An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Secondly observe, That there is an art in wickedness; it is Ploughing, or as the word imports an artificial working. Some are curious and exact in shaping, polishing, and setting off their sin: so the Holy Ghost intimates, Rev. 21. 27. Whosoever worketh abomination ¹and maketh a lye; there is but one Verb in the Greek, and so we may read it fully enough in our language, Whosoever worketh abomination and a lye; to work an abomination or a lye, is more then to do an abomination or tell a lye. As when we say such a man is a Clockmaker, it notes art, as well as action. So to say such a man is an Abomination-worker, or a Lye-maker, notes him not only industrious, but crafty, or (as the Prophet speaks) wise to do evil.

Secondly observe, That there is an art in wickednesse; it is Plowing, or as the word imports an artificiall working. Some are curious and exact in shaping, polishing, and setting off their sin: so the Holy Ghost intimates, Rev. 21. 27. Whosoever worketh abomination ¹and maketh a lye; there is but one Verbe in the Greek, and so we may reade it fully enough in our language, Whosoever worketh abomination and a lye; to worke an abomination or a lye, is more then to doe an abomination or tell a lye. As when we say such a man is a Clockmaker, it notes art, as well as action. So to say such a man is an Abomination-worker, or a Lye-maker, notes him not only industrious, but crafty, or (as the Prophet speaks) wise to doe evill.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉

Thirdly, note from these metaphors of ploughing and sowing, That wicked men expect benefit in ways of sin, and look to be gainers, by being evil doers. They make iniquity their plough; and a mans plough is so much his profit, that it is grown into a Proverb, to call that (whatsoever it is) by which a man makes his living or his profit, His plough. And when we say, there are many candles burning and never a plough going. It is to tax unthriftiness or careless spending, without honest care of getting. Every man tills in expectation of a crop; who would put his plough into the ground to receive nothing? The Apostle argues from this as a dictate of nature, (Cor. 9. 10.) He that ploweth, ploweth in hope. And