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 may not be denied but that many goodmen are in low place, and for their goodness oppressed of the wicked, but it is sometimes, because they have faults withal, for the which the Lord doth humble them, though their enemies envy their graces: and sometimes, because they have not strength enough to bear their prosperity, with such love to their brethren, and humility in them selves, as is needful: and always because their poverty and sufferings are a foundation low laid for an hie building of glory. So that howsoever ungodly men take occasion by religion to persecute the righteous, yet it cannot be truly said, that religion doth cause the righteous to be cast down, or the sinners to be set up. The promise which God maketh to his people in Deuteronomy runneth in this manner: The Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail, and thou shalt be above only, and not beneath, ¹if thou obei• the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to keep, and to do them. And thus much doth David acknowledge to be verified to himself, the Lord performed this good promise unto him: Thou hast, saith he, delivered me from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I knew not, doth serve me. As soon as they hear they obey me, strangers be in subjection to me.

Jt may not be denied but that many goodmen are in low place, and for their goodnesse oppressed of the wicked, but it is sometimes, because they haue faults withall, for the which the Lord doth humble them, though their enemies enuy their graces: and sometimes, because they haue not strength enough to beare their prosperity, with such loue to their brethren, and humility in them selues, as is needfull: and alwaies because their pouerty and suffrings are a foundation lowe layed for an hie building of glory. So that howsoeuer vngodlie men take occasion by religion to persecute the righteous, yet it cannot be trulie sayed, that religion doth cause the righteous to bee cast downe, or the sinners to be set vp. The promise which God maketh to his people in Deuteronomy rūneth in this maner: The Lord shall make thee the heade and not the tayle, and thou shalt be aboue onelie, and not beneath, ¹if thou obei• the commandements of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to keepe, and to doe them. And thus much doth Dauid acknowledge to be verfied to himself, the Lord performed this good promise vnto him: Thou hast, saith he, deliuered mee from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whome I knew not, doth serue me. Assoone as they heare they obeye me, strangers be in subiection to me.