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…

First, the unfeigned love and faithfulness that is in good men maketh Reasons. ⟨p. 59⟩them merciful and helpful to their companions. No men are so liberal as they, and they are not more liberal of any thing than of wholesome counsel, and encouragements to piety and wisdom. They are most ready always to bestow that, which is of greatest value, and will yield their friends the largest comfort. Such as are truly religious do esteem it a greater gain to procure souls to God, and increase to the Church and grace to their brethren, than to get wealth and promotion to their own selves. And the wicked on the contrary part are no less busy then they, though not so well occupied: for they bestir themselves about their masters work, to corrupt all that have fellowship with them, and to draw as many as they can possibly, into their fellowship. It is noted in divers that are infected with the pestilence, or other foul diseases, that they are very desirous to infect their neighbours: and so is every one that hath the plague sore of sin running upon him, he wisheth (and would work it also, if it lay in his power) that all the world were overwhelmed with iniquity. Our Saviour condemning the notable wickedness of the sinful Pharisees, doth charge this upon them as one mark of ungracious miscreants, that they would compass sea and land to make one proselyte: ¹and when he was made, they would make him two fold more the child of hell then themselves.

First, the vnfained loue and faithfulnes that is in good mē maketh Reasons. ⟨p. 59⟩them mercifull and helpfull to their companions. No men are so liberall as they, and they are not more liberall of any thing than of wholesome counsaile, and incouragements to piety and wisedome. They are most ready alwaies to bestow that, which is of greatest value, and will yeeld their friends the largest comfort. Such as are truely religious do esteeme it a greater gaine to procure soules to God, and increase to the Church and grace to their brethren, than to get wealth and promotion to their owne selues. And the wicked on the contrary part are no lesse busie then they, though not so well occupied: for they bestir themselues about their masters worke, to corrupt all that haue fellowship with them, and to draw as many as they can possibly, into their felowship. It is noted in diuers that are infected with the pestilence, or other foule diseases, that they are very desirous to infect their neighbours: and so is euery one that hath the plague sore of sinne running vpon him, he wisheth (and would worke it also, if it lay in his power) that all the world were ouerwhelmed with iniquity. Our Sauiour condemning the notable wickednes of the sinfull Pharisies, doth charge this vpon them as one marke of vngratious miscreants, that they would compasse sea and land to make one proselite: