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…

Consolation to such, as for their faithfulness in the services of God, or lowness in their outward estate, are contemned in the §3world. Though they seem most abject and forlorn creatures, and be every where discountenanced of men of great countenance▪ yet they shall not want honour from the Lord, though they be without promotion among men. They may have free access at all times to the presence of the Lord, the door is never ⟨p. 54⟩shut against them, nor they bid to stand back, or be gone. And the Angels never think themselves too good to bear them company, nor them too base to be guarded by them. Good mens tongues do praise them, and bad mens harts do fear them, and all mens consciences which know their ways, do justify them. This is their state now at the worst, even while they grovel on the ground in the dust, or rather be reputed as dust on the ground. What then shall be their condition in time to come at the best, when they shall ascend above the stars, to the heavens, when they shall be more glorious then Angels, when they shall be like unto Jesus Christ himself? Though the Lord then do sometime rebuke us by his word, when we are worthy to be blamed: though he smite us with his hand when our faults deserve correction: though the wicked deride us in scorn, both in respect of the word and corrections: yet the honour wherewith we are graced presently, and the glory wherewith we shall be crowned hereafter, will superabundantly countervail all.

Consolation to such, as for their faithfulnesse in the seruices of God, or lownes in their outward estate, are contemned in the §3world. Though they seeme most abiect and forlorn creatures, and be euery where discountenaunced of men of great countenance▪ yet they shall not want honor from the Lord, though they be without promotion among men. They may haue free accesse at all times to the presence of the Lord, the doore is neuer ⟨p. 54⟩shut against them, nor they bid to stand back, or be gone. And the Angels neuer thinke themselues too good to beare them company, nor them too base to be garded by them. Good mens tongues do praise them, and bad mens harts do feare them, and all mens consciences which know their waies, doe iustifie them. This is their state now at the worst, euē while they grouel on the ground in the dust, or rather be reputed as dust on the ground. What then shal be their condition in time to come at the best, when they shall ascend aboue the starres, to the heauens, when they shalbe more glorious then Angels, when they shalbe like vnto Iesus Christ himselfe? Though the Lord then doe somtime rebuke vs by his word, when we are worthy to be blamed: though he smite vs with his hand when our faultes deserue correction: though the wicked deride vs in scorne, both in respect of the word and corrections: yet the honour wherewith we are graced presently, and the glory wherewith we shall be crowned hereafter, will superabundantly counteruaile all.