A plain and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

Terror for the Papists, whose religion is altogether confected Use. and made of several sorts of contempt: for what is there in it that tendeth not wholly to the disparagement of the holy Scriptures? Are they not despised, when mens writings, and many of them mere forgeries, are made of equal authority with them? Are they not despised when the commandments and traditions of men, when trifles and toys, when legends and fables, and shameful lies are preferred before them? Are they not despised when a sinful man, that man of sin, shall usurp authority over them, and prescribe a meaning to them, and not permit them to have any other sense or power than he shall vouchsafe to give? Are they not despised when they are so violently impugned? when doctrine and practice is directly against them? when men wilfully refuse the knowledge and understanding thereof? when they labour with all their might, that all the world might be kept close prisoners in the dungeon of darkness, and deprived for ever of the light of the Gospel. 2. This sentence will press sore upon the Brownists, who are become bitter despisers of the ministry of Jesus Christ by separating themselves from the churches of God, ⟨p. 36⟩and depraving all the holy means of salvation. Howsoever they pretend to stand for sincerity, yet they resist it: and taking upon them to be champions for Christ his kingdom, they fight against it: and though their arguments seem to be grounded on the word, yet being well sifted they prove mere fallacies, & have no agreement with the meaning of the Holy ghost, in the word. They are strongly illuded by Satan, and made his agents, as much as may be, to pervert the right ways of the Lord. 3. It generally condemneth all those which wish that Gods will might be put back, that their own might be set forwards: that would have his word to give place, that their lusts might take place: that be readier to break all his commandments, then willing to cross any one of their carnal affections. He shall rather lose his service, then they will lose their sinful pleasures: his laws shall rather be transgressed, then ought of their commodities lessened: they care not how low his glory falleth, so that their name and credit may mount up aloft. Some therefore bitterly profess hostility against sincere preaching: some scoffingly deride the faithful preachers:

Terror for the Papists, whose religion is altogether confected Vse. and made of seuerall sorts of contempt: for what is there in it that tendeth not wholly to the disparagement of the holy Scriptures? Are they not despised, when mens writings, and many of them mere forgeries, are made of equall authority with them? Are they not despised when the commandements and traditions of men, when trifles and toyes, when legends and fables, and shamefull lyes are preferred before them? Are they not despised when a sinfull man, that man of sinne, shall vsurpe authority ouer them, and prescribe a meaning to them, and not permit them to haue any other sense or power than he shall vouchsafe to giue? Are they not despised when they are so violently impugned? when doctrine and practice is directly against them? when men wilfully refuse the knowledge and vnderstanding thereof? when they labour with all their might, that all the world might be kept close prisoners in the dungeon of darknes, and depriued for euer of the light of the Gospell. 2. This sentence will presse sore vpon the Brownists, who are become bitter despisers of the ministery of Jesus Christ by seperating themselues from the churches of God,