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…

It is a thing common in the nature of all men, and almost of all other living creatures, for like to desire the like. The Scriptures testify it, our own hearts feel it, and general experience maketh it manifest. Before that men are converted to God, that may justly be charged upon them which saint Paul speaketh to the Romans, that not only they commit such things as are worthy of ¹eternal death, but also favour them that do them. But after that they are effectually called, they may truly say with the Prophet I am a companion of them that fear thee, and keep thy precepts. Examples are pregnant and plentiful on both sides, such as wilfully² confirm the point. Who remembereth not what was the cause of the reconciliation between Herod and Pilate, who were before at variance? And of the agreement of the Herodians with the Pharisees, which were of contrary factions? Was it not the violence & practises against Jesus Christ? And the prophet maketh mention in a prayer, of the confederacy against God and his church, by all or the most part of the idolatrous nations which were near unto Israel. They have taken crafty counsel, saith he, against thy people, ³and have consulted against thy secret ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together in heart, and made a league against thee. The tabernacle of Edom, and the Ishmaelites, Moab▪ and the Agarims Geball, and Ammon, and Amalech, the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre Ashur is also joined with them ▪ they are in arm to the children of Lot. Were all these nations never at any difference among themselves? was there such innocency in them, as that none would offer wrong to others? or such meekness and patience, that every man would bear it at the hands of others? There was nothing less: for all may read that Ashur was violent, and Tyre proud, and Moab ⟨p. 97⟩insolent, and none of the rest but ignorant, and unrighteous And then all may know, that discord is, where humility is not, and when knowledge and equity fail, contentions, and strife abound: but it falleth out with them as with greyhounds that go together by the ears for a bone, the sight of a poor hare will part them, and make them with one accord to pursue her.