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, 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.

Vse. 1 Instruction, that we vse our thoughts and mindes to better meditations and studies, then to nourish that by art which groweth too fast by nature. Our flesh breedeth an aptnesse and inclination to doe euill, and become hurtfull, that we shall not neede to beare our braines about it, but rather haue cause with all carefulnesse to bethink vs how we may shun and auoyd it. Let vs leaue that craft to the diuell which is the master and teacher of it, who laboureth to haue all to be his apprentices, and is most ready to informe euery one to be most expert and skilfull in that damnable trade of craftines. But neither himselfe from the beginnig of the world to this day hath gained any thing by it, but desperate madnes and vexation, besides euerlasting damnation to come, neither any one of his seruants of all the millions of millions that haue learned of him, hath in any one thing bin the better by it, but euery way vnutterablie the worse.