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…

Verse 28. Life is in the way of righteousness, and in that path way there is no death.

Verse 28. Life is in the way of righteousnes, and in that path way there is no death.

Life, &c. The meaning is, that they which are righteous men justified by the merits of Christ, and sanctified by his spirit, and obedient to his will in working that which is agreeable to his word, are in state of life everlasting. The life of grace they have possession of already; the life of glory is assured to them by the life of grace: whosoever hath the one, can never fail of the other. And therefore it is said that there is no death in that path. They are delivered from the first death, which hath power over all sinful men, in this world: and they shall never come into the second, which is the portion of reprobates in the world to come. And this is confirmed by the testimony of Christ himself, saying; Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth ¹in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death to life. The doctrine which the words would minister, hath been declared, and prosecuted in the nineteenth verse of the former chapter, where it is said that righteousness leadeth to life, and therefore it is needless to handle it again in this place. Only let thus much be spoken, that the holy Ghost doth not in vain so often promise life to them that seek, and serve him. He doth repeat it more then ⟨p. 191⟩twenty times in this one book, besides the mention that the other parts of scripture do make of it, almost every where. It is therefore a point of certainty to them that lay hold on it: It is a point of difficulty, and not easily believed: sithence God to help our hearts doth again, and again redouble it: and it is a point of great importance, requiring a serious and constant meditation, without which men grow barren, and careless in doing all good duties: and by which they are made rich and plentiful in all holy services. The consideration of life, and of such a life will encourage the heart, and open the mouth, and strengthen the hands, and make the feet nimble to run in the ways of righteousness: all that they can do in obedience, they will account too little, and nothing that they suffer for well-doing, they will think to much.