A20556:319
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…
A plain and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the Proverbs of SolomonA plaine and familiar exposition of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth chapters of the Prouerbs of Salomon
London: printed by Thomas Haveland for Thomas Man, 1609London: printed by Thomas Haueland for Thomas Man, 1609
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, he doth bless the virtuous and amiable behaviour ⟨p. 63⟩of his servants, that it shall be observed of their enemies, and that to the pacifying of their displeasures, and reconciling of their good wills: as their mildness and mercy, their humility and patience, their diligence in their callings, their faithfulness to their friends, their love to their enemies, their innocency towards all, and readiness to do good to every one. By these and such like, though some be moved to more envy, yet many will be allured to better liking of them.
Secondly, hee doth blesse the vertuous and amiable behauiour ⟨p. 63⟩of his seruants, that it shall be obserued of their enemies, and that to the pacifying of their displeasures, and reconciling of their good wils: as their mildnesse and mercie, their humilitie and patience, their diligence in their callings, their faithfulnesse to their friends, their loue to their enemies, their innocencie towards all, and readinesse to doe good to euery one. By these and such like, though some be mooued to more enuy, yet many will bee allured to better liking of them.
Use 1 Instruction, that when we have many adversaries to oppress us, and few friends to relieve us, we examine our ways, whether they do offend, or please the Lord. If he be at variance with us for that we have provoked his anger, it is his displeasure that hath procured us so many foes, and it is our repentance that must obtain deliverance from them. But if he be at peace with us, they shall not long war, nor at all prevail against us: either their hearts will be changed, and they turned to be our friends, or their power restrained, that they shall be but weak enemies. Either they will desist from their malice, or others will protect us from their mischief, or God himself will be our refuge, that we shall not be hurt by their violence.