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…

Secondly, though they seem to prevail for a time, and effect their purposes so as their hearts wished, yet somewhat hindereth their full comfort for the instant, as it did Hamans, and Achabs, and all be overturned in the end, and themselves be overwhelmed therewith, as the case of Haman and Daniels adversaries testifieth.

Secondly, though they seeme to preuaile for a time, and effect their purposes so as their hearts wished, yet somewhat hindreth their full comfort for the instant, as it did Hamans, and Achabs, and all be ouerturned in the ende, and themselues be ouerwhelmed therewith, as the case of Haman and Daniels aduersaries testifieth.

Thirdly, though they should work their wills, and bring their purposes to pass and escape unpunished, as long as they live, yet because there is a judgement to begin when life is ended, they are nothing the better for being spared so long. All their cunning, all their craft, all their wiles and shifting will not serve the turn to wind themselves out of the woe that is denounced against them, and the woeful punishments that shall be executed upon them.

Thirdly, though they should worke their willes, and bring their purposes to passe and escape vnpunished, as long as they liue, yet because there is a iudgement to begin when life is ended, they are nothing the better for being spared so long. All their cunning, all their craft, all their wiles and shifting will not serue the turne to wind themselues out of the woe that is denounced against them, and the wofull punishments that shall bee executed vpon them.

Use. 1 Instruction, that we use our thoughts and minds to better meditations and studies, then to nourish that by art which groweth too fast by nature. Our flesh breedeth an aptness and inclination to do evil, and become hurtful, that we shall not need to bear our brains about it, but rather have cause with all carefulness to bethink us how we may shun and avoid it. Let us leave that craft to the devil which is the master and teacher of it, who laboureth to have all to be his apprentices, and is most ready to inform every one to be most expert and skilful in that damnable trade of craftiness. But neither himself from the beginning of the world to this day hath gained any thing by it, but desperate madness and vexation, besides everlasting damnation to come, neither any one of his servants of all the millions of millions that have learned of him, hath in any one thing bin the better by it, but every way unutterably the worse.