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…

Doct. 2 Will show righteousness, useth deceit, &c. The speaking of true words is no note of a faithful man, unless it be in due manner, and plain meaning.

Doct. 2 Will shew righteousnesse, vseth deceite, &c. The speaking of true words is no note of a faithfull man, vnlesse it bee in due manner, and plaine meaning.

False witnesses do not always utter flat lies, and palpable untruths: for then they would be soon espied, and quickly convinced, and easily confuted: they would be censured of every man, and credited of no man: but their fraud is covered with a fair show of verity, as slips of copper appear to be good coin, when they are gilded over. The promise of everlasting life is not given to all that speak the trueth, but only to them that speak ¹the trueth in their hearts, that is, in sincerity and uprightness. The devil himself did speak that which was true, and even the words of holy trueth to Jesus Christ, when he said that God had given a charge to his Angels to hold his people in their hands, ²that they should not dash their foot against a stone: but it was guilefully delivered, a material part being suppressed, and the rest perverted to draw him to sinful presumption. It was a true information that was given to Saul by Doeg, that Ahimelech the ³Priest had ministered both food, and weapon to David: and by the Ziphims that David hid himself in the wood by them: It was a true information that was given to Nebuchadnezzar by the Chaldeans, that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not serve his Gods, ⁴nor worship the image that he had set up: and it was a true information that was given to Darius by his princes, that Daniel regarded ⟨p. 162⟩