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 them that attain to this holy fear, though they Use. 1 could not keep themselves without fault: that dare not persist still in their sins, though they were too venturous to fall into them at all. It was their great folly to defile their souls by committing of them, but it is their excellent wisdom to purge themselves by humiliation for them. And albeit they had cause of fear and sorrow in respect of the danger that ensueth upon the practise of evil, yet they have reason to take courage, and comfort in regard of the pardon that followeth after the being of evil.

Consolation to them that attaine to this holy feare, though they Vse. 1 could not keepe themselues withou• fault: that dare not persist still in their sins, though they were too ventrous to fall into them at all. It was their great folly to defile their soules by committing of them, but it is their excellent wisedome to purge themselues by humiliation for them. And albeit they had cause of feare and sorrow in respect of the daunger that insueth vpon the practise of euill, yet they haue reason to take courage, and comfort in regard of the pardon that followeth after the being of euill.

Confutation of them that take security for magnanimity, and §2want of fear for greatness of faith: they count it unmanly to have dread, and a strong trust in God to doubt of no perils. But be it known unto them that David was nothing their inferior in valiantness of heart, and yet his heart was tender, and fearful of sin. It is to be observed continually that none are so bold in wicked attempts, as they which are most base minded. Who are ⟨p. 113⟩so venturous to oppose themselves against God, impiously to defraud him of his glory, as they whose courage will not serve them to encounter with their equal in a just cause, for maintenance of their own right? Who are so fierce and violent, like Lyons to oppress their inferiors, as they which are as submissive as spaniels, to fawn upon their superiors? And in making presumption and carelessness a part of strong faith they are strangely deluded, for faith is the work of Gods holy spirit, and is founded wholly on the truth of his word: but the devil is the dam of presumption, and it hopeth that the word is false, so that nothing in the world doth more manifest their infidelity. If that be faith, what wicked man is without faith? If that be faith, the curse of