A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…A plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the…

Without counsel] When men in difficult and doubtful cases will trust to their own wit, and consult with no others whether their enterprises be convenient, and by what means they may effect them: [thoughts come to nought] either they grow weary of their attempts, or are defeated of their purposes: or though they seem to succeed well for a time, yet their hopes are frustrate in the end: [but by the multitude of Counsellors] which are wise, and give faithful counsel, if their faithful counsel be harkened unto and obeyed: [they are established] in the Hebrew text the Verb is of the singular number, but collectively spoken: meaning that all and every one of those thoughts which are so directed by counsel, shall have a constant prosperous success at the last, if not at the first.

WIthout counsell] When men in difficult and doubtfull cases will trust to their owne wit, and consult with no others whether their enterprises be conuenient, and by what meanes they may effect them: [thoughts come to nought] either they grow weary of their attempts, or are defeated of their purposes: or though they seeme to succeed well for a time, yet their hopes are frustrate in the end: [but by the multitude of Counsellers] which are wise, and giue faithfull counsell, if their faithfull counsell be harkened vnto and obeied: [they are established] in the Hebrew text the Verbe is of the singular number, but collectiuely spoken: meaning that all and euery one of those thoughts which are so directed by counsell, shall haue a constant prosperous successe at the last, if not at the first.

Doct. He dealeth best for himself, which ordereth his affairs with good advice. The less confident any man is of his own judgement and skill, the better he is like to speed in his actions and ways. And for this cause the spirit of God elsewhere giveth this precept: Establish thy thoughts by counsel, and by ¹counsel make war. So David did usually, inquiring of the Prophets and Priests what he ought to do, and therefore usually he had good success: and hereof he failed sometimes, as in the numbering of the people; and therefore sometimes he brought troubles upon himself, as it fell out after the people were numbered. This wholesome instruction Rehoboam refused, when he declined from the counsel of his ancient Senators: and Ahab despised, when he quarrelled with