in Adam brought such calamities upon them, and shall we add unto them by cruelty in our own persons? Have our corruptions been a cause of that fierceness that is in many of them one against another, and shall we solace our selves in seeing them execute it? God forbid. If we do, it may justly return upon our selves, their teeth, or horns, or paws assaulting us, or else Gods own hand by some other means, revenging their wrongs.

Reproofe of those that requite euill for good to the poore beasts that trauell for them, and vnder them, whom they deale as hardly with, as if they were rather noisome & hurtfull vnto them. Many waies they oppresse them, as with burdens too heauie, with stripes too many, with spurring too often, with pace too swift, with iourneyes too long, with meate too little, with dressing too slender &c. The Lord hath inioyned them perpetuall silence, neuer to complaine of these things, though they groane vnder them, otherwise if they had libertie of speech and reason to lay open their grieuances, the wronges which they sustaine would appeare to bee great, and many. And yet in an other sort, more extremitie then this is vsed against other sorts of creatures, and that is when men make a sport of making them miserable: when it is a pleasure to put them to paine: when it is a pastime to behold their torment and tearing. This proceedeth not of a tender heart: this is not the worke of righteousnesse: this delight will leaue no comfort behind it. Haue our sins in Adam brought such calamities vpon them, and shall we adde vnto them by crueltie in our owne persons? Haue our corruptions been a cause of that fiercenesse that is in many of them one against another, and shall we solace our selues in seeing them execute it? God forbid. If wee doe, it may iustly returne vpon our selues, their teeth, or hornes, or pawes assaulting vs, or else Gods owne hand by some other meanes, reuenging their wronges.