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…

Thirdly, the spirit of God is always in them that are upright and true hearted, it moveth them to ask, to hear, to pray, to ⟨p. 13⟩read, and to meditate: it maketh the word effectual to speak to their souls, also flexible to yield to the word, it worketh sound judgement in the mind, holy affections in the heart, alacrity and readiness in the will, faith in the whole soul, and sincere sanctity in the conversation. Hereof the Apostle speaketh to the Romans: As many as are lead by the spirit of God are the sons of God. And it is as true on the other side, as many as are the sons of God, are lead by the spirit of God: for this is ever reciprocal, and convertible.

Thirdlie, the spirit of God is alwaies in them that are vpright and true hearted, it moueth them to aske, to heare, to pray, to ⟨p. 13⟩reade, and to meditate: it maketh the word effectuall to speake to their soules, also flexible to yeeld to the word, it worketh sound iudgement in the mind, holie affections in the heart, alacritie and readinesse in the will, faith in the whole soule, and sincere sanctitie in the conuersation. Hereof the Apostle speaketh to the Romanes: As manie as are lead by the spirit of God are the sonnes of God. And it is as true on the other side, as manie as are the sonnes of God, are lead by the spirit of God: for this is euer reciprocall, and conuertible.

Use. Confutation of the erroneous opinion whereby many illude themselves, and their false boastings whereby they would deceive others. They rove abroad in all the ways of sinfulness, in every by lane of licentiousness, in ignorance, pride, wantonness, unthriftiness, cruelty, blasphemy, &c. Ye may find them almost every where saving in religious and honest exercises, and those they fly from, as if they were gaoles and dungeons to hold them in: and yet they think, and say, and face it out, that their heart is honest, though their life be lewd: all is well within, though all be naught without: they have as good souls to God as the best, although they serve Satan as much as the worst. If these men have uprightness, uprightness hath lost her wonted virtue, and ceaseth to be upright. For that which was uprightness in Solomons time, and in all former ages was more faithful, and forcible to preserve them whom it took charge of (as it doth all in whom it inhabiteth) from such inordinate and vicious behaviour. To which may be added also another brood of a wandering and vagrant mind, altogether unsettled in all points of religion. They hear of multiplicity of opinions, and the differences of mens judgements one from another: some are Papists, some are Protestants, some are Brownists, so that they know not what to believe, nor whom to trust, and therefore judge it their readiest way to credit none of them all, and not cleave to any side. But the righteous are not tossed up and down with such waves of uncertainty and doubtfulness: sincerity leaveth not men to shift for themselves, that for want of due information in the ways of God, they should walk in flat Atheism: The Lord promiseth better things to his people that faithfully serve him. What man is he that feareth