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…

That work the Scripture in many places ascribeth to God only, and to none other besides him. The heart (saith he by Jeremiah) is deceitful and wicked above all things: who can know ¹it? I the Lord search the heart, and try the reins, even to give to every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his works. David was much deceived in Ahithophel, whom he esteemed to be very godly: and so was he also in Absalom, whose purpose of going to perform his vow he thought to be very holy. And did not the Apostles conceive too well of Judas, when they began to join with him in murmuring at the ointment which was bestowed upon Christ? For notwithstanding the sweet words of Ahithophel, and the feigned devotion of Absalom, and the counterfeit charity of Judas; Ahithophel proved a Traitor, and Absalom a Rebel, and Judas a Devil. But it is less marvel though men be beguiled by the fraud of others, when they are ignorant of that corruption that is in themselves. We speak not of Saul, who when he put the witches to death, did little think ever to seek to a witch: nor of Hazael, who condemning himself ²to be a dog, if he should deal so cruelly as Elisha said, believed not that he could become so cruel: but of better men, ⟨p. 115⟩even of the Disciples of Jesus Christ, who purposing and promising to stand manfully unto him, did show themselves very timorous, and every one of them ran away from him. And Peter especially, which boasted of his courage and resolution, ³above all the rest, became more cowardly and faint-hearted than any of the rest.

That worke the Scripture in many places ascribeth to God only, and to none other besides him. The heart (saith he by Ieremie) is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things: who can know ¹it? I the Lord search the heart, and trie the reines, euen to giue to euery man according to his waies, and according to the fruit of his workes. Dauid was much deceiued in Achitophel, whom hee esteemed to be very godly: and so was he also in Abshalom, whose purpose of going to performe his vow he thought to be very holy. And did not the Apostles conceiue too well of Iudas, when they began to ioine with him in murmuring at the ointment which was bestowed vpon Christ? For notwithstanding the sweet words of Achitophel, and the fained deuotion of Abshalom, and the counterfeit charitie of Iudas; Achitophel prooued a Traitor, and Abshalom a Rebell, and Iudas a Diuell. But it is lesse maruell though men bee beguiled by the fraud of others, when they are ignorant of that corruption that is in themselues. We speake not of Saul, who when hee put the witches to death, did little thinke euer to seeke to a witch: nor of Hazael, who condemning himselfe