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…

Instruction to labour first to heal them of their folly, whom we would have holpen out off their faults. They will never be willing to relinquish their wickedness, until they be brought to embrace wisdom. The idolatrous Ephesians had the same nature with the Christians, and the Christian Ephesians had been subject to the same corruptions, with the idolaters, and yet the one sort having learned Christ, did cast off their sinful conversation, as an old rotten, and ragged garment: and the other having their understandings darkened, kept on their filthiness still, and gloried in it, as if it had been a precious ornament. When mention was made of disgrace offered to their devilish idol Diana,¹ they came running together, on an hurry, and bellowing for her, like a tumultuous drove of Oxen.

Instruction to labour first to heale them of their folly, whome we would haue holpen out off their faults. They will neuer bee willing to relinquish their wickednes, vntill they bee brought to imbrace wisedome. The idolatrous Ephesians had the same nature with the Christians, and the Christian Ephesians had beene subiect to the same corruptions, with the idolaters, and yet the one sort hauing learned Christ, did cast off their sinfull conuersation, as an old rotten, and ragged garment: and the other hauing their vnderstandings darkned, kept on their filthines still, and gloried in it, as if it had beene a pretious ornament. When mention was made of disgrace offered to their diuelish idole Diana,¹ they came running together, on an hurry, and bellowing for her, like a tumultuous droue of Oxen.

1. 1Act 19.

Mens ways can never be good, whiles their heart is without ⟨p. 57⟩