Its too ordinary for some Christians, when wicked men give them a few good words, and pretend a little good-will, to open their minds fully and freely to them, even to the hazard of their own liberties and lives; but such do not consider the Counsel which God gives them; Trust ye not in a friend (muchless in an enemy, as every wicked man is to the godly) put ye not confidence in a Guide (though he may be full of power, and policy, and promises) keep the door of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom, (lest as Samsons Wife, she tell all to thy undoing) Mich. 7. 5. Every smooth face, and smiling countenance, is not to be trusted; Kisses do sometimes betray us. When the tongues of some cry Ave, they threaten a Vae, saith Austin. They come (Psa. 118. 12.) about me like Bees, with honey in their mouths • and a sting in their tails; As Butchers, they claw ⟨p. 171⟩the Ox about the ribs, that they may have the fairer blow at his head; The Pelican swalloweth shell-fish, and warmeth them in her stomach, but it is to make them gape, that she may pick them out of the shells (where they are safe whilst they are shut) and devour them. Thus some ungodly men frequently warm Christians with flatteries, to make them ([Greek or Hebrew] according to Aristophanes expression of a fool) Gapers, and to utter all they know and think; that they may make a prey of them. Friend, Do not only look on wicked men as gins to entangle thy soul, but also as snares to entrap thy livelihood and life. It was the complaint of Luther, A falsis amicis plus est mihi periculi quam a toto Papatu, That he was in more danger by reason of false friends, then by the Pope and all his Hierarchy. As Conies, those unclean creatures, are dangerous about the places where they lurk; The Island Majorca was overthrown (according to Historians) by the digging of Conies; So unclean men, even by their crouching under thee, may undermine and overthrow thee. Consider their hatred of thee (notwithstanding all their show of love) is real and inward; and of all wounds, those which rankle inwardly are most to be feared. The Devil confessed Christ, yet hated him to the death; and his children do all take after him. Its •aid of Antoninus Geta, that he would always show most love, where he intended to bereave of life; therefore men were more afraid of his favour, then of his anger.
Its too ordinary for some Christians, when wicked men give them a few good words, and pretend a little good-will, to open their minds fully and freely to them, even to the hazard of their own liberties and lives; but such do not consider the Counsel which God gives them; Trust ye not in a friend (muchless in an enemy, as every wicked man is to the godly) put ye not confidence in a Guide (though he may be full of power, and policy, and promises) keep the door of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosome, (lest as Sampsons Wife, she tell all to thy undoing) Mich. 7. 5. Every smooth face, and smiling countenance, is not to be trusted; Kisses do sometimes betray us. When the tongues of some cry Ave, they threaten a Vae, saith Austin. They come (Psa. 118. 12.) about me like Bees, with honey in their mouths • and a sting in their tails; As Butchers, they claw ⟨p. 171⟩the Ox about the ribs, that they may have the fairer blow at his head; The Pellican swalloweth shell-fish, and warmeth them in her stomach, but it is to make them gape, that she may pick them out of the shels (where they are safe whilst they are shut) and devour them. Thus some ungodly men frequently warm Christians with fl•tteries, to make them (〈non-Latin alphabet〉 according to Aristophanes expression of a fool) Gapers, and to utter all they know and think; that they may make a prey of them. Friend, Do not onely look on wicked men as gins to intangle thy soul, but also as snares to intrap thy livelihood and life. It was the complaint of Luther, A falsis amicis plus est mihi periculi quam a toto Papatu, That he was in more danger by reason of false friends, then by the Pope and all his Hierarchy. As Conies, those unclean creatures, are dangerous about the places where they lurk; The Island Majorica was overthrown (according to Historians) by the digging of Conies; So unlean men, even by their crouching under thee, may undermine and overthrow thee. Consider their hatred of thee (notwithstanding all their shew of love) is real and inward; and of all wounds, those which •rancle inwardly are most to be feared. The Devil confest Christ, yet hated him to the death; and his children do all take after him. Its •aid of Antoninus Geta, that he would always shew most love, where he intended to bereave of life; therefore men were more afraid of his favour, then of his anger.
