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

There is no Truth, they are false in the trust committed to their charge. Oh here is a controversy indeed that God may have against us. Was there ever a time that either England or any other country knew when there was so much falseness in men in the trust committed to them? All things in Israel at this time were come to that confusion, that through the falseness of men any thing of the greatest consequence that might be was betrayed. It is a sign of Gods fearful wrath upon our Nation that there is no truth in men, when people are lest to the treachery and perfidiousness of others; that such whom one would think one might be confident of their truth, nay venture their lives upon it, yea, such as a long time before were trusty; yea, trusty to admiration, yet at last when they think they may suffer, [their own ends are not so clear to attain to as at first] they will betray all that trust that is committed to them and venture even their own undoing rather than endure further hazard in that way of trust. Such cursed selvishness is there in the hearts of men that have not the grace and true fear of God to balance their hearts; they will even betray God himself and a whole Kingdom for their own private ends. But what an unworthy thing is this for men to betray public trust when so much mischief may come ⟨p. 26⟩upon it merely for their own ends; It is as if a man should set an house on fire to roast an egg: what are mens own particular ends in comparison of a Kingdom? not so much as an egg in comparison of an house. This was the complaint in Micah's time of Judah as well as of Israel here, Micah was contemporary with Hosea, Mic. 7.5. Trust not in a friend, put ye no confidence in a guide, keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy b some: A mans enemies (ver. 6.) are the men of his own house. But though there are many of them thus corrupt and there is no truth in them, you cannot tell how to put any trust in them, are there not some of them better? Mark the 4. verse. The best of them is a briar, the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge. In evil times you shall find those whom you most confide in to be so froward in some of their ways, so perverse, that if you go to them for shelter, they will prick you;

There is no Truth, they are false in the trust committed to their charge. Oh here is a controversie indeed that God may have against us. Was there ever a time that either England or any other country knew when there was so much falsness in men in the trust committed to them? All things in Israel at this time were come to that confusion, that through the falsness of men any thing of the greatest consequence that might be was betrayed. It is a sign of Gods fearful wrath upon our Nation that there is no truth in men, when people are lest to the treachery and perfidiousness of others; that such whom one would think one might be confident of their truth, nay venture their lives upon it, yea, such as a long time before were trustie; yea, trustie to admiration, yet at last when they think they may suffer, [their own ends are not so clear to attain to as at first] they will betray all that trust that is committed to them and venture even their own undoing rather than endure further hazard in that way of trust. Such cursed selvishness is there in the hearts of men that have not the grace and true fear of God to ballance their hearts; they will even betray God himself and a whol Kingdom for their own private ends. But what an unworthy thing is this for men to betray publick trust when so much mischief may come